Germany, Kriegsmarine. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, by P.D. Lüneschloss

(Kriegsmarine Dolch für Offiziere). A Kriegsmarine Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 42 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 25 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and with dual narrow fullers running the majority of the length of each side. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “P.D. LÜNESCHLOSS, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s logo. It sits securely within a gilded bronze crossguard which features double-sided central fouled anchors. A functional push-button release set into the centre of the reverse crossguard connects to a clip which emanates from the blade’s ricasso to release the scabbard lock. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed light brown celluloid, while the dagger completes with a gilded bronze pommel in the form of a German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of gilded bronze shaft bearing etched designs around the outer circumference. The upper third of the shaft features two integral oak leaf bands retaining rings for the accommodation of a hanger. A functional catch within the throat locks onto the blade’s clip. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include minor runnings marks and tarnishing to the blade, sporadic tarnishing to the hilt and scabbard, the loss of the handle grip’s wire, and the loss of one of the scabbard’s two throat rivets. The dagger remains in an overall very fine condition.