M-1901 Navy Officer's Dagger w/Ivory Grip, Broken Damascus Blade & Portepee. No Maker. A similar example of an Imperial Navy Officer's dagger with gold-plate over steel fittings, produced after WWI had begun, is pictured on page 114 of Exploring The Dress Daggers of the German Navy by Thomas T. Wittmann. Gold-plate, over steel hilt fittings show surface wear with portions of factory gilding remaining in recesses of superbly detailed open crown pommel with "squared", engraved cross on top of crown, and large capstan style crossguard with heavy quillon block and raised anchor motif. Ivory grip shows light surface wear/age toning (slightly darker on the obverse) with hairline cracks along the left and right edges, but no chips or nicks. Grip is complete with tight twisted steel wire wrap. The genuine Damascus, maiden-hair blade grades EX++, and has been broken with only 1 1/8 inches extending below the metal buffer pad. This was possibly done as a gesture of surrender. The underside of the crossguard, upper surface of metal blade buffer and blade tang are stamped with the assembly number, "11". Dent-free, gold-plate-over steel scabbard grades EX++ showing minor surface wear to the highlights and scabbard tip with 100% of the gilding remaining in the recesses of the of the hammered pattern shell. Scabbard is complete with well detailed, heavily chiseled oak leaf and acorn pattern suspension bands and rings. The plain silver bullion portepee worn after shows minor wear with dark age patina and is tied in a single reef-knot as opposed to the more commonly encountered double reef-knot. Late-war, all steel construction dagger with portions of original Damascus blade and superb detail to hilt fittings and scabbard. EX+/EX++ (25730) $1,395.