We offer original dagger belonged to a Bulgarian royal officer, worn during WWII. The dagger is of rare "Ersatz” type, made after the officer’s request. The origin and authenticity of the item is guaranteed as we have it from the son of the dagger’s owner.

The "Ersatz” belonged to Encho Nedevski , a 2^nd generation fficer in the royal artillery . Born in 1919 , Nedevski got the officer rank in 1940 . In 1947 he is a Captain already. But in 1948 was discharged by the new communist rule.

In 1943 and 1944 Nedevski served at 5^th Artillery regiment being a commander of battery that was dislocated in the Greece territories taken by the Germans and controlled by Bulgarian army. After the end of the war up to 1948 he was commander staff of 9^th Artillery Division regiment.

The so called “Ersatz” daggers are known to researcher and collectors as official copies of the daggers. Their make was due to a lost or broke of the official dagger. According to the Uniform regulations approved in 1936 every officer was obligated to be with dagger, that was inseparable part of the official uniform; therefore without dagger he can’t stand in military formation or report to higher rank officers. So most probably Nedevski lost or broke seriously his parade dagger. Both reasons – his service in Greece and the hard years of the war (maybe Infantry daggers were insufficient at that time) forced the royal officer to order an Ersatz dagger.

The full length of the dagger is 38 cm / 15 inches.

The blade is flat, nickel plated, with few spots and small chips on the top. Full length 24 cm / 9,5 inches.

The crossguard is made of white shiny material and copies the standard royal model dagger. At one of the plates is hand written the name of the owner and his rank: “Poruchik Nedevski” (Nedevski received this rank in 1943, when was in Greece. So thus should be the date of Ersatz make.) 

The crossguard and pommel are most likely the Nazi Brannik organization dagger. The grip is also made of white metal, painted in white.

The scabbard is nickel plated, with two hangers decorated of oak leaves.

Dagger is in very good overall condition. It represents a very interesting and unique find for dagger collectors.