German dirk, the hilt of the dirk consists of a straight cross-guard, with quillons that are wasted and have swollen, near bud-shaped terminals. The reverse of the cross is decorated with an embossed rectangular panel containing a foul anchor. The reverse of the cross is decorated with an embossed rectangular panel containing a foul anchor and a button for the retaining catch. The gilt brass pommel is made in the form of the German eagle, semi-displayed with a wreath in its talons containing a swastika. The cruciform, white plastic grip is grooved in a spiral fashion, the grooves containing twisted gilt wire.

The steel blade is straight, of flattened diamond section and double-edged for most of its length, the shoulder being rectangular in section. There are two grooves in the centre of each side, running for some 150mm from the shoulder. The part of the blade they cover is etched. The obverse of the blade is engraved at the shoulder, with the mark of E. & F. Horster of Solingen, Germany along with foliage, the bow view of a sailing ship, a foul anchor, and further foliage. The reverse of the blade is engraved with a long spray of foliage, the port bow view of a sailing ship, and a further long spray of foliage. The solid gilt brass scabbard is decorated in the later 'ermine' form and is equipped with two bands embossed in the form of a wreath of oak, each supporting a ring at the back edge.

This is the 1938 pattern dirk introduced for Officers of the Kriegsmarine as a replacement for the globular (flame) pommel dirk of 1919.