This is an original Italian WWII Fascist MVSN (Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale) Officer’s Dress Dagger, a ceremonial edged weapon issued to officers of the Fascist militia, commonly known as the “Blackshirts,” during WWII. Daggers of this type served as formal dress accoutrements, linking the wearer directly to the MVSN hierarchy and Fascist ideology, rather than functioning as combat weapons. The MVSN was the volunteer militia arm of Mussolini’s National Fascist Party, and played a prominent role in ceremonial, political, and organizational functions throughout the regime.
This example follows the classic MVSN officer pattern, featuring a slender blade, a hooked quillon crossguard, and a stylized fasces symbol inset on the grip, reflecting the Fascist movement’s adoption of ancient Roman imagery to convey authority and unity. The hilt is further detailed with an eagle head at the base, a powerful symbol associated with strength and state power in Fascist iconography. Accompanying the dagger is a rare original hanger, decorated with a perched eagle and incorporating an “M” for Mussolini, directly referencing Benito Mussolini and the leadership of the Fascist state. The dagger retains its original fittings and hanger hardware as a complete set.
Condition is consistent with age and period use, showing small nicks and scuffs on the hilt and sheath, along with spots present on the blade, while overall detail and presentation remain strong. This dagger represents an authentic and historically significant example of Italian WWII-era Fascist militaria, well suited for collectors of European military edged weapons and period artifacts.
