Nazi dagger sells for $9000 in Dunedin

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Military items continue to be in high demand despite the recession, with a Dunedin collector paying $9000 for a dagger which once belonged to a Nazi officer.

The German SS officer's chained dagger attracted strong bidding and the highest price at an antique, collectable and military auction held at Forno's Auctioneers yesterday.

An NSKK chained officer's dagger attracted the second-highest price of $7000, and went to an "out-of-town bidder", owner/operator Barry Forno said.

Both items were put up for auction by an out-of-town collector.

They joined more than 400 items from a Dunedin estate.

Dozens of bidders from Dunedin and throughout New Zealand attended the auction, which attracted the interest of several phone bidders, Mr Forno said.

While a final figure was unavailable, it was believed the auction raised tens of thousands of dollars.

"The family were very pleased with the results," Mr Forno said.

Military items continued to attract strong interest and were holding their prices well despite the recession, he said.

The auction also included a Hitler Youth dagger, German peaked hats, a Luftwaffe belt buckle, swastika cufflinks and an unopened Elvis Presley record.