komet45
Well-known member
I recently acquired this dagger from a long time friend and partner in a large box of bayonets. He had spotted the dagger and deemed it a "fake" and the shadow that his doubt cast did not compel me to examine it any further.
I was visiting my parents the same day I received the blades and I let them take a look at the lot. Both of my parents were jewelers and have been dealing in antiques since the late 60s. My Father also worked as a welder for over 50 years, and just as much time pursuing 18th & 19th Century blacksmithing as a hobby. Upon examination of the dagger they quickly dismissed my belief it was a "fake" as they noted all the merits of it's fine construction. The deepness and sharpness of the engraved motto, the clear cross-graining of the blade, the fit of the wooden grip and the quality of the enamel SA insignia were all strong points that were hard to argue. The quality of components and craftmanship would seemingly outweigh the profit of passing off a fake...or would it?? I have never owned an M33 Dagger and have no "references" to go by, and neither of my parents have handled a piece like it before that day.
Upon very close inspection all components appear to be made from high quality materials and the fit and finish are very consistent with other Third Reich daggers I do own. The RZM stamp looks like it might be "acid etched" like those found on Luftwaffe gravity knives, and the appearance was comparable with examples I have on hand. I have found several other 1941 Carl Eickhorn examples and they also appear to be very similar to the dagger in question. The detail of the Party Eagle is very fine and the Copper tone appears to be a base layer metal exposed after the original Silver wash wore off from handling. I found an M33 that sold and claimed the Copper Eagle was original (https://www.gettysburgmuseumofhisto...olch-brought-home-by-a-u-s-veteran-certified/) Another 1941 Eickhorn NSKK Dagger is currently listed here (https://grenadiermilitaria.com/product/nskk-dagger-by-carl-eickhorn-solingen/). The pommel nut appears to show no signs of marring and looks as if it might not have been turned after production.
The scabbard is exceptionally clean and of equal quality as the dagger. The black finish is strong and only shows mild traces of age and handling. It does appear to be black paint but I cannot say this for certain. The throat and ferrule are both clean and the hardware is identical to other period examples I can find images of. No markings can be found anywhere on it.
As the SA and NSKK Dagger appear to only be distinguishable by their scabbards, does this pair look to be a genuine pair? Are the black scabbards the same for SS Daggers? Fit, finish, weight and patina all seem to be there but I simply have no experience with these blades. Any and all insights and opinions are welcomed and greatly appreciated.
I was visiting my parents the same day I received the blades and I let them take a look at the lot. Both of my parents were jewelers and have been dealing in antiques since the late 60s. My Father also worked as a welder for over 50 years, and just as much time pursuing 18th & 19th Century blacksmithing as a hobby. Upon examination of the dagger they quickly dismissed my belief it was a "fake" as they noted all the merits of it's fine construction. The deepness and sharpness of the engraved motto, the clear cross-graining of the blade, the fit of the wooden grip and the quality of the enamel SA insignia were all strong points that were hard to argue. The quality of components and craftmanship would seemingly outweigh the profit of passing off a fake...or would it?? I have never owned an M33 Dagger and have no "references" to go by, and neither of my parents have handled a piece like it before that day.
Upon very close inspection all components appear to be made from high quality materials and the fit and finish are very consistent with other Third Reich daggers I do own. The RZM stamp looks like it might be "acid etched" like those found on Luftwaffe gravity knives, and the appearance was comparable with examples I have on hand. I have found several other 1941 Carl Eickhorn examples and they also appear to be very similar to the dagger in question. The detail of the Party Eagle is very fine and the Copper tone appears to be a base layer metal exposed after the original Silver wash wore off from handling. I found an M33 that sold and claimed the Copper Eagle was original (https://www.gettysburgmuseumofhisto...olch-brought-home-by-a-u-s-veteran-certified/) Another 1941 Eickhorn NSKK Dagger is currently listed here (https://grenadiermilitaria.com/product/nskk-dagger-by-carl-eickhorn-solingen/). The pommel nut appears to show no signs of marring and looks as if it might not have been turned after production.
The scabbard is exceptionally clean and of equal quality as the dagger. The black finish is strong and only shows mild traces of age and handling. It does appear to be black paint but I cannot say this for certain. The throat and ferrule are both clean and the hardware is identical to other period examples I can find images of. No markings can be found anywhere on it.
As the SA and NSKK Dagger appear to only be distinguishable by their scabbards, does this pair look to be a genuine pair? Are the black scabbards the same for SS Daggers? Fit, finish, weight and patina all seem to be there but I simply have no experience with these blades. Any and all insights and opinions are welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Attachments
Last edited:
