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Post by Admin on Sept 1, 2019 7:12:41 GMT
Nazi Swords & Daggers
This is a very subjective area, there are no internationally agreed standards for the condition of German Dress daggers. As a guideline, the following terms apply to the price table below. No accoutrements are included in the prices. The basic rule is that the dagger is worth what some one is prepared to pay for it.
Condition of Daggers For this section, it has been assumed that the dagger is in "Fair" condition so that a mid point can be set for pricing purposes. This means that there will be some wear on the fittings, small chips or cracks on the grip, dents on the scabbard, marks or pitting of the blade. The dagger "shows its age", has some damage but is fully serviceable.
Price Variations
If the dagger is in "Mint" condition (unused or with no visible faults) then prices could double or treble, alternatively, if the dagger is in "Poor" condition (badly damaged, severe cracks, some missing parts) then prices may halve.
Fakes & Fraudsters
It must be pointed out there are reproduction daggers and also daggers made from original & post war parts. Some dealers are plainly fraudsters. It is recommended that use is made of the dealers listed in the links section of this site, as these dealers have made their name over many years of trading by being reliable and offering guarantees of authenticity.
PRICES IN US$
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Post by Admin on Oct 20, 2019 14:10:20 GMT
Heer (Army)
Obverse Reverse Full Glory Personalised Tiger
Engraved Blade
Organisational Information - The German Army [Heer]
After World War I the German army was restricted to 100,000 officers and men by the victorious armies of WWI, deemed sufficient for home defence but not large enough for German expansion into other nation's domains.
Hitler, on his rise to power, quickly saw an ally in the German Army as they wished to become the force they were before World war I. Hitler started to expand the German Army when he felt confident that the rest of Europe would not oppose his actions in defiance of WWI treaties.
During World War II, Hitler took full control of the German Army as its victories turned to defeats, personally commanding many divisions over his chosen Generals. He never really trusted the Generals after this date, and made blunders by being to removed from the front line.
The German approach to the subject of military organisation has always been one of extreme flexibility. Basic to German thought is that in view of the rapid progress of science as applied to war, organisational practice must remain flexible if it is to be in a position to take prompt advantage of new scientific developments.
Thus, an outstanding characteristic of German military operations in World War II was a remarkable co-ordination of the three sister services composing the German Wehrmacht: The Army, Air Force and Navy. The value of a balanced combined arms force was vividly demonstrated by the early German campaigns, when aircraft, tanks, and infantry were successful ingredients of the Blitzkrieg. At the heart of this powerful Wehrmacht was the German Army. In mobilising for WWII, the growth of the Army was spectacular, and the result was one of the finest military machines known to history.
Dagger Information - Army (Heer)
The army dagger was designed by Paul Casburg and was allowed as a side arm option in place of the Army sword in 1935.
The grip came in white, yellow or orange and had a carved groove format, running clockwise, on the grip. Grips could also be acquired in solid ivory as well as other materials at extra cost. One type is the Amber glass grip that is twice as heavy as real amber. Early grips are found being a solid plastic material, by 1939 the grips changed to being plaster filled and wood base with a plastic coating.
The very early cross guard and pommel were made from brass with a thick 4 microns of silver plating. Later issued fittings range from nickel based to an alloy plated with 1-2 microns of silver, as well as nickel plating. The last daggers made had a dull gray oxide finish. It should be noted that early daggers were finished with a dark burnishing in the reassess of the fittings, that was to make the dagger look like an antique.
Cast onto the cross guard was an eagle with wings wide open holding an oak leaf wreath in its talons. At the centre of the wreath was a swastika. The pommel had a ring of oak leaves rising vertically from the grip to the pommel top, with the pommel screwed onto the blade tang to secure the grip, cross guard and blade. On early daggers there was a clear lacquer applied over the fittings.
The blade was 25.5 to 26.5 cm long and had no motto or engraving as standard. Many blades were cross-grained polished, a few makers used a nickel plating that is highly prized today by modern collectors. Etching as well etched presentations, or applied presentation Damascus or just plain damast blades were available at extra cost. Its rare to find real damast blades with a trademark on them as this cost the buyer extra to have this applied.
Early Army dagger’s had a brass based scabbard, that after 1936 went to a steel based scabbard that was covered in a simple "pebble dash" finish. Again the very early brass based had 4 microns of silver plating where as the later were reduced to 1-2 microns of silver finish as well as the nickel finish and late issues with the gray oxide finish. Pressure fitted to the scabbard were two hanger suspension rings with oak leaf patterns onto which the hanger was clipped. The early daggers had a clear lacquer applied over the finish.
Two hanger straps, Silver coloured face with field grey velvet backs were used. The fittings range from base material of silver-plated brass to a natural aluminium finish. The fittings are as follows; oval buckles with oak leaf patterns with matching slides and clips and an upper open clip loop were used to suspend the dress dagger from the officer’s belt or in pocket hanger. The fittings on some hanger’s can be found with a gold finish that is perhaps for the rank of General.
A Silver 42-43 cm Portapee was tied around the dagger grip to complete the dagger accoutrements. Again these portepee’s can be found in many materials as well as a gold Portapee, but is very rare. The insert is plain and not twisted in a circle like the Navy style of Portapee.
The Army dagger ceased production in May 1943 possibly earlier. Just as a side note on Army daggers, variations can be found with Gold finished hilt fittings and scabbard, this extra cost item would have been for perhaps a General. This is a very rare variation and is seldom encountered. The gold finish has a dull gold look.
Obverse
Reverse
Full Glory
Personalised Tiger
Engraved Blade
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Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2019 6:23:55 GMT
Navy Officer Type 1
Organisation Information - The Navy [Kreigsmarine]
Obverse
(Lightning Bolt Scabbard)
Reverse
(Lightning Bolt Scabbard)
Full Glory
(Lightning Bolt Scabbard)
Portapee
The German Navy holds a long and honourable tradition. Unlike the other services, German Navy uniforms and accoutrements have been historically slow in reflecting change. For example, the German Navy edged weapons, which remain in service today, bear only minor modifications to the edged weapons carried by members of the Royal Prussian Navy in the mid-nineteenth century.
Although the Versailles Treaty signed after World War I seriously limited any sizeable overt expansion of the German Navy, covert submarine production continued outside the country.
When Hitler gained power in 1933, he immediately boosted the Navy to a formidable military force under the aegis of Admiral Erich Raeder. Raeder remained at the helm of the German Navy for the next fifteen years, when he was replaced by Admiral Karl Donitz.
Early in the war, German U-boats were the nemeses of Allied sailors throughout the Atlantic Ocean. As the Allies perfected anti-submarine warfare, heavy combat losses were inflicted on the Germans. The main German fleet was limited in its operation at sea due to the overwhelming number of allied war ships. The surface fleet spent most of its time avoiding detection from allied ships.
Dagger Information – Navy Type 1
The Prussian and German Navies prior to the 3rd Reich, had a history of wearing dress daggers going back to 1848. The 1848 dagger came in two lengths the first style was near about the standard 1938 Navy dagger in size, just a bit shorter perhaps by 2-3 CM. A later style from about 1855, was a bit longer by as much as 3-4 cm than the short 1848 style. Other than the lack of grip wire, and the delicate ivory grip it looks like a standard 1938 style grip. One Other difference found on these very early daggers is a lack of a lock button on the crossguard.
Initially "Dirks" were worn only by cadets until 1901 when their use was extended to all officers. The basic appearance changed very little over the period from 1848 until 1919.
In 1919 the Imperial "Crown" pommel was superseded by the "Cresting wave and reed ball" style pommel, as shown above, plus a black scabbard with a single carrying ring was introduced and the grip changed its colour to black with a brass wire wrap. On this style dagger the pommel was pined to the tang by way of a brass pin that went through the throat of the pommel.
In 1921 the scabbard was converted back to the gilded unit with 2 carrying rings as pre 1919.
In 1929 the grip was also converted back to the pre 1919 traditional white grip.
The dagger continued in the above format until 1938 when, upon Hitler’s birthday, the Navy Type 2 was issued for wear.
Many Imperial daggers were upgraded by simply replacing the Imperial Pommel with the Nazi pommel. This is very common for a dagger with a damast blade or Ivory grip handed down from father to son etc.
The 1929 style or type one navy dagger is well made and has solid brass based fittings with either buffed brass with a clear lacquer coating, or gold plated with clear lacquer coat, and the most expensive finish was the fire gilt with clear lacquer coat.
The hilt fittings are exactly the same as the 1938 style other than the creating wave and reed pommel, there are a few very distinct styles use of this pommel, the most common are Eickhorn with a thin curled in lip that abuts the grip and tall top. And the WKC style with a broad flat lip that abuts the grip with a short fat top. Followed by the Alcoso that that has an outward thin thin lip that abuts the grip with a tall thin top.
Grips are like the 1938 style being a white plastic over wood base with a wire wrap that will vary depending on maker.
Scabbard is a brass based with standard styles seen on the 1938 style. Again with the standard finishes from a buffed brass with clear lacquer coat. Gold plated with a clear lacquer coat. Fire gilt with clear lacquer coat.
Portepee is a 43 cm silver bullion.
Hangers are standard Navy style hangers with brass-based fittings only.
Edited by Bruce Petrin
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