UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons SS Dagger Forum Meine Ehre Heist Treue

Dear fellow collectors, and especially veteran collectors,

I have been meaning to post a question here for some time, but a growing family and growing business have left me precious little time for the hobby I love.

A few months ago I showed a fellow collector friend a few photographs of some of my SS daggers. This sharp eyed Belgian collector, and member of this forum, pointed out quite correctly that the lettering on one of my daggers caused him some concern.

The dagger in question is a Himmler Honour Dagger, with a serrated tailed squirrel Eickhorn makers mark. My friend's concern was that the esstsett on the word Heist (forgive the English keyboard!) does not have a short, cut-through end, but curves and tapers off to the left. Also one letter H, curves and tapers, while the other letter H is cut-off short.

This may sound confusing, but my friend pointed to the examples shown in Ralf Siegert's book, and to my great concern I saw that he was right! But then I checked Tom Wittmann's Dress Daggers of the German SS, and saw that he shows a Himmler dagger from an old collection with the same etching as mine.

I guess my question is, that despite being told that all Himmler Daggers are identical, are there variances in the letter shapes? There ARE obviously differences in the stencil used for the makers mark. That I do know.

The easiest way is if I post photos and ask you guys directly for your views. Do you see any problems with this dagger?

Many thanks!

Also please notice the small flaw on the acid etching of the letter 'M'. There is a tiny polished steel mark where not all of the acid ate away at the desired area. It is also a different 'M' from a Herder and a Pack SS that I own.

The dagger is period and correct. There are 2 different motto etches and 2 different logos associated with Himmler Honor SS daggers.

Thanks. I was 99% sure that the piece was ok. I bought from a very decent and well respected specialist, and I've got to handle enough to normally sense if something isn't right. I guess my fears, or rather the other collector's concerns were raised by noticing that Ralf Siegert's reference didn't show this variation.

If anyone else has any information on the etchings please PM me if you don't want it in the public arena potentially helping the forgers.

Thanks people. Very educative.