Good morning! My grandfather was a soldier & this was recently inherited. He brought it back with him from I believe WW2? It isn't in the best condition, but I am trying to research to find out some history on it & I was hoping someone with more knowledge than myself can help!
It has matching "serial" numbers on the scabbard & the handle. (pictures to follow) There seems to be a surname or a city in Germany on the scabbard - I looked & it could be wither but most likely the surname since it is a German Surname (Luchow).
I did look up the makers mark & found it in the listings here.
Anyone have any insight on this piece?
Original NSKK dagger that has been used and abused. It's main place in history now is that it was your grandfather's trophy. An opportunity for you to tell people your grandfather was part of the greatest American generation, ever.
wow welcome. Tough to get a dagger with matching numbers...possibly identifiable. Yes, condition may not be the best but it has value based upon the history, your relative and the stamped numbers....suddenly becomes more valuable if the original recipient/owner is identifiable cheers and regards, Ryan thanks for taking your time to post your grandfather's war trophy!!!
Interesting relic, severely trashed from improper storage. Looks like an improvised scabbard engrave, I would guess post war as it would be highly unusual and probably prohibited to make a non standard home brew marking like this during actual service. Matching numbers are intriguing, no comment as I'm not well informed on that.
Looks like you have a fitting screw ready to pop out towards the bottom, don't let that happen. Also would not put it back in the scabbard, probably a witches brew of contamination in there.
tough to make an accurate appraisal of value, like most collectible relics it is worth what you can get someone to pay. I would say $300-$400 range if I had to guess, even with its interesting variations tough to see getting much more than that in its deteriorating condition.
Interesting dagger because of the serial number. These 99.99% untraceable because the SA/NSKK did not use a country-wide serial number system. The numbers corresponded to the number in that man's pass/paybook issued by the local outfit to which he belonged. If he moved, He got a new paybook and a new number. That name on the scabbard is anybody's guess. Maybe another GI had it before your grandfather.
It can be cleaned up if you wish. A few coats of wax on the grip and it might shine up nicely. You can also clean the crossguards and scabbard fittings with a metal cleaner. Some Wax on that scabbard would clean it up a bit. There is not much collector value there because of the blade, but lots of sentimental value.
Then get a shadow and mount it in there with a picture of grandfather, his decorations from WWII, etc.
Guys
L�chow is a city in northeastern Lower Saxony in Germany, it's not a family name, it's actually the first time I've ever seen anything like this on a scabbard, very cool.
Gary
Nm Nordmark. An SA that transitioned to an NSKK? Numbers stamped on the front top of the scabbard. Luchow remembrance painted on the reverse of the scabbard. Interesting. Have seen WWI period miniature bayonets with similar type remembrance painted on the scabbard.
--dj--Joe
Original NSKK dagger that has been used and abused. It's main place in history now is that it was your grandfather's trophy. An opportunity for you to tell people your grandfather was part of the greatest American generation, ever.
Yes. A thousand times yes.
I would not clean it, I think it looks pretty cool as it is:)!
Bob
Cleaning would be pointless and counterproductive, any attempt to spiff it up would be painfully obvious and detract from whatever value it has and its appeal.
Bob, you are on post 666, post something quick !
Cool looking numbered NSKK dagger, name on the scabbard looks period done imo, pity about the blade condition.
Yes, all original.
I still think they look nicer when cleaned up a little. Go to a museum that has some edged weapons and note their condition. The conservators try to get the objects in their care looking as they did when they were being worn, not as they they were when they came out of Grandpa's old footlocker.
Dave
I doubt a museum would accept such a deteriorated piece - Is quite a difference between making something presentable and perhaps limiting corrosion damage and spiffing it up to try to make it something it is not. IMO there is no way to "clean" this without giving it an obvious whizzed appearance, and that would be a shame but happens all the time.
Well, Doug,
You must be a coin collector to use the term "whizzed". I assure you that daggers can be cleaned to reflect the condition in which they were carried.
You are right about museums not needing pieces in this condition, but I am not suggesting a museum, just a shadow box along with other mementos.
So what's the other SA or NSKK in the photo you have?? Looks to be in much nicer condition.
Bret Van Sant
Coin collector, yes - You must be one to know that !
Not much difference between daggers and coins when it comes to whizzing. People tend to do it for the same reasons, with the same results.
I know you don't necessarily have to take a blade to a grinding wheel to "clean" it or scrape down and paint the scabbard with Rustoleum. Advising a noob to clean it however might get results just like that though. They want to spiff it up and make it look factory fresh and shiny new, and we all know that is not going to happen and will have results opposite of what was intended [to make it more desirable/valuable].
Almost all collectors want militaria [and coins] the way they are, not the way someone thinks they should be. Unless done to prevent/minimize further corrosion damage, I would never advise a cleaning.
Impressive through all the Muck..is the uncommonly seen SA producer WKC " Knights Head logo " ..also known to have taken Rohm blades and regrind to a full finish for reissue.
An Ugly duckling..but still loaded with that been there History.
Regards Larry