I have an 2nd Model RLB dagger I would like an opinion on. It does not have a maler stamp on the blade. It does have the initials H.K. stamped on the back side of the crossguard and the initial K on the top back of the scabbord. Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you.

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Looks nice to me, and unusual to find a personalised RLB. I believe that Conventional Wisdom has it that unmarked RLB's are by Witte,who marked their pieces lightly and subsequently disappeared after polshing. I tend to feel that a straight forward 'non maker marked'option is more likely.
Paul

Hermanator, interesting piece, fact being that the 9 oclock swaz leg isnt cut out completely, Ive seen one with the whole backround still there.If you can send a photo of the whole swaz Id appreciate it.My dag inst going to be in my hands for about a month . Nice personalized piece. Tiep

This IS interesting. This particular dagger was MY first RLB 2nd Mod. Officer's Dagger and in my collection in the late 1960s to early 1970s. You never forget your first dagger of any type and this one came directly out of the woodwork in Illinois. I always was amazed that the guy didn't mark the scabbard with his first initial, like he did the crossguard.
I can't remember who I sold it to as I up graded mine, but it went early on in my collecting days and may have been sold at the early OVMS Show in Norwood, OH.
SMALL WORLD!!!
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

Ron, this is truly amazing. What are the chances of that happening? One in a million? I've had your dagger for 30+ years, I don't remember who I bought it from, but it had to be from a dealer at one of the shows I used to go to in Conneticut. Anyway, thanks for sharing your story. It is indeed a SMALL WORLD....
Herman

Tiep, as you requested here is a close up of the crossguard swaz. I also have photos of the hanger for this dagger. Any idea what the daggers value is? Herman

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Herman, thanks for adding the extra photos.Very interesteng on the cutout detail on that swaz! Maybe Ron knows why its been done that way. Lakeside and Ron sell them dags alot ,maybe they can be of better help on its value, I get thrown when the straps are included.$3000 or so ?? Tiep

Tiep:

Not long ago, Tom W had an unmarked RLB2 Leader on his site in NM condition that sold for $2,995 + $995 for Mint hangers.

I know, because I bought them.

John

IMO it is a very nice mid period dagger, with nice propper accoutrement. Never mind that it is unmarked! It�s a quality piece with interesting features.
I cannot understand why "unmarked" daggers are such unpopular to a lot of collectors (just unexperienced ones???). They were manufactured that way during the period, sometimes manufacture-policy simply prohibited marking a dagger by some firms (think the period quarrel between Krebs, Himmler and other manufacturers concerning SSdegens) and they were manufactured in the same solid way like it�s brothers. So what�s the matter???
Both, 2nd mod RLB daggers I own (leader and enlisted) are unmarked and due to their condition I doubt I ever will give them away.
Regards,

Hermanator, could you show us the tang? Does it carry any markings?

Wotan:

I believe that the issue with unmarked daggers is that it is harder to prove or disprove the authenticity of such. We all know that manufacturers would buy parts from each other, and the relationships in some cases are accepted and understood. But, the difference between a 'parts' dagger and one that is legitimately using parts purchased from elsewhere is harder to determine if the maker mark is not there to tell us who the blade manufacturer is.

That is my theory, anyway, on why unmarked blades are less 'desirable' than marked ones.

John