UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons European Edged Weapons Bulgarian Brannik Dagger

Hi Everyone,

Here's some pics of my Brannik dagger. Being these daggers are quite scarce, I would appreciate seeing other examples and opening it up for discussion.

Thanks,
Gary

pic 2

pic 3

pic 4

pic 5

pic 6

Hi Gary,
Thank you again that you start discussion for the other very rare Bulgarian Royal dagger. As far as I know during the second world war Bulgaria was divide into seven Brannik districts.
The dagger was used by high rang Brannik leaders only. The problem is that I can�t find any information h?w many persons were in possession to wear the dagger.
he schoolboys used knif? like that:

pc 2

I have two daggers: One I believe textbook example and other with strange black grip and pommel.
The daggers with yellow grip has shield on the reverse of the cross guard. Obviously
the shield was paint with black color . The grip has few cracks and it�s very breakable.
I bought t the other dagger in this condition - strange black paint grip and pommel � which seem to be a part from an army pommel. On the reverse of the cross guard this dagger has shield with lion.

The blade

The reverce of the gross guard

The reverce of the cross guard

The reverce of other dagger

Gary and Jim
I need your competence and advise.
By the way when I bought the dagger with the strange grip and pommel I decided to keep it in same condition . I have spare grip and pommel and very easy the dagger will look like this
What do you think ?

Pesho, what a fantastic example of the Brannik youth knife that you have in your collection. I have never found one in good enough condition to keep so I do not have one. Congratulations on a very nice find!

Regarding your Brannik officers daggers. In my opinion, the black handled one has had the Brannik emblem added to a combination of either an Army, Police or possibly Gendamarie dagger. I don't think it started its life as a Brannik dagger so I wouldn't change the parts in order to make it into something that it most likely, isn't. Your other Brannik dagger is near identical to mine. That shield on the reverse of the crossguard is correct. It should be plain although on mine, it is polished and not painted black. I have seem a few examples where this shield area was used for adding the owner initials. Also like yours, the handle on my dagger is very fragile and it has a slight hairline crack in it. I have never found a Brannik Officer's dagger that didn't exhibit some kind of damage to the handle. My research has indicated that these daggers were produced only in Bulgaria and the material used for the grip, was not up to the higher standards of German daggers.

Pesho, did you notice that the scabbard on my Brannik dagger is smooth and polished instead of pebbled like yours? I believe that your dagger has the German Army style of scabbard. What is your opinion of this difference and do you know what the decree says?

Gary

Hi Gary
Thank you very much for your perfect analysis and congratulation for your knowledge and competence regarding Bulgarian Royal daggers.
I know that he black handled dagger looks strange and obviously is some combination , but the question is what combination. The length of the cross guard is 78 mm
Police dagger has silver cross guard with lenght 70 mm
Army and Gendamarie cross guards have length 80 mm
The dagger with yellow handle has length 75 mm.
The scabbard of Brannik dagger should be smooth and polished.

Pesho, I now understand your point. After looking closer at your pictures, I think the crossguard on your dagger is a variant of the ones used on Army daggers. I took a close look at all of my Army daggers and there are two distinct patterns of crossguards. One has a lion having a wide nose and other slightly different features. If you compare them side by side the differences become quite obvious. In any event, I measured both styles of crossguards and guess what, one was 78 mm and the other was 80 mm! I knew there were two styles but I never measured them to see if there was any difference in lenght. I didn't have my camera with me so I couldn't taker any pictures. I hope this information helps you out.

Gary

Hi Gary,
Thank you very much for the information. I measured both styles of cross guards of all my - 5 Army and 2 Gendarmerie daggers. All of them have length 80 mm.
Jim,
Can you tell me what length of the cross guards have your daggers please
If some body else has Bulgarian Royal Army or Gendarmerie dagger with cross guard 78 mm please?
Sorry for inconvenience.