------EDIT----- See my period photo as proof .I have been collecting for many years now and watched the forum diminish in posts on anything but text book items .This i feel is due to a feeling of dread that daggers will be shot down in flames and devalued previously my feelings.Most of the collectors want mint text book examples.Well i like the fact these items can be collected as is and in fact the vast majority of my items have come direct from vets in germany and the uk ,many have had non text book hangers etc on them.We all value opinions as that is what they are, as for the difference between specialist ,expert and collector there is maybe a fine line and who decides where and who the title belongs to.When i started i was given the advice to buy all the books on the subject,and handle as many as you can this will enable you to get a feel for period or not. I am sure in my collection i have a few wrong uns but as far as sa marine daggers go i have six so i will trust my opinion until i see someone with 7.To encourage other collectors maybe some positve stroking would help the hobby grow rather than the fear that there are hoards of fakers at every corner blacking up sa daggers to make marine versions etc and making an already nervous group of collectors terified.
-----edit-----
dippy
Outstanding examples of marine type SA daggers Dippy.
I agree there is too much fear in the newer collector, but not all unjustified. However, looking into a period Org book they will not find the answers they are looking for. For Example does the 1938 Organizations der NSDAP show a Marine gilt plated HJ Leader? If not then they must not have existed? Ask a veteran collector and a few will say that they pulled them out of the weeds. No Dealers, no shows or collectors. But WHY are they NOT IN THE BOOK ?
IMO, I don't have a answer, however to say that somehow that there was an 'error' and they were just all painted ALL black instead of just the scabbard per order of the NSKK is also just a guess. IMO, a mistaken guess. Are the HJ Marine gilt daggers also a 'error'? We have seen period SA's with carefully dyed BLACK grips and BLUED BLACK scabbards with matching BLACK leather hangers.
I don't think THAT was a mistake, but
that's JMO.Here is one I have in my collection which I know is a SA type marine dagger. It's ALL PAINTED BLACK. The vertical hanger is BLACK and thread and rivet is BLACK- from the factory. It's unmarked.
I guess Dippy you will have to unload your 6 'mistakes' now, are they cheaper by the Half Dozen?
Perhaps one day we will find one of these with a SA Marine dedication then THAT might solve the issue. Oh, probably not, because that dedication might have been placed there last week.
-Serge
