UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons SA & NSKK Dagger Forum Do Blondes have more fun?

Hey Guys, I know some of you love Blondes! Just thought I would show you a new one I got!

I just LOVE that Blond with the Copper Eagle!
3FL

Louie that one looks like a bottle blonde to me.

I don't know! I am virtually Stone Certain it is not a newer grip, if that is what you mean. and it doesn't seem to have been refinished. And I am pretty good at spotting that kind of stuff since I do restorations.

3FL

Looks, Smells, and even tastes like very old finishing! ;^) :^P 3FL

Louie... did you reanodize the scabbard? Can you show a closer picture of the eagle out of interest?

No, I haven't done anything to this one. I will have to take a better pic and will post it in a little while! Cheers 3FL

Looking forward to them. Any chance you can take a closer photo of the finish on the scabbard too?

Holy dagger!

Sure, Im a rookie, and cant really judge anything, but... After just starting to develope my interest for other edged weapons than HJs, I must have looked at more daggers than I can count, in a short time, but Ive never seen one Ive found more attractive than that one! That was one of the most beautyful items Ive ever seen, real blondes included! Im speachless...

Errrr.... I'd still prefer a "real blonde"... (Just)...

Well, maybe real ones, then... But apart from human beings, this is still one of the nicest things Ive ever seen.

Here you go SDP! I still love the eagle, i have only seen that EXACT eagle a couple of times, if you look close it is just a hair different than the regular ones. on this one almost all the nickle has worn off leaving just the silver highlights on that pretty copper background. The fit on the top crossguard is perfect but the lower one must have been replaced somewhere along the line.

I think the Grip is Oak, I know it is hard as hell! you can't dent it al all. That is probably why it is so light, I doubt it could absorb any kind of stain to any great extent. On the eagle again, the ends of his wings turn up ever so slightly, almost looks like some kind of Customs eagle, and I would bet that the swaz is slightly bigger than average! The detail is Fantastic! Unfortunately, NO maker on the blade, just like the other ones like this I have seen. The wear is much more evident in these pics on the wood, you can see it is darker in the untouched areas. 3FL

OK, Finally got a good pic of the Eagle! See what I am talking about? 3FL

In the pic it looks like it sticks out of the handle, but, in reality it is virtually Smooth Flush with the wood of the grip!

Very interesting. Any close up photos on the finish of the scabbard?

Here you go! Hot off the presses!

Hi

Is the eagle not a little to high on the grip?

Louie... do you think the scabbard has been re-done?

Jan Jan, No, it is the same as my other SA's I think it may look a little high because I would swear it is a tiny bit bigger than the eagles on my other SA's. SDP, Yes, I think it may have been. But I kind of like that "woodgrain" look. It seems to be a lot more pronounced in the pics than it is when you look at it "in person". 3FL

This is one of my Favorite Grips of the ones I have!

Louie... the reason I ask about the scabbard is because it looks to have a very similar finish to the previous one you restored.

These are both your photos for comparison. Notice the similarities?

Yep, I know what you are talking about, but this one is just the way I got it. There is a chance that I may have done this one for somebody in the past, but I don't remember this dagger. Then again, I have done an awful lot of single scabbards over the years, the wheel turns! Wouldn't surprise me. 3FL

I have some serious issues with this piece. The grip color, the fittment of the grip, the eagle in the grip, the color of the scabbard etc.

Me too.

Sorry Louie, but the grip looks refinished or bleached. I have owned a couple of light grip SA daggers and the eagle does not have that black halo around it. The contours look sanded. The scabbard looks like a bad refinishing job.

And, from the photos, I don't like the contours on the NPEA grip.

Nobody's asking you to buy it JR! And the Grip color is what we are talking about! And we are talking about the scabbard finish. Do you have specific comments? 3FL

Ahh! There you are Dave! I was wondering when you were going to pop up!

As Dave has mentioned, the grip on the shown NPEA is not proper and there may be some other issues with the scabbard and blade. Sorry friend all that I'm trying to do is to not to confuse members that may think that you have posted a proper period combination. Trust me, I'm not asking to buy this out from underneath of you.

I don't like anything about the NPEA Leader...

I have owned several........

Blade looks like one of Reddicks'

Chain and scabbard attachment - not good...

Wierd grip contours...

Sorry...

3FL,

When you say "There is a chance that I may have done this one for somebody in the past, but I don't remember this dagger" that says you need to start keeping notes.

I saw an SS dagger that you redid and the scabbard had that same look. It was not a pretty sight.

Dave

Hi Gunther,

The truth is, Nobody in this thread asked for any opinions on the NPEA, I am sure you just assumed this from the other two comments. That dagger is from my repro collection and all I said was that I liked the wood and grain color of the grip. This thread was started and, up til now, the discussion was about the colors and such on the SA daggers grip. That's all. I would venture a gues that now, the people who were discussing the TOPIC of this thread are uncomfortable and the discussion has come to a dead stop! So I will do the same and let you three guys carry on with the disparagement until you also get bored and wander off again.

Good Day Gentlemen!

Here is the challenges on the NPEA to just touch on a few:

1. Improper grip shape and strange color

2. Improper fittment of grip

3. Nickel type of fitting on the dagger, aluminum eagle, nickel fitting on the upper chape of the scabbard, plated fittings on the middle and lower fitting

4. Crossgrain that is very similar to post war blades.

Sorry we touched a nerve. Shall we discuss the first SA ?

Dave, I don't appreciate the attack on my work in restoration! I have just sent Mike a strong note about the fact that he DID NOT come to me if he had a problem with what I had done and I did not appreciate his cowardly behavior in complaining to YOU over something that you were not involved in. I provide a satisfaction warranty on any work I do and I will fix anything a customer is unhappy with, but they have to come to me and let me know, or I cannot do anything. He told me that he was happy with the work and I had no way of knowing differently until now. I assume he will contact me back and we will discuss the issue, but it is not up to you to complain for him and I do NOT appreciate you bringing this into an open forum just to try to find some way of causing me trouble. If you wish to engage in round two with me I will be happy to oblige! I am a plain spoken guy and not too good at back biting but will acknowledge that you have a bit more power in your little world here than I do and most likely have more supporters than I do. But you need to bring it out in the open, make your statements and quit shadowing me and trying to do things to anger or dicomfit me behind the scenes, that is not an honorable way to do things. So Bring it on, my friend, let the battle begin or go ahead and kick me off again. I am just about to leave it to you and yours anyway. 3-Finger Louie

I saw this post several hours ago and did not post an opinion because I was afraid to start a "fire". But I smell smoke so I will post . I have not been collecting very long and may WELL be totally wrong, but I would aviod the blond SA.
I know LITTLE about NPEA daggers and will not venture an opinion on somthing I do not understand. Sorry if this is a "downer". Thanks for posting... I LOVE blond SA's, only own one, but I would pass on that one.
Sorry
Just my opinion...

Johnny, No Downer! I have no problems with comments, Pro or Con, I like the dagger myself, but will always listen to what someone has to say. The smoke you smelled is from a fire that has been smoldering for quite a while and had Nothing to do with anything that was being discussed in this thread! I do appreciate and welcome your opinion! So fire away, What do you think? forget the scabbard though, I think we have come to the conclusion already that it was redone, probably by ME a while back! 3FL

Well, since you asked for it:
1) The eagle looks high in the grip, even if it is a "bigger" eagle, I think it should still be centered.
2) The grip does not fit the upper or lower fittings... remotely.
3) The eagle has a noticable "halo" which is usually evidence that it was added post-war, with less skill than the original manufacturers and filled around with wood putty (maybe?)
4) The grip shape just does not "look right". I cannot put my finger on it but in every pic. it just looks disproportionate or mis-shapen... Somthing about the upper end toward the upper fitting around the SA roundel... looks wierd.

...but that's just me...

Hey Thanks,

I pulled out the trusty Micrometer and this is what I find:

#1 the distance between the top of the SA Disc to the bottom of the eagle Swaz in the average of three known Original Grips I have hanging around is almost exactly 70mm +/- 1 / 1.5mm!
Grip in Question is 62mm Therefore the eagle is 8mm too high in the grip! Not bad Eyballin' Bud!

#2 This has already been noted, but, The measurements show that the top grip head is 32mm wide while crossguard gap is 33.05mm I feel this is acceptable. On the other hand, bottom grip head is almost 40mm +/-.5mm, while the bottom crossguard gap is 44mm. Way Too Big! Again not to shabby for eyeballin'!

#3 There is a .023mm gap all the way across the top of the eagles wings, consistant in width. Not much, but full of old Dark varnish or dirt which really makes it stick out. Depends on how forgiving you are and possible wood shrinkage? Virtually NO measureable Gap around
SA button! The Grip appears to be made of solid Oak and Hard as a rock. I will be nice and allow that due to the nature of the wood, it would probably shrink more than stay hydrated for a tight fit. Possible? Not too far outside specs for 70 years.

Conclusion so far: Unquestionably cross guards have been replaced! SA Button has not been replaced and inconclusive that eagle has been replaced.

#4 will take some more time and results will be posted in a while. Comments welcome!

Hi Guys!
Just curious, why do you say the crossguards have been replaced? The accent grooves on the top and bottom guard look the same. Since these were hand cut, if they are almost identical style grooves, it makes it more likely this pair of guards belong together. If they do, then it would not make sense that the bottom of the grip shrank more than the top, so therefore maybe the grip is suspect.

I love mysteries!

Personally I really like your "blonde" Louie - wish it was in my collection