I woke up this morning and headed an hour northwest to the sleepy little town of New Ringgold. There was an auction going on with a SS dagger listed. The auctioneer refused to send me pictures, so and upon arrival I was able to see there was some condition problems with the blade. The rest of the dagger in my opinion was in beautiful untouched shape. The scabbard fitting screws and pommel nut look as if Boker was the last ones to turn them. The Runes button has some enamel missing however the anodizing on the scabbard is in great shape. I felt this was a good honest conditioned SS for my collection.

Now the story.
I was fortunate enough to talk with the owner and asked if he knew any of the provenance behind it. He told me he had purchased it from a Colonel while he was still in the service for $250.00 in 1964. The Colonel had said it came from a SS officer from Stalag 17. He also went on to say that it was poor judgment on his part not getting the Colonel to write it down on paper and sign it, but hind sight is 20/20.

I know you buy the dagger and not the story but since the owner was there I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Rich

...more pics

A good honest Böker IMO!
Congrats on your new find

WOW!!! Absolutely dirty looking!! completely untouched!! The patina is even throughout. Rare to see a 2pc hanger coming along to the auction also. I dont know anything about Stalag 17 except for the movie..but like you said you buy the dagger and not the story. Dont clean this one at all except some blade preservation,,and TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT is the crossguards to grip fit!! Good job Rich!! Larry

Looks like it was worth the drive . A one looker .

Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated.

Rich

A nice dagger,Rich.
I like daggers in this condition

Gerd

Nice dagger.He paid a boat load of money for that dagger in 1964.Todays high prices equal tomorrows bargins.

Thanks guys,
I too like them in this condition however I wouldn't have been upset it the blade looked a little more like my other Boker
Zorro, I agree, $250.00 in 1964 is like a mortgage payment on a nice house back then.

Rich

In the UK in 1964 it would have bought a small house I was buying better SS daggers then for around $100 SAs were $25
wish I still had em all but that's another story could have been the Wittman or Johnson of the UK

Think about it, If you were buying SS daggers in 1964 for $100.00 and today the average SS goes for $3500.00 that means the price went up 35 times in value in 47 years. So in another 47 years the SS daggers should be around $122,500.00 . What a deal!!!

Rich

Cloud cuckooland Rich a good SS is still only $2250 in the UK even with the dollar at 1.5 to the pound

Well,
I can't speak for the UK AJ, but a quick search of the U.S. dealer sites reveals otherwise for a "good early" SS dagger.

Nice score Rich. Never been messed with and that is what collectors are looking for.
Rod

Andrew Gates www.ww2germandaggers.com has a Hammesfahr for £1650 just now OK a tad over $2200 but in the range I quoted My question is are the US dealers selling at their prices?

Couldn't tell you AJ, I don't watch their sites that closely. I like hunting the stuff down myself.

Thank you Rod,

When you can find one that hasn't been messed with, I too think their more desirable.

Rich

Agree entirely with your philosophy Rich but these days out of the wood work examples are few and far between here in the UK unlike US vets our boys were prohibited from obtaining and returning souveniers although obviously some ignored that ruling..
As regards prices it is all very subjective and at the end of the day anything is only worth what someone is prepared to pay regardless of the items current perceived worth

Hi AJ,

Is it a Hammesfahr??
You meant a Herder for 1650,or?

Gerd

Yeah Gerd it's a Herder The Old Brigade had a Hammesfahr for similar money but it is now sold

verry nice Böcker!!!
trussa