Here is my thought on SS dagger rarity. I have not included a number 7 as everything after number 6 is just about impossible to find. I solicit your comments or suggestions for changes.

1. Eickhorn, Carl Small Oval (Smooth/Serrated Tail)
2. Klass, Robert Kissing Cranes Large TM
2. RA Herder 4 point star in doublr oval
3. Boker, H Art Decco + Tree
3. Hammesfahr, Gottlied Pyramid
4. Boker, Small Oval (Rohm Dedication)
4. Eickhorn, Carl Large oval (Smooth/Serrated Tail)
5. C. Bertram Reinh Sohn Chicken & Rooster
6. Pack, Ernst & Sohn Sigfried
6. Klass, Robert Small Version of kissing cranes

8. Schuttelhofer, A Complex ASSO mark
9. Jacobs & Co "Jco" signature
9. Gembruch, Ed Fish
10. Klittermann & Moog Arm and spear
10. Puma Cat's head in square
10. Backhaus, FW Child on a stork
10. Herder, F. Crossed keys
10. Kober, Wilhelm Centaur
10. Louper Log on fire

WKC Engraved WKC logo on ground Eickhorn


And, if you have an early SS dagger that is NOT on this list, I would really like to hear from you

Dave

Hi Dave,
here is my "list",based on my own experience of the last 35 years.
Eickhorn small
Hammesfahr
Klaas,big logo
Böker,big logo
Herder R.A.
Böker,small logo
Eickhorn,big logo smooth tail
Eickhorn,big logo serrated tail,it's much rarer as the smooth
Pack
--------------------------------------------------------------
listed below are very rare
Bertram
Klaas,small logo
Gembruch
Asso
Herder,crossed keys
Jacobs
Haven't seen one of the rest,except reproductions.

Gerd

Thanks, Gerd,

I think we mostly agree. I had not observed that the large Eickhorn with the serrated tail was that much more difficult, but you are most probably right. Once you get past the first five, it is very hard to say for certain as so few exist.

This was not true 15 and 20 years ago. You could find the rare ones if you looked hard an were prepared to pay. Today, they might all be "10" as far as our ability to find them.

I have them all except small Klass, small Boker, Louper, and serrated tail big Eickhorn. I sm waiting for great ones!

I WAS missing the large trademark Eickhorn until about two week ago. I passed up many but found a great one at MAX.

I have never seen a Louper or a Kober SS maker marked, are they in Wittmann's reference book ?

Yes

I know Louper - flamme made SA daggers but I've never seen a SS dagger from them. Any pics available?

I have seen/handled this piece.Qwner unlikely to show it :=).Doesnt need the publicity or money.

Very nice pick-up there Dave.

Thanks, Serge.

I've never seen the Louper, but it is in TW's book. The motto is visibly smaller than normal and further down the blade as well. I do have a couple of pictures. Not very good, but here then are:

Thx for the pics Dave! That's indeed a smaller motto. Never seen this before.

The Louper SS does have a smaller mottoe. I saw one in London about 40 years back, but passed on it because the smaller than usual mottoe concerned me, such is life!

Dave, any pic of a Backhaus?
Gerd

Also in TW's Book, Gerd

Barry, do you recon it is the one and only you passed up or are there several?

Dave; I believe it to be the one shown in Tom W's book. I have never seen nor heard tell of another example. I have a clear recollection of visiting a dealer's store at Islington, London, at the end of the 1970's - On the counter was a large crate of daggers in from a picker and that he was sorting through - the Louper came out of that crate. I passed on the "strange" Louper and selected a minty Henckels SS transitional! Ah, well.....

Barry,
when i see these pics,i guess i would have done the same.
In the past five years,i saw three Puma's and one Backhaus,all of these blades were acid etched,but i'm not convinced with these.
Regards,
Gerd

As it was already a topic on account Louper...
http://phpstack-500133-1583587.cloudwaysapps.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=274510
Vitaliy