I just got this Wilhelm Wagner transitional dagger today. It looks to have a nickel eagle? Is this correct for this dagger. Also did this type of dagger have plated crossguards and scabbard fittings? The top crossguard has the taper with the tapered nut and the bottom crossguard is notched out for the blade to fit in. Is this all correct for this dagger?
Eagle
Yours looks to be plated. Trans. can be found either way depending on the vintage.
Thanks for the info Erich.
SSman
Know the crossguards and fittings can be either, but aren't the eagles always aluminum or pot metal on the Trans.
On RZM or transitional daggers the eagle can be Nickle silver, aluminum, potmetal or zinc. It depends on what the manufacturer had in stock or what his distrubutor had in stock. Later daggers with nickel silver eagle are found.
Dave
Thanks for straiting me out on that Dave.
Sam,
The bottom line here is that the early daggers are pretty much 100% predictable as to materials. Later one are much less predictable, particulary the smaller makers who might have a few boxes of early components left over.
Dave
Dave. Would the same go with the crossguards and scabbard fittings? I was told that this dagger should have had nickel crossguards and scabbard fittings but this dagger didn't look to have ever been taken apart until I did.
SSman
My experience or observation is that if the dagger has plated crossguards or an aluminum or pot metal eagle then the scabbard has plated metal fittings and no scabbard weight.
The most variable part was the eagle. They came in small boxes of about 100 and manufacturers probably bough a bunch at at a time. I have seen entire boxes of early ones at shows. Late ones of aluminum too. In a word, some manufacturers had supplies left at the end of war. Probabably the smaller guys.
Crossguards are next but lasted for a much shorter time probably because they were bulkyer and more expensive. You occasionally see them on transitional daggers. Also early SS RZM daggers such as 121/34, some M7/29, etc.
The one constant seems to be the rune button.
Dave
Can you post a square on shot of the grip that eagle seems to be way high but it could just be camera angle
AJ Here is a straight on shot of the grip.
SSman
Looks like a nice one SSman. I have a transitional F.W.Holler with plated fittings and a Aluminum Eagle and a RZM only Tiger with plated fittings and a nickel Eagle! I like the maker on yours pretty scarce for transitionals I think.CONGRATS!!
Kevin.
Nice one was just the camera angle
Thank You for the compliments Kevin and AJ. I had a trans Eick and I think their trans were the coolest!
SSman
