Overall good looking RZM dagger, nice crossgraining on the blade, but motto and logo...
I've never seen such a combination of the Ex ++ blade and such a poor etching.
http://cgi.ebay.com/HITLERS-BROWN-SHIRTS-SA-DAGGER-SHEA...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
It looks OK..just a very light etching solution??
M7/73 is F&A Helbig who is known for light etch. I think this piece is OK.
I wouldnt buy it. The RZM looks like an ink stamp that was wiped when it was wet and the RZM mark looks too far away from the lower crossguard for me. The motto also looks bad.
This thing is exactly as it should be. It's hard to tell but the crossguards are unique and very thick, unlike any other guards. The motto's are always faint and the RZM marks funky. If you ask for extra pics you will likely see that the eagle is misplaced, too high. The blade usually takes 2 hands to remove from the scabbard they are so tight. These things are crappy looking and poor quality but real. The SS daggers are even worse. I usually avoid as I spend more time explaining why they are real than is worthwhile!
So, it's just the example of late RZM lower quality. I must say it's quite extreme by this maker.
Unfortunately the dagger has been pulled from eBay and we don't have any photos for future reference to show.
Personally, I don't like this maker either for all of it's bad points as stated above.
In support of what Paul said about this maker with regards to their SS daggers and to give everyone else an idea of how poorly this maker looks, have a look at these past threads for a comparison:
http://daggers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/728099473/...283064827#8283064827http://daggers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/728099473/...=283106911#283106911http://daggers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/728099473/...850095143#4850095143
The lack of quality in the FuA Helbig SS daggers is well-known. High eagle, very poor etch, bad blade fit, etc. Many people have passed them up as fakes.
I always figured there was a political connection for them to be able to get away with that lack of quality.
Dave
Great info. here. I knew Helbig was always a little "shoddy" but I nevery thought they were THAT bad! If I saw that at a show I would have sworn it was a fake.... amazing.
Same also holds true for the F & A Helbig maker's mark on my NSFK dagger. I too, almost passed it up because it is such a light etch and so poorly done! ~ Ian
I guess I was wrong. I would have passed on this dagger. Learn something new everyday.
The funny thing is, for all their lack of concern for the political daggers, their other dagger types for the most part, seem to be all right..perhaps it is the other way around,they made political daggers, but had no affinity for them (or the politics behind them)
www.kurskmilitaria.com