could this dagger be real?? The etching looks like something out of a horror picture.
however, someone said Steinbach etches could look like this
Hey Signalman, I took a peek at it on the WAF. Some things are questionable and some are not. I believe towards the end of the war these RZM makers really didnt care much how they looked after losing their identity to the RZM. Some of it is good. I would rather see you have an early SA in the condition this Late SA is in and you might spend another $100 bucks but it will be well worth it. I prefer the early SAs because of the history and the craftmanship. When you get your refund,, check out Lakesidetraders web site for an early one. Late SAs IMO are a bottle of soda without the "fizz" Early SAs you get more out of it and not just because you paid more. When you own an early SA you will know what I mean. Regards Larry
I have a couple of late SA's, and they have far,far,far better etches than this. They actually are quite nice.
The scabbard on this NSKK is real nice, and I am of the opinion ( through comments on WAF threads ) that this is a parts dagger like Atwood brought in after the war with a lousy / Repro blade. But I am really an amateur in daggers which is why I am asking.
There must be a few " Old Timers " who know one way or the other on this blade. Also I saw a couple other by the same maker searching the internet, and even they looked better than this blade.
I cannot believe the lack of quality in the blade, and yet the scabbard looks great as far as fit & finish.
The first set of pictures on WAF is all I saw before I bought it, so I am glad I have the return option. But if truly real, I would imagine it would be good for a collector to have a late war dagger to show the deterioration of dagger quality, just like with firearms
The question is,
When were the last - Late war - NSKK/SA's made? and did quality really suffer this much? Sorry if these questions seem amateurish.
I have owned firearms made within the last couple months of the war and they were pretty bad ( Throughout the whole gun ).
PS, I also own a couple of early SA's and they are great.
signalman:
The latest dates on dress daggers and dress bayonets is 1942.
Here are pics of a 1942 dated RZM 7/66 (Eickhorn). They were scrimping for material and you can tell, but the production values were still pretty high. Look at the fit, the crispness of the trademark. Sloppiness and crudeness were the hallmarks of the last ditch production years, 1944 and 1945, IMHO.
John
Hi Signalman,
Observe if the etching flaws are coincident with the running marks. I observed at others Hellbig blades, the etching are very superficial and susceptible to be damaged by the scabbard.
Hello, numerous flaws do not coincide with running marks.
Another question would be, did Helbig actually make NSKK/SA's ?
Anybody remember them in a collection before Atwood ??
Not before Atwood,, but according to our SA moderator Mike McAlavanah early maker FA Helbig existed and a very rare find being a 10 on a rarity list, but not as an RZM.