Never seen this mark before on an army, I believe this to be there earliest vintage, it came with the early type brass based hangers and the original knot.
I picked this up at the Max show, it just so happens I was talking to Tom Kendall at the time, I looked down at the next table and saw this tucked into a corner, this dagger must have been missed by everyone, and yes I know its a Pack cross guard, doesn't worry me at all. Thanks to Tom for helping me with identifying the cross guard and giving it the once over.

Gary

Gary,

Very nice and congrats.

I have found this mark on a Luft2 as well. It looks like the earliest Luft2 production used this same Heer blade with the early mark.

John

Hi John
Thanks for that, the first thing I did when I got home was to check your maker mark thread, I noticed you had one and its definitely the same blade, extremely wide in my opinion.

Gary

Gary,

I've never seen that mark on an Army or Luft dagger either, I agree it must be early production. Very nice pickup!

Looks great. Perhaps with the small Klaas TM so far down the blade it could be a ground Rohm?

Very nice daggers shown here. The army with the slant grip is a special beauty.
However, when you do a close examination of the two marks you will see, that they are NOT the same. The one on the army has broader letters, the letters in the luft trademark are much more delicate.
You might now say that it is only a difference how long the acid etching process did last. But no. When you do an examination eg. of the storks bodies (beside the touching/not touching beaks or the differing length of the throats) you will find out that there were used minute differing etching templates.
Regards,

Wotan:

You are correct. When I first looked at Gary's I thought the difference was due to the angle of the photo... why would Klaas have two different circular logos?

John

JohnZ, I think during the period there have been much, and I emphasize "much" more small differing logos than collectors are currently aware of. Remember eg. of the mass of logos from the EICKHORN or the HÖRSTER firm. Or HÖLLER with the minute differences in their thermometer logo. Sometimes these different logos even have been used parallel as we know best from the EICKHORN firm.
Sorry, I do know no reason, it´s just a fact.
Regards,

Thank you to everyone who has commented, now I see the two maker marks side by side I can see the differences.

Gary

Gary, That's a beauty of a slant! I have seen Klaas slants with this Pack fitted hilt before but not with that wonderful MM!! Surely a different mark than Johns too as Wotan observed! The difference in the length of the cranes necks really stand out to me.. well done Gary, you are a magnet when it comes to finding these early and interesting Heeres at the show!! I am sorry I didn't make it this year to the Max, my little British Mini let me down! Had her in the shop.. LOL Kevin.

Great stuff guys!

Gary
Very interesting and rare slant I have never seen this maker mark before on an army. As Kevin said we all know Klaas did use Pack parts and quite prolifically on the later period army daggers. I was standing right next to Gary talking to him when he spotted this in the case right in front of us and bought it I never seen it till he had it in his hand Really is a small world huh Always a pleasure seeing Gary at the shows.