Hi, I am sure this question has come up before, but I have not seen a definite answer yet. Does anyone have information on which direction the "over the shoulder" squirrel logo on the Eickhorn naval dagger should have been placed, or is either way fine on those late war dagger blades? Squirrels head towards pommel, or can head be towards the blade tip too? Thanks.
Hello Brando71, first let me welcome you to the forum!
As far as I know, concerning the latest mm pre ´45 (the -stamped- "squirrel looking over the shoulder") is accepted in both directions, head towards the pommel and head towards the blade tip from the collectorship.
This said, all I do own or have owned (army, navy, bayonet, saber) have or have had the head towards the pommel.
Regards,
Wotan:
I have 4 Eickhorn Navies with the 42 over shoulder mark, 1 head to crossguard and 3 with feet to crossguard.
Like Wotan all Eickhorn daggers I ever owned have the head towards the pommel. I've seen Eickhorns with the feet towards the pommel on the internet but, coincidence or not, theses trademarks were always 'sloppy''/not crisp. Would be nice to see one just as crisp/sharp as the ''normal' head to pommel type.
Regards
Danny
Danny:
Here are my three feet to pommel TMs.
The first is on a plain blade with a chased scabbard.
The second is on a plain blade with squirrel alone.
The third is on a plain blade with a steel scabbard.
J
Thanks a lot John! Your pictures are really helpfull.
Regards
Danny
Thanks for the welcome and the knowledge.
when I toured the Eickhorn factory in about 1975 or 76, I was told by Ulrich Haering that if the sword/dagger was held with the blade pointing down, the pre-1945 TMs were applied with the squirrel right side up. Post war pieces have the TM right side up if the blade is pointed up. Stated another way, the squirrel's head should be close to the pommel. I cannot state for sure if this rule of thumb applies to the late war TM which the original question referred to. Furthermore, there are exceptions to every rule. I hope this helps!
Joe S