Hello, this was recently inherited. Trying to figure out if it is real and we should take care of it, or a fake. It was along with 3 other knives in a shadow box in the attic for many years. Thank you!

I am a little leery of the etch.

John

Thanks, I took more pictures with and without flash of the etching. Is that helpful?

My understanding is that etched blades without leaves under the eagle are post war.

I’m with John on this one, I don’t like it at all. A lot of people will quibble with an etched Luft by Carl Julius Krebs but they definitely produced etched 2nd model Luft daggers. I own one and I know John owns one as well.

The etch on this one has the eagle more resembling a seagull. The few period Krebs examples I’ve seen that had a Voos etch. I would add the grip to ferrule fit is poor for a special order extra expense item and the grip wire is not consistent with what I’ve seen on Krebs Luft daggers.

Hello, personally would not condemn this dagger/blade too fast. First I have learned from several advanced collectors that there did exist Luft and Army daggers with edched blades without the twigs under the eagle. But I know too few about the special features.
What I can see is that the mm is stamped which generally is mostly a good sign. The etch seems to be different from the VOOS etching. The pics do not show the eagle very well but, yes, it seems to be the "Gonzo"-type which is mostly a bod sign.
So in this case mho is that to classify the dagger/blade it needs a true expert on KREBS daggers and/or etched blades.
Regards,

Wotan,

An excellent point about the stamped Krebs logo, however easily explained. I believe mark to be period, although I’m of the opinion the etch was added decades later.

Thank you for all for the information. I will try to take a better picture. Who knew how hard it would be to take a picture of a knife. I do agree that the eagle's beak looks odd...I think the gonzo comment is spot on.

I don't like the eagle.

Why would Krebs buy Voos style etches and another different pattern?

Not one for me.

Here is what Krebs etch looks like.

John

Here is the eagle - close up.

Two things that jump out, the hooked nose appearance of the eagle’s beak as well as the lower swaz bleeding into the lower border. Not things I would be comfortable with.

John’s dagger shows a Voos style etch which is obviously different. While Wotan mentions that there may be a few originals of this style etch, the one most would be more comfortable with would be the Voos pattern.

Hello, Jon Z´s KREBS is a wonderful specimen and answers for me all questions concerning the etching in question. Thank you for showing!
Regards,