Hello,

Are these maker marked HJ leader faked?
I'd see only RZM in the past.
Thanks.
JC

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First imo it is no EICKHORN scabbard but a HÖRSTER scabbard. From the not detailed pics also the pommels seems to be HÖRSTER and not EICKHORN. The logo-maker-marked blades are assumed to be from earliest vintage so I would like to see proper EICKHORN parts.
I am aware that, also with this certain kind of dagger, EICKHORN on rare occasions did use HÖRSTER parts but to my best knowledge and feeling only late in the war (time of dagger production) so contrary to a very early maker marked example.
Also the applying of the mm does not conform to what I do know about early EICKHORN HJleaders.
As nearly in each case a careful in hand inspection by an experienced collector would be necessary and highly recommended.
Recently (fall 2008) several imo good fakes did appear, also one early with this certain mm.
Be extremely careful on HJleader daggers. Fakes still CAN be detected but need a very careful inspection (naturally as the original ones too ).
Regards,

From what I can see I like it.It seems to have too many things right with it to be wrong.I would think it would be difficult too make a parts dagger look like that. It does almost look rather new handle,scabbard no tears or rips ect. Shine a light inside the scabbard too see if it looks new inside.Perhaps the blade was switched at some time which may explain alot.Fakes could be improving with HJ leader daggers also.It seems too me that it is just in really good shape which does not make it fake,it shows nice patina on alot of the components including the hanger.If original its a nice rig

I must agree with Wotan on this one. The scabbard doesn't look correct for an early Eickhorn. The grip wire looks to be replaced or re-wrapped. The hanger fittings look correct, but would have to see the leather in person to be sure.
Ron Weinand

Thanks a lot for your opinion.
Photo aren't good. I just receive other.
Can you please give opinion again with these photos?
Thanks a lot.

JC

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Thanks for all comment

I have some suggestions I would like to share.

1. Exclamation point does not look like Eickhorn one.

2. The shape of the ferrule, pommel and crossguard seems to be different from original Eickhorn.

3. Pommel should be screwed on the back not on both sides.

4. The grip wire looks too new.

That is what I can see. I would not buy such an expensive dagger if it is not a textbook example.

While I agree with MOST of Gottlieb's points, NOT ALL TM Marked Eickhorn HJ Leader's have a screw on pommel, only the very early ones.
Also, on these Squirrel TM pieces, very early blades were natural finish and later (months only) blades were plated.
Original very early scabbards were soft (like DLV Leader's) body with screw on fittings.
MANY variants in these Eickhorns from the first year of HJ Leader production.
No real hard and fast rules here.
JMO and from what I have seen over the years,
Ron Weinand

Thanks.
And what about the hanger?

JC

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Any other comment?

Thanks.

The top of the scabbard thoat does not have any dings or scratches from the blade being put into it. The nails that hold the pomel look to be new (replaced when the grip was rewraped ?) It is also visible where the old nails where pried out It would all depend on the price before I bought it, seems to have a lot of doubters. The good stuff gets better and the bad stuff gets worse.

Is the scabbard magnetic?
Regards,

No. The scabbard isn't magnetic.
Good news or not Wotan?

Thanks

Sorry for delay. The thread got a little out of my sight.
Imo unfortunately bad news. The only period un-magnetic scabbards of HJ leader daggers I am aware of are 1.) the full aluminium body ones and 2.) the type like Ron described which is comparable to the early dlv ones (I do not know if the fittings of these leather scabbards are magnetic or not but the leather (without any body but leather)itselve for sure isn´t ;-) . Both are from EICKHORN.
As the scabbard here for sure is NO EICKHORN but the typical HÖRSTER type it imo should be without any doubt magnetic.
It is not easy to do statements about this certain dagger and it´s accoutrement simply from the pics. But I dare to say that, from studying the pics only and from what we know about the dagger and it´s materials, it is a well made modern total copy. In the pics certain parts of the dagger do look like made from brass which never was used for any of these daggers during the period.
The hangers are an even harder thing to do a statement on. I have seen very very (!) convincable TN leader leather hangers which you can only detect if you have the real thing to compare and some experiences. I have seen those fake hangers offered by several (!) high end dealers (!) naturally as period, for the certain price.... Due to some certain parts and spots the metal hanger parts do look spurious to me.
BUT, as I cannot hold this dagger and the hanger in hands, my statement cannot be finally.
Currently there seem to be several different (!) and very well made faked HJ leader daggers around. No wonder due to the prices original ones gain.
Regards,

Thanks a lot.
I've post very good photo of the hanger in the Accoutrements forum. I think it's a good one, but your opinion will be welcome!
Best regards.