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Perhaps exquisite is not a good enough word for this treasure. You be the judge. Circa 1880-1910 -this piece was made with super quality materials and just a lot of hand workmanship. Very heavy with a solid brass hilt and a long heavy triple etched blade with a beautiful stiletto point. Lots of animals to see both front and back. It has survived the years and is in almost mint condition maintaining all its heavily plated fire gilt finish and all of the blade nickel plate. Looks to have been at least triple plated.
Although there is no TM I believe it is a J. A. Henckels product. There are some initials in a circle as you can see but I'm not sure if they are that of the owner or??--Anyway --its a wonderful piece of a style almost never seen.
MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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A rare treasure of singular beauty in a class by itself. From a time of Honor and tradition. Exquisite.
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WOW!! Where did you find this one?
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria
MAX CHARTER MEMBER
LIFE MEMBER OVMS
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It's so gorgeous it looks like it just rolled out of the showroom!
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This was a recent purchase from a vet's family by a good friend of mine who was kind enough to let me have it.
MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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That is a beautiful piece, to be sure ..
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson
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Man o man is that special!
And what a treat just to gaze upon it's beauty.
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Thank you for some great photos. A real treat so see right before Christmas.
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS
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INCREDIBLE!!!  A one of a kind TREASURE! Congrats, and thanks for sharing!
Silver Badge #0398 My Avatar = My dagger security system! 
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Absolutely incredible. Not only a unique piece but unimaginable that it has survived in such pristine condition. Thanks for showing it. It makes you realise how much craftsmanship is lost & that nothing today is actually "made"
War is when your government tells you who the enemy is.
Revolution is when you figure it out for yourself.
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Houston,
Super !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lou Bell
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I'm speechless !!!!! Can't find the proper words for this beauty. A rare treasure indeed and something to be proud of. Crafmanship at its best. If you ever get tires of it, why don't you send it to the Great White North ? 
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Museum quality to be sure! Thanks for sharing! Don't even think about sending that out of the USA!
"Endeavor to Persevere"
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Houston, I think exquisite is an understatement, it's way above that. In your mind is there anything that stands out that makes this a Henckels rather than any other maker, I have never seen those fittings on anything else but certain parts of the etch on the blade are noted in my files as from WK&C. I have an unmarked hirschfänger with a very similar etch that has WK&C traits, I also have seen this similar etch on marked WK&C pieces, that obviously does not mean it is a WK&C,it may not be, Henckels in my opinion were the greatest maker of Hirschfängers ever and looking at this piece it wouldn't surprise me if they did make it. I think the central lion in the hilt looks like a Henckels trait, I'm not sure of anything else, the grip I would think would be a one off, the scabbard fittings are wonderful, best I have ever seen as is that clamshell, most of all though the Gilt looks to be in superb condition and gives the piece the glow that only mercury gilt can, they certainly applied the gilt heavy on this piece. Wonderful example of why these are the best edged weapons that anybody could collect, why more do not I will never understand. Mike, the chances of this piece leaving the States is very low, though I'll do all I can to own it in the future. as I'm sure others would like to. Thanks Gary
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Gary-It may be a WKC. We know the bird frog stud was used by several companies-not just C&J-so that does not say much except that I think the era is closer to 1910 than 1880. What made me think of Henckels was the short etch on the blade that seems to be a characteristic of theirs and not of others. Ralph--Do you have any examples with a hilt anything like this?
MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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I agree with the dating on this Houston, post 1900 I would think, the piece I have with a very similar etch is dated 1901. I would love to think of this as a Henckels, they made the best pieces.Yes Henckels used a short etch but I believe only with that cute Fox and standing deer. Hopefully Ralph will be searching all those Hirschfängers and will come up with something to help narrow the maker, whatever it is the most beautiful piece I have seen in some time.
Gary
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Mr. Coates,
I feel picked on! Just because I recently found a decent Hirshy does not mean that you need to come so far over the top on your finds. You are not helping my low self-esteem problem this close to the Holidays.
I would suggest that you just keep this one and sell off some of your others to the rest of us. Spirit of giving and all that. Just an idea.
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Anonymous
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That is just amazing handiwork. What a hilt!
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Thanks Robin-I think. Hirshy??-Now that's a lovely word. 
MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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I bet this beautiful item is breath-taking in hand, items such as this deserve a special category on the forum where you could upload top quality pictures with no size restriction, items to be pre-approved by Dave/Vern. Just a thought!!, and although Houstons pictures are top notch its a shame to lose the detail during compression.
Outstanding piece and probably one of the best shown all year .
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Houston, Any chance of this hirschfanger being on display at your SOS tables? I have never seen anything quite that stunning, and would love to see it up close. 
ERIC
GD.com Gold Badge #57 Silver Badge #325
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Too late to cry now, but I had an opportunity to own before Houston (which is rare). At least i handled it for about half an hour. Guess i will just have to wait until Houston decides to sell it. Sorry Gary, it will have to stay in the states. The pictures do not do the piece justice. You have to hold it to appreciate it. I will feel sad no longer for it has a good home. Yager
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Now THAT, is a thing of beauty. Congradulations on owning such a treasure. I must also admire the etch work, not a flaw, crooked line or incomplete design. The best of an Etching Master's true calling. An example of fine detailed artistry to the eye that words cannot describe.
Von Ryan
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Bloody amazing piece, what a beauty.
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Houston Coates: Thanks for sharing this truely amazing artifact. It just rekindled my interst in Hirschfaengers. Although I don't have any illusions about ever getting my hands on anything like that.
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Congrats Houston, one of a kind.
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Houston, This piece is remarkable. The only place I have ever seen such a beautiful Hirschfänger even comparable to this was at the Deutsches Klingenmuseum. 
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-4/20265/XBQKF-me109-transparent.gif" width=115 height=34>
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Great Hirschfänger-superb.One of the best i have seen.This dagger must come from an aristocratic house.Is this the original finish?
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Yes-the gold finish and the blade nickle plate are 100% original, The scabbard leather has been polished. A very high quality heavily plated piece.
MAX & OVMS Life Member, MAX Bd. of Experts. GDC Platinum Dealer. Collector since 1955.
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