UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons SS Dagger Forum thoughts on '33 Eick.

Hey fellas, was over at the wifes unlce today and finally got him to bring out a few things from WW2. He landed on D-day and was an MP until the end of the war. He showed me a really nice dress bayo by pack with a mint brown frog. He also had a SS m33 by Eickhorn. The dagger is in great shape but not sure if he kinda put the thing together over there. The scabbard is a painted type. The blade is early eickhorn but the fittings seem plated but then have the region mark on the back. Any thoughts on this one? And yes, he took it apart and put the handle backwards.

another pic

another shot

&#@#$..forgot that last pic

one more

and last one...I do have a pic of the front of the blade but it really turned out bad so I'll leave it off unless somebody really wants to see it. It does look like there is one of those inspection marks under the lower crossguard.

If the crossguards seem to be plated my guess is that they were chrome plated by your wife's uncle or another GI shortly after the war. Chrome plating was popular and these war souvenirs had no collector value at the time. I have seen scabbards and even blades that were chrome plated.

If memory serves, it seems it is mentioned in TW's book that early SS daggers are sometimes found with plated guards.

Let me emend that. Early nickel-silver guards are sometimes, but not often, seen with chrome-plating. Not to be confused with the later zinc-based, nickel-plated guards.

The Germans did a lot of nickel electroplating on things like dagger parts, dress bayonets, sword blades (etc.) I have no recollection of ever seeing a period blade that has been chrome plated. Postwar yes, but not period. I would add, however, that before the time of the Third Reich the Germans developed a process of �bright nickel� plating which I think may be what is confusing the issue. Nickel plating over a zinc substrate might not be quite as bright as it would be over nickel silver. And of course a thick plating layer will have a different appearance than a thin one.

I�m not quite sure what is going on with this particular dagger. I think that some sharper images might help out in making a better assessment. But as seen in the images presented so far the lower crossguard shows some damage. And it also looks like the crossguards might have been buffed out/polished at one time. FP

Hey guys, thanks for all the input on this dagger. It really kinda threw me when he brought it out. The blade is not plated or messed with at all , and in fact its really a greatlooking blade with alot of cossgraining left. I was mainly cusious about the crossguards and scabbard. I always thought that all early fittings were nickle and never plated unlike what Grumpy stated. Could this be an original dagger? I guess what ever the case is, it was great to meet the wifes uncle. You know when people take an interest in the vets and their stories, it really makes them proud. In fact , I was told that I was the only one he really spoke anything about his war experiences to. It really put the right focus back into the collecting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Found it. Excerpts from TW's "SS" book, p. 42: "The collector will occasionally encounter early Model SS, Ground Rohm and even SS Himmler daggers, which have a chrome-like finish applied to both the nickel crossguards and scabbard mounts. It is believed by this writer that these chrome-like, plated finishes were either offered by manufacturers as an extra cost option, or were available during the period through outside sources." The writer points out chrome is brighter and does not require the frequent cleaning nickel-silver does. "The writer has seen many original pieces which reflect this finish. Analysis of the age and overall wear to these finishes tend to suggest these platings may not have been done after the war, as many collectors previously believed."

I�m not at all disagreeing that the information as stated is found in the book. I�m sensing from his use of �chrome-like� some uncertainty as to what the finish actually is. He also suggests that the plating may have been period (aftermarket) applied by an unknown company or companies. And that plated (2/3 copper) nickel silver parts would not be as susceptible to tarnishing, which not too surprisingly holds true for both nickel and chrome plating.

If period sales literature/catalogs (etc.) offer an optional �Verchromt� finish then it�s chrome. If they list �Vernickelt� then it�s nickel. As a practical matter I think taking plated nickel silver crossguards or mounts out into the sunlight and looking at their coloration/tint would help. And then look very, very closely for any signs of irregularities under the plated surface surface that might show through, to give an approximation of the age of the plating.

That said, so far I�ve seen nickel plated examples. But not chrome that I thought was period. FP

The principal point, I think, is some early nickel-silver crossguards seem to have been plated during the period, regardless of the material.

How about asking the Vet what he remembers about
the crossguards/disassembly and the circumstances of "liberation" of the dagger?