UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Army, Navy, and Luftwaffe Forum Kolping with galalith/casein grip

A few months back I ran across this and it really had a great look to it. Honestly I'm not a huge fan of these casine grips but this one has a very nice look. My mom was a antique dealer back in the 60s and 70s and she was a big jewelry nut. Spent my fair share of time sorting thru old jewelry. A lot of the galalith stuff was shot and a lot of it looked like this. Maybe that's the reason when I saw this I had to have it! Not much to brag about and by far didn't need another army........ But here we are anyway.

Sweet dagger regardless of the grip.

Bret
Yes, it is a super looking dagger grip. I would have got it to fill in for the Ivory one I will never get.
Besides looking good, the grip fits the Pommel and the Feral very nice, often hard to find on these Heer Daggers.
Well done, a great looking dagger for sure.
Ed

Bret, very typical look of a galalith grip. Nice to see in these wonderful photos! In my opinion these are for sure a cornerpoint for army collectors. A true piece of history and technical development and the situation at the certain time. It is a special treat that it reminds you on the business of your mom.
And the whole dagger looks exquisite! Please, let us see the full gem!
Regards,

I've seen dozens of Army daggers with similar galalith grips rejected at shows over the years.

Dave

Yeah lots of collectors hate the grips. Galalith could actually be made in a pallet of colors. Always thought a marbleized drip would have been cool. But anyway. They do seem like they are the bastard child of the hobby for sure. I'll shoot some other pics and post them.

The bastard child? Of all the Army daggers I have seen, and I have only been to about 10 Show of Shows, 80% of all the Army grips are just PLAIN JANE GRIPS. Boring white, yellow and pumpkin collard grips by the thousands, could be millions. Do the owners of all these plain grips dislike these Galalith grips? I am sure they do. Even big dealers.
If a grip is not Glass or Glass like, Bone or Ivory, or a super dark pumpkin or dark red, most just pass them up.
Still this is a neat looking grip, and like I said, a great fit, but just my opinion, what do I know.
Ed

It has a fragile, aged appearance to it. (Been there done and seen that look)!

Kind of like what my mirror reflects.
--dj--Joe

In a very special segment of dagger collecting the galalith grip even is a sign for original or fake: Austrian Luft and Air Defense daggers which do not show a least the slight crackle of a galalith grip are 99,9% faked or (o,o1%) at least the grip changed. So the shunned material has quite it´s positive sides.
Regards,

Ed, after doing this for over 35 years my taste in what I find alluring has changed. Plus the reality of what is rare vs what is desired by collectors comes into focus better. Take things like Postals man super rare but the desire of collectors lean to SS and now SA. Maybe if someone wrote a book specifically on Postals you would never see them. Same goes here. I'm sure on all the other forums that exist these milk based grips have been talked about till nothing is left to say. Like "Luftwaffe Machetes" ( incorrect term btw) amazingly rare but not much in the way of interest. Just my view. I also believe many of the dark redish Armies have been hyper aged by some. Funny when you read about the early uses for Galalith as a substitute for ivory piano keys, furniture handles, jewelry people are working on restoring these things now. Only dagger collectors(and few at that!) would find this an attractive look.No man I really dig the appearance of this dagger👍

Love this dagger. I don't think I have ever seen one with this grip. Gives me that 20's 30's feel. Great Dagger thanks for sharing.

Yeah...that look is sweet.
I would prefer this to a minty, untouched look any day.

About the best photos I can manage. The blade is coated in oil and it does have some age to it.

..

The blade has oil and some cosmoline on it. It has some cloudy areas and some darkening. So yeah it's not a screamer. But all that gunk comes off but once you pull blade again it's on there again. I have read in the past that people think these are a late war thing. In my view that's about the furthest from reality.
Wotan I'm not a Aussie collector but I do know the 2 large Galalith factories were in the UK and Germany. The French factory was merged with the German one. We're the grip for the Australian daggers made in Britain?? Maybe the Australians had a factory also I have no clue?

i love that grip, great find

Bret, that grip really stands out!