UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Miscellaneous Dagger Forum Postal daggers!

Postal daggers!

I have only had 1 come my way in over 50 yrs collecting!

It had no chain and finish was worn off handle!

It was numbered!

Remember when daggers from 1960 up had the blades greased up? Cosmoline ,vasaline,everything!
Vets put everthing on them.

The hobby has come a long way in protection of the blades!


What do you use on your blades now?

Postal daggers were never cheap! Be afraid to ask what they cost now!

PVON

number

Postschutz (postal protection) daggers belong to the most misunderstood or ununderstood edged weapons of the III R. First there are at least three variants. The nearly unnown 1st Model with a scabbard like the 1st Model RLB leader. Eroneously from some collectors it was school related due to a certain photograph in which it is worn. I do own this certain original photograph, there is a handwritten dedication on the reverse and I can assure you there is not the least school related!
And there are two 2nd models with the chain. One kind numbered and the other kind (assumable later daggers) unnumbered and slightly shorter than the numbered models.
Naturally there has also been a material change.
Extremely rare are the portepees for these daggers and most interestingly there have been TWO variants! Proofed(!) by period wearing pics from which I do own several. Both had the flecked cord but one has also a flecked slide and stem and the other one has a plain silver slide and stem. I am quite sure that the variants had nothing to do with the status of the wearer but due to the period they have been manufactured. Those with the flecked stem seem to be the earlier ones, those with the silver stem the later ones.
About 20 years back nearly no collector did like and want them. Their price has been aound 2500-3000 USD and I remember that Wittmann had about 7-10 for years (Johnson also had at least 4 or 5), unchanged as it could be observed b the description and their numbers. Then it became public that the Postschutz organisation had been no protection for postmen carrying out letters but a high technology protection and SS related organisation and suddenly the offered daggers did disappear one after one and the price consequently did rise until today.
Here my Postschutz leader, a late variant, unnumbered with the obvious later portepee variant (the full rig coming directly out of a household), regards,

Wotan
That was super information on these daggers, I knew little about them.
A super looking outfit you have, the leather hanger is sweet.
In your photos the grip looks a little blotchy, but the dagger as mint as could be.
Do these grips suffer the same as the RLB in a different post?? They look similar.
There is nothing like a wonderful dagger with a history lesson attached.
Thanks
Ed

Hello Ed, thank you very much for your kind words! I always have the impression that we should not only look at our or others items but also to know what we look at and the certain background. The Postschutz dagger grips had a very very light coating which easily goes to time. Normally all of the coating is gone even if they don´t look so bad like pvon´s grip. Imho it is a real miracle that there are at least remnants of the coating on my dagger. Personally I have not seeen a postal protection dagger grip with full period coating. If the coating was here it was restored...
Regards,

Thanks again for the lesson, I need them.
Ed

Here's my example with the earlier style knot and red woven cat's anus. Great looking daggers these are.

Billy G
It is amazing how you gentlemen have acquired such beautiful examples of hard to get daggers, and with all the trimmings.
That is a nice portepee.
Ed

Thanks Ed, I was very happy to get this one myself. I’ve found that nice Postschutz examples are out there if you look but they’re not priced cheaply. In most circumstances, you get what you pay for. Few bargains out there sadly.

I've seen a fair amount of Postschutz knots over the years, most were obvious fakes when held in my hands. This one was the first one where the quality was apparent. I've never liked the ones without flecks in the stem and slide but that's just my sentiment. It's entirely possible they're period produced.

I've never liked the knots with felt in the cat's anus. I've had some rare knots that may very well be period but the felt always made me just a bit skeptical. I had no doubts on this rig however.

I like Postschutz items. The KS98 frog is marked to a Postal unit at Regensberg.

Very nice pair, thanks for sharing,
Ed

Thanks to Wotan and Billy for sharing info and pics of outstanding items in their collections!

Love seeing knots!

So much different we collectors can see the original stuff!

PVON

I got tired looking for Postal Daggers for sale on the net.
Found one, Time Travelers, not in great shape, and pricey.
But, when you are one of the few.
Ed

Good for you Ed

Not easy to find!

Be looking for your pics!

PVON

Pvon
No. I wish I bought it, but just trying to find them out there.
The guys are right, there are very few, to none on the market.
I'm sure the SOS and Max will provide some for sale.
Ed

Well thanks to Vern for helping me get back on here!!thanks much!!!
Been an odd road back into the hobby the last 10 years or so

No computer anymore so resizing is a hard deal at this point. Hello to some old members BillyG, Dave , Dr.Mike, and others. Been a spell at best guys. Had to delete me old account from 2000 or so. John Merling hope your still around. I see Barry Brown has gone. I've been collecting just cars kid and life has been happening. My daughter has come around to the hobby so We are back not just me👍🤙✌️

If the images look like garbage let me know I

Good to see you again, Brett

Dave

It's amazing to walk back into this. My daughter is now 13 and has formed an obsession also. Even if it doesn't stick for her she's learning. Just bought her 1st dagger. From a no haggle dealer.

Welcome back Bret, good to see you back! Nice looking Postschutz, I love that sightly worn knot too.

Hello Bret

Nice to see you posting again!

Thats a nice Postschutz and the knot!

Good to have a reason back!

PVON

Brett

What did your daughter choose ?

Dave

Dave,Billy Pvon and all thanks means a lot. Once again I beat the odds. She went to a tiny gun show close to home and bought one of those Solingen daggers from the 50s 60s in the leather scabbard. I ask if she wanted some other stuff I had she said sure. So I broke out a bunch of duplicates she kinda hit it running. Gravity,HJ, army, basic things.