As collectors, we give the Germans way too much credit for how we feel they should have viewed and valued these daggers. To show you exactly how much stock the Germans put in the quality of their Damascus Honor Daggers, look at the grip eagle in the later SA Chain Honor Dagger. These eagles are the potmetal, grey, poor quality grip eagles used in the late war SAs. So don't tell me how the Germans would value their prized Honor Daggers. It just doesn't make sense to feel these were super quality or best only examples.
Also, look at the Feldherrnhalle Dagger. Not a product of war production nor from a period of material shortage, but still a poor quality dagger for a special unit and occassion item in my opinion.
Again, I don't think they valued the daggers as much as we do.
JMO,
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria
