I certainly hope no one thought my posts were mean but the exact opposite. I was trying to suggest that JOHNZ should feel good about his dagger because I think there is WAY to much stock placed in maidenhair blades. Of course there are nice and great to have and I for one would love to have one but from Pat's comments there may be a misconception about damast blades and what was top and what was less. By the way JR your point is well taken and it may very well be that a political blade may be more expensive because of more work and/or more material. BUT, it should be relative as I said in my first post as to maidenhair vs. Four band with the four band being just that much more expensive in a political dagger. Those honor dagger cross guards are vastly more rare than maiden hair pattern blades throughout the third reich. David
