I recently received this set from a friend in Germany. He got it from a neighbor whose grandfather had served in the Kriegsmarine during WW2. While not a reproduction, it is a post war produced dagger. E.& F. Horster was in business until 1996. In the late-1950s, Horster started producing these daggers. To meet the requirements of the 1957 law, they were produced with the ball pommel. Initially the grips were celluloid over wood but soon changed to solid plastic. The grip wire was retained by wooden pins, a practice not used during the 3rd Reich period. Blade buffer pads were brown leather instead of the original red or green felt. Scabbard bands are embossed in the scabbard body instead of being separately applied. The scabbard throat is retained by two headless screws instead of the flat head screws originally used. The blade is plated and has the sailing ship/fouled anchor pattern and etched trademark.

I did an Internet search and found a few similar daggers being offered for sale. Unfortunately, the pommels had been replaced with the eagle type, the the daggers were described as "Late war production". Anyone have an idea as to the actual value of this set?

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