Naval Dirk question

[Duncan]

Recently came across a Austrio/Hungarian naval dirk - or so I suspect. Sorry no scans as the dealers don't like it too much when you bring your digital to the market. It is similar to the German WW2 style of blade that I am used to. A two ring holder and only around a 12" blade. The pomel of the dirk is a seamans knot with an ivory(?) white grip. Not bakealite or plastic. A "wave" design for the guard and a push button relaese from the sheath. The blade has an anchor and Austrian/Hungarian coat fo arms. One for each side. The sheath as a pebbeled appearance and another anchor motiff. Sound original? For roughly $200-?

[kaisertreu]

Duncan,
I have found the following information amongst my reference library and hope it may be of some help. Although the Austro-Hungarian navy did issue a dirk (Dolch) it stopped doing so some time before WW1 (exact date unknown). There was three patterns (1872, 1854 & 1873)issued during the life of the K.u.K Kriegsmarine and none of them match your description. The 1873 pattern is described as follows:
A stilettoe type blade which was etched on both sides. The grip was ivory (?) with wire running the length of the elongated grip. The pommel was made of brass in the shape of a crown, whilst the cross guard is as described by you. The scabbard was made of black leather with top and bottom heavily engraved etchings. The top fitting had the Imperial crown and anchor motif, whilst the bottom fitting consisted of leaves and flowers (possibly sea grass etc). Attached to the top fitting was two rings (one either side) to support the hanging straps. Possibly the dagger you have seen is from one of those Navy's that had it's origins in the old Austro-Hungarian Kriegsmarine. Hope this is of some help.

[Duncan]

Hello and thaks for the info- too late though someone else grabbed it as it was gone this week. I fond that the dirk was a type used duirn 1945. I found an exact match in a local museum. The discription was in Hungarian but it lised the dat of incepton as 1945. Perhaps arrow cross orgigins? Who knows. I have also found some WW2 aviation daggers form the Hungarian Air Force. These are short and nasty little things but I fear that these may be reproductions as the dealer with two of them had a whole table of the poorly faked SS ,SA, Luftwaffe daggers. Who knows.