First Wehrmacht Dagger Ever - help!

[eindecker2]

Hello all - went to the flea market today and found this. I hardly know much about these things, but what I did know seemed to pass, so I took a gamble and got it for a low price (thats what scares me the most! ) It a bit rusty and not the greatest condition, and it might even just be a bunch of parts put together, but I would apreciate your opinions to aleviate my fears

[eindecker2]

the blade with a faint 'Solengen' mark (spelling? on my part here)

[eindecker2]

side view of the shaft - notice the double wedding ring mark on the shaft just above the start of the blade (is that a good sign??)

[eindecker2]

the eagle - great detail, and is made from what appears to be aluminum. There is a mark inside that is of a stick figure man made at right angles (gerber??) So this makes me think that its a put together piece...

[eindecker2]

and the grip with the ring.

[eindecker2]

Since she is a bit rusty on the blade - if its original, what would you folks give as advice to remove it and keep it in a state of stability?

[Skipper Greenwade]

I would clean the blade with Simichrome. You may be pleasantly surprised at the results.

From the photos it's hard to tell, but my irst instinct is that it is likely an original dagger that' s seen a rather hard past 60 years.

Welcome to the 'dark side'!
Skip

[Larry Lipps]

I agree with Skip. Looks like it might be a later war issue based on the color of the metal under where the plating is peeling. Personally, I'd only clean the blade. Be sure to use simichrome and not regular brass or chrome polish. I'm not certain from the photo, but it looks like the maker is WKC.

[David C]

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My first thought was WKC but I think the crossguard is Hörster. If the crossguard is aluminium it should be later war. The tapered tang of the blade is however an early feature. I have two tapered tang WKC's; a first pattern crossguard and a transitional. The transitional has the same 'double circle' marking on the tang.

Cheers,
David.

[Larry Lipps]

While I agree that it doesn't appear to have all WKC componets, based on what photo enhancing I could do with the maker's mark it looked like I was seeing the bottom of the knight's head above the maker's mark. The letters above SOLINGEN look like a W S C so I'm not positive.

[David C]

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I performed the same exercise Larry and I agree.

Cheers,
David.

[eindecker2]

Ahhhhaaa! Yes that is it - I was trying to see a king on a throne and not a knights head - its all been a bit removed over the years - but that is it! Solingen... as for the crossguard here is a photo of the makers mark if that helps - I am still assuming that it had been put together and is not original because the makers are different??

[eindecker2]

Well - I forgot to say - Thanks for all the comments! So - was $100 a rip off or a fair deal?

[David C]

The crossguard is definitely a Hörster. The mark is a sword superimposed on the letter H.

So a parts piece with a poor blade but certainly worth $100 I'd have thought.

Cheers,
David.

[50_CAL]

i think its safe to say your $100 went a long way