Need opinion on this SS Dagger, by Gottlieb Hammesfahr

[ibrahim ahmad]

Hi everyone,

Need to know your opinion on this SS Dagger, by Gottlieb Hammesfahr
Priced at Euro 675.

So is it authentic ?????

Is the price right????

Best Regards,
Ibrahim,
Singapore

[ibrahim ahmad]

[Larry Lipps]

It would be nice to have a clear, straight on photo of the grip eagle. It may well be the photo, but something about the way it appears to be inset into the grip looks unusual.

[patrice]

I don't like the scabbard and neither do I like the grip.

The sacbbard has obviously been repainted and seems to have plated fittings.
A "textbook" early SS EM 33 should have solid nickel fittings with an anodized scabbard.
The grip is also extremely suspicious and I doubt it very much if it is original.
The eagle doesn't look right, the SS button seems also very "unusual" and the grip itself is "unevenly" carved with traces of brownish residue above the eagle's inlay.
Many unusual traits but better pics would be very helpful in evaluating its originality.
Close up of the grip eagle would also help.
The blade, crossguards all seems to be original though.
In conclusion, I would say that the grip is a replacement ( original or not is hard to tell from those pics alone ), the scabbard is an original repaint, the blade and maker marked seems to be fine.
Not a bad dagger eventhough it has been "played with" and the price seems to be also fair. A textbook example in such a condition would certainly sell for 1500$ USD top.
I would love to hear JR's analysis, having a lot more experience on this types of daggers.

Pat

[T elliott]

Here is a 33 SS Hammesfahr. The lower crossguard is stamp with a III District Number.

[T elliott]

Back of crossguard III

[T elliott]

Back of lower crossguard (rev.2)

[JR.]

I truly hate to dis someone's item, especially when they are trying to sell something. I will try to be totally objective in my reply. The dagger does have all of the "challenges" which Patrice and Larry have pointed out which I will go over as well. First off, as was pointed out, the grip of this dagger immediately stands out as either being not original to the piece or 2, having been altered. The fittment of the eagle and how it is set into the grip is very un-natural and un-characteristic of how Hammsfahr SS dagger are normally found. And to me the eagle in this grip even seem to possibly be made of aluminum and not the proper nickel that is always found in early 33 SS daggers. Next in moving up the grip to the runes, they too look like either a replacement as if the original button had been rremoved. But even with the emblem issues aside, the grip itself is totally out of character of how I have always seen Hammesfahr SS daggers. The grips used by this company are most often found with a medium contour center ridge, are bulbous in shape, have a very short upper neck and always a very tight proper fit to the crossguards. I truly don't see a Hammesfahr grip on this dagger. While this company at times did use a few different crossguards, the one that is normally seen is marked "PA" inside. And every time that I can remember, the district mark on the reverse is Roman numeral III being very lightly stamped. This dagger does look like it has PA fittings and maybe does have the district mark as well.
The scabbard as was pointed out, should have originally had a "blued" or what collectors term "anodized" finish. This dagger has a painted finish on it's shell. The blade has the proper trademark for this company and is in the correct placement and distance from the crossguard. As a couple last notes, when you find a Hammesfahr with non -weathered blade, they have a screamin factory finish with normally a very high luster. I'll see if I have a photo of a close up of a grip so that you can compare what is normally found on a dagger by this firm. JR

[JR.]

H1

[JR.]

H3

[JR.]

H4

[GdC26]

Gents,
Thanks for the comments sofar. The dagger has meanwhile been withdrawn from e-stand. But since I don´t want to be a bad sport, here are the further pics requested.
As you will see, the crossguards are marked PA. the eagle appears to be some zinc ally, definitely not aluminum. And the grip shows the type of hole associated with original daggers, as per Witmann, page 47.

Sincerely,
GdC26

[GdC26]

Gents,
Thanks for the comments sofar. The dagger has meanwhile been withdrawn from e-stand. But since I don´t want to be a bad sport, here are the further pics requested.
As you will see, the crossguards are marked PA. the eagle appears to be some zinc ally, definitely not aluminum. And the grip shows the type of hole associated with original daggers, as per Witmann, page 47.

Sincerely,
GdC26

Pic # 2

[GdC26]

Pic # 3

[GdC26]

Pic # 4