SS DAGGER Real or FAKE!!please help!

[belinda]

hi colt45,
i agree that the blade has seen much better days, but the handle is wood and is not plastic.

regards,
belinda

[Seiler]

Bosleys?mmmmmm!
Seiler

[jodagger]

I have seen a number of German SS & SA daggers that have had very poor blade storage over the years, ending up looking like yours. I personally believe yours is a real blade. Remember the blade is steel and is the most obvious part if not protected to stain and rust. I don't believe yours is a parts piece for the following reasons.
To get a blade to crossguard fit with early solid nickel silver fittings is damm difficult at best as early pre RZM daggers were hand fitted making the swapping of parts very difficult. I see little wrong with this dagger except the obviously poor conditioned blade and repainted scabbard. I would like to see the tang and would also like to see the dagger in the scabbard to see how the crossguard mates with the scabbard throat. Obviously the scabbard fittings must be nickel silver and should have the same colour hue as the dagger fittings.
One thing I will say is the most IMPORTANT part of a dagger to a collector is the BLADE of which yours is definately in poor condition and will have a huge bearing on value or in this case lack of value.

[jodagger]

There is one other thing I will mention a similar condition 33pattern SS dagger with an exact similar blade finish sold for NZ $1800-00 thats about 650 pounds in an auction in New Zealand. I was asked to authenticate it before it was catalogued. My opinion to value due to its condition was between NZ $600-00 to $800-00 boy was I wrong. So don't depair if you bought it someone else will.

[belinda]

many thanks for the advice. I really wanted an ss dagger and this is the only way that i can afford one, having a bad blade , but when a few members said some of their opinions on it, i must admit that it did make me feel that i have been cheated , but reading your thoughts on the matter has me feel alot better as i didn't really want a bits and bobs one. I have posted another couple of pictures of the blade in the scabbard. I would all love your opinions in weather you think that maybe this is the blade to go with the dagger after all and that it was just wrongly stored away.

regards,
belinda

[belinda]

the other side

[belinda]

another picture

[RussellM]

Hi Belinda. I couldn't agree more with my fellow countryman. The fit doesn't get much better than you show here. I'd say it came this way, and has just sufferred some moisture and storage damage to the blade. Likely the scabbard was in poor condition as well, hence the re-paint. I don't believe this is a parts piece. Shame about the damage and the repainted scabbard but you still have an original SS dagger IMO.

Regards
Russell

[belinda]

hi russell, many thanks for your comments. You are right that it is a nice fit with the blade in the scabbard and it goes in there nice and smoothly. I think that because of the last two comments on it being on the positive side i think that i will keep it in my collection after all as i have certainly had mixed opinions on it.

many thanks for replying,
regards,
belinda

[777]

Blade is original Hammesfahr in poor condition . Scabbard fittings and crossguards(roman III- often seen on Hammesfahrs ) are nickel silver, so 'cause they don't corrode, they can be easily brought back to such shine. Handle looks OK, scabbard shell was originally "anodized" black, and very likely repainted because of the previous condition similar to the blade. So, dagger GOOD, restoring job BAD (amateur). Just few cents from someone who handled dozens of "woodwork"daggers.

[777]

A quality german blade does'nt corrode like that, only poor remakes, the handle looks like black plastic

They really do.

[belinda]

hi 777,
thanks for you opinion. As long as it is original i am happy, as i would find it hard to get another one over here in england for under £1000.
I just wish that i could do something with the blade, but sadly i have been told that there is not really anything that can be done, as the damage is not reversible.

regards,
belinda

[Lon]

Hello Belinda,

You sound a lot like me. I like things with age on them but want them to look pristine. I have learned that in this hobby, perfect dosen't happen very often. I think for what you paid you have a good representative example of a ss dagger. I could live with the blade imperfections and perhaps one day you might want to trade up. Remember even great beauty has flaws.

Enjoy owning something that few people ever will.

Regards,
Lon

[belinda]

hi lou,
many thanks for that. You are right in what you have said. Like i said before, it might not be in very good condition, but as a few of you have said, at least it seems to be an original one and not one that was made only a few years ago.
I have had quite a few PM's on asking me if i want to sell it, so there are people out there who would buy it in this condition.

regards,
belinda