the 2nd dagger

[Jack T]

As promised here is the 2nd dagger in my grandfather's trunk. Does anyone have an idea of what type it is?

thanks
Jack T

[Jack T]

blade

[Jack T]

Closest thing I could find to a maker's mark was the letters D.R.G.M. on the clasp.

[Jack T]

More pics

[Dick Pumphrey]

Hi Jack,
What you have is a standard Army (Heer) Officers dagger complete with hangers and portepee. Looks nice.
Regards,
Dick

[Skipper Greenwade]

Jack,

Keep 'em coming! Great dagger from what I can see in the photos. As Dick said, a nice, early silver Army dagger with hangers and portepee. The silver daggers that haven't been cleaned and have developed that black patina are the best. I'll bet when you take the dagger out of the scabbard, there is a lighter 'shadow' under the crossguard - man I absolutely love that! Once again, I'm begging you, don't clean it.

The DRGM on the hanger fitting is an acronym for Deutsches Reichsgebrauchmuster, the German Protection of Patents office. Army daggers without maker marks on the bladeare quite common and should be no cause for concern.

Congratulations!
Skip

[Jack T]

Thank you all for the explaining the details to me.

I would like to ask another favor. Could someone please translate the following from Dagger Forumanese into English?

bladeare
portepee
crossguard
hanger
and what are the other parts of the dagger?

thanks!

Jack

[Skipper Greenwade]

Jack,

I'll try to field that one:

"bladeare" is a typo on my part...should be "blade are"

"portepee" is the knot tied around the grip on your dagger

"crossguard" is the metal fitting below the grip. On an Army dagger, it takes the form of an eagle & swastika

"hanger" in this instance is the pair of fabric straps used to suspend the dagger in wear. On other daggers, the hanger may be a chain permanently attached to the scabbard (1936 SS, 1936 NSKK, Postal, 1st Model Luftwaffe, etc.) or a short leather strap (1933 SA, SS, NSKK)

Hope that helps
Skip

[Jack T]

Thank you gentlemen for sharing your knowledge. That's it for the daggers in the trunk. Moving on now to hats. Skip, thank you for your help and here is a parting picture for you.

Thought you might like a peak under the crossguard.

[Skipper Greenwade]

In my book, it just doesn't get any better than that!

Skip

[Paul V]

Army dagger!

Your stuff looks great and you are lucky to have such a great
amount of items from grandfather!

I agree with not cleaning dagger but see no reason to not clean
the blade!

Some semichrome on blade will help remove finger prints
and keep blade from turning to a mess!

Once those finger prints and stuff get in blade if not already
the blade will be worth less with stains etc.

But no I would not clean other parts of patina!



Paul V.

PVON

[Jack T]

ok, what is semichrome and where would one purchase it?

thanks

Jack

[Paul V]

Semichrome cleaner

Hi Jack,

You could go to bottom of this page under sponsors and click GD
and go to supplies and click on semi chrome cleaner for $6.99
and will tell you about product.


Paul V.

Pvon