Help recommend book on german Daggers

[bunch1940]

Hi Can anyone recommend the best book on german Daggers

Thanks
lee

[SwordFish]

I think Johnson and Wittman are the most renowned authors on daggers. Not saying they are the best, but certainly the most widely known. many consider Johnsons books the cornerstone for and gold standard for daggers.

I have Johnsons sword series and can say they are decent, nothing great but they work. Let's see what everyone else has to say on the topic.

[RussellM]

I agree with swordfish. Thomas Johnson's 'Collecting the edged weapons of the Third Reich' Volume 1 will give you a basic understanding of the various types of TR daggers. Thomas Wittmann's "Exploring the dress daggers of..." books are more specialised and may be suitable if you are collecting a certain type of edged weapon. He has individual books on Army, Luftwaffe, Navy, and SS edged weapons, and is currently working on one for SA's.

Frederick Stephens also has books on reproduction edged weapons (Reproduction? Recognition!), and although getting a little old now, they are still good reference books to have, when you can find them. I believe he is currently working on an updated version.

Regards
Russell

[Skipper Greenwade]

I'm with Russell - if you're going to buy one book make it Johnson's Volume I. After that, go for the rest of the Johnson Series and then the Wittmann books. Wittmann's books are superb but - as previously mentioned - much more specialized.

Hope that helps,
Skip

[lakesidetrader]

Should you decide to go for the Johnson book I suggest you purchase the newly revised handbook version. It's cheaper, contains a recent price guide and IMHO is better than the hardcover. I welcome you Lee to the hobby and applaud your decision to start with some good references.

[Wim Vangossum]

The Johnson books are loaded with information. Problem sometimes is to find things back. All that enormous knowledge is spread over the whole serie. If you will study paticular daggers indepht theirs no better reference than the Wittmann serie.

Regards, Theo

[Stu W]

Whittmann

Hello Lee,

As others have said if you want a general overview the Johnson book is good. I have one and find it very helpful however with the passage of time decided to get the Whittmann series as I wanted more in depth information on the dress daggers. Well, they just arrived this week and I must say they contain a never ending amount of information. Really fantastic in my view. I bought them through Paul Hogle (lakesidetrader) who has posted on this thread. They arrived promptly after purchase, were well wrapped and the price was good. Would be well worth your time checking with him if that's what you are looking for.

Regards,
Stu

[zander]

Lee
you may also want to consider fishers reference books also on lakesiders site, shows you pictures of trade marks , rarity etc a real gold mine of imformation in 4 volumes

[bunch1940]

Hi all thanks for all the replys and the advise, look forward reading up