trashed SS dagger in pieces

[Michael Fay]

I had this trashed dagger with a rusted out blade with only a tad of the motto left. When I rubbed off the rust, I could just make out a faint RZM maker mark (or so I thought when I looked at it out of focus). the tang broke at the pommel nut. Then I saw the handle had been mickey moused with some sponge like material to accomodate ill fitting cross guards. So I know it is trashed and a parts piece. But is all authentic parts? Or could some of it be real?
Of interest to me was the tang having a raised "W" on it and the cross guards having a stamped "E" and "L" inside and seem to have some decent metal in their composition.
Also a "W" is stamped on the wooden handle where it is hidden by the lower cross guard.

All help will be appreciated.
Thanks, Michael

[Michael Fay]

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Any comments to give info on this broken group will be welcome.

[Michael Fay]

if the handle is authentic SS then it was a stained black version. As it was so utterly trashed I tossed the handle in a bowl of olive oil (in a desperate attempt and wood rehabilitation...how could it hurt at this stage)and some of the pigment floated off before my eyes after a day, the oil also brought out the stamping on the wood handle, whether that means anything, I dont know.

[Michael Fay]

Hello dagger forum,
does any one want to give me an idea as to the authenticity of this SS dagger?
I really dont know for sure.
thanks

[b_vanfossen]

It seems authentic to me. Not worth anything money wise...

How did you happen to come accross it?

Brian

[Michael Fay]

thanks

It seems authentic to me. Not worth anything money wise...

How did you happen to come accross it?

Brian

Thanks Brian,
I needed some one to SAY somthing
So I do appreciate it

I got it the most ordinary way...at a local gun show a few years ago. It was not broken yet, but the blade was almost fully rotted out with rust, so it was priced accordingly.
I just lost some confidence after the tang broke and I found the foam/sponge application to make the cross guard fit snugly.
So I knew someday I would need input from others(like WAF)

thanks again for your answering me.

[Michael Fay]

Well, an anonymous member believes them to real. I thank this member for privately telling me.
If no one else says anything. Then I guess the "it is real" option is a fact.
If anyone has an opinion, I still welcome it.

[FJ George]

Michael
For whatever its worth I think it is very much real.
I found one in the newspaper when I first started collecting in the early 80s in the very same condition.
The man was using it as a garden spade, until someone told him "It Was Worth Alot Of Money".
The tang can be repaired and put back together. Thats what I would do.
I wouldnt over restore it. Just reassemble it after tig welding a new piece of metal on the tip and run a tap on it.
I personally like project like this, its fun project to do. I guess its my hot rod roots.
Good luck with it whatever you choose to do