Boker SS for review

[Carrots]

Could I have some opinions on this please gentlemen. It looks a little tatty, but is it any good? The seller has another one as well which I'll post pictures of later if this one looks to be OK. Thanks folks

http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareL...localeid=en_GB

ps I know that the hanger is not right

[Skipper Greenwade]

No problem witht the dagger with respect to originality, but the scabbard condition would encourage me to hold out for a piece in better overall condition.

Hope that helps,
Skip

[N.C. Wyeth]

I don't see anything wrong with the dagger, and personally, I think it's still in relatively collectible condition . . . it shows honest age - that should not discount it entirely.

Brad

[Carrots]

Thanks chaps. I was put off a little by the scabbard as well, but it is fairly priced.

How about this one...there is no maker mark at all, and a later date painted scabbard. Again it is priced accordingly (although with fewer pics the blade looks a little shocking)

http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareL...localeid=en_GB

Thank you !

[Skyline Drive]

That one has been apart. The lower crossguard is on backwards. It is also mated to a scabbard with plated fittings. The Boker is a much better piece than this one. Ground Rohm Bokers are not all that common.

[Carrots]

Thanks Skip. I would agree that the Boker looks much better. The seller wants to sell them as a pair and so what kind of value does this second one have? (when put back together properly :0)!).

[Skyline Drive]

I'm not Skip... What does he want for them? It's a little difficult to value daggers right now in our deflating economy. And if you haven't noticed, buyers are far and few between.

[Carrots]

Sorry, I haven't had my coffee yet today. My apologies

I think I'm on to a deal and so would only need to clear $2500 on the second one to get a good deal on the Boker. You're right it is not an ideal time to sell, but I think I could get $2-2.5 for it now even with its problems. What do you think?
I only really want the Boker but they both come together.

[Skyline Drive]

I think you would have a tough time getting even 2 grand for the second one. No one I know would want an early dagger with a plated scabbard in that condition. What does he want for the Boker?

[Skyline Drive]

Carrots... check your PM box.

[Carrots]

Well I have put an offer in for both. A fair offer I think considering the advice that I may have problems moving #2 for the 2k I had originally thought. Thank you Mike. I can't really afford either of these, let alone both and so the second one would have to go in order to help finance the first. Priced properly (whatever that figure ends up being) I'd like to think that #2 would find a new home somewhere without to much trouble wouldn't it? Anyway my finances aside could one of you give me a brief tutorial on the likely reason why dagger two isn't at all maker marked please. With a later scabbard and an unmarked blade is it possible that it is actually a M36? Again, full disclosure, I'm new at this and the seller is as clueless as me. All of this just sort of fell in my lap

[Skipper Greenwade]

I agree with Skyline...the second dagger will be a tough one to move for anywhere near $2K, given the later vintage and the plating loss to the fittings. If it is indeed totally devoid of a maker mark (can't tell from the photos, as there is not a shot of the reverse of the blade), that would be another strike against it, as most prospective buyers will feel it's a parts dagger with a 1936 SS dagger blade.

A true 1936 SS dagger will have the chained hanger and the commensurate scabbard fittings...that's the only difference between the '33 and '36 models (aside from the previously mentioned lack of a maker mark on the blade)

Hope that helps,
Skip

[Carrots]

Thank you. It would seem that I should really try and work on getting the seller to split them up. I don't want to be saddled with a lemon and couldn’t let the oddity go for under $1,500 in order for the Boker to make sense. By the sounds of things even that is going to be pushing it. If I see it in person (which I may if they accept the offer) are there any redeeming features to look out for? (except of course a maker, which the seller assures me isn't anywhere to be seen)

[Skyline Drive]

There are some M33's that are devoid of a maker mark. They appear to be original but are tough to sell as they are not accepted by the collecting community.

[Carrots]

Ok, and of course the fact that the crossguard is on the wrong way round would further indicate that this is indeed not one of those rarities and it just has the wrong later dated blade. Understood. In the space of a few hours this has gone from the deal of the decade to a nightmare in waiting. I'll go back to them and amend my offer for just the Boker. As it would turn out even that isn't going to be the steal that I thought it was. Just goes to show, look (and ask) before you leap. Thank you both very much indeed.