PLEASE!!!Help with dagger PLEASE

[gregM]

Hi Guys,
Can you please help me with this dagger. My wife just brought it home from
work. It belongs to one of her customers. It is a little beat up and shows
lots of wear. The maker is F.W.Holler Solingen and apears to be a scale
inside of 2 ovals. I could not find any other marks and the scabbord apears
to be unmarked. The scabbord is undented but is missing the screws near
the throat.

Is this a genuine or fake?? If it is genuine,what would be a fair price to offer
for it. I want to buy it but don't want to get hosed either. Any help or
comments would be greatfully appreciated.

Thank you,
Greg

[gregM]

Hear is a closer view of the eagle.

[gregM]

Makers mark,

Thanks,Greg

[Larry Lipps]

Greg, you've got a standard army officers dagger. Someone has taken it apart at some time since the buffer pad is in the wrong place and the maker's mark normally faces the back. That's pretty much no big deal. With a lot of wear I would guess somewhere in the vicinity of $250 would be reasonable. Maybe a little more if what you're calling wear is actually black toning.

[Skipper Greenwade]

It looks to be an original dagger. Someone has taken it apart and re-assembled it incorrectly - the blade is in backward (the maker mark should be on the reverse of the blade) and the leather washer between the grip ferrule and the crossguard should be under the crossguard.

Does it have a scabbard? If so, it would help if we had a photo of the scabbard. The absence of a scabbard will have a significant effect on the value. In fact, I wouldn't really encourage you to buy it without a scabbard...it will always be a 'project' and difficult to sell when/if the time comes.

If it doesn't have a scabbard and you still wish to purchase it, an offer of $100.00 - $150.00 would probably be in the ballpark. Just bear in mind that nice Army daggers with scabbards in similar condition are quite common and can still be had for as little as $300.00 - $350.00

Hope that helps.
Skip

[William J]

Good advice all around. Lastly, I would add to check out the "little things" like a hairline crack or tiny chip in the grip...also any dings to the scabbard shell...make sure the blade has not been sharpened nor has any nicks...it's the little things that can affect value in a "big" way!


William

[gregM]

Skip , Larry,
Thanks so much for your help.
Here is a scan of the scabbord. You can see that there is alot of wear to
the oak leafs on the lower hanger. Other than that and the missing screws
it appears to be undamaged.

Anymore comments are welcome.

Thanks again,
Greg

[gregM]

Here is a closer look.
Thanks very much.
Greg

[Larry Lipps]

Greg, should you decide to purchase it, original scabbard screws are available through Tom Johnson.

[gregM]

Tom Johnson????????

[lakesidetrader]

Johnson's site is http://www.johnsonreferencebooks.com/cataloguemain.html
He it a great help to the hobby providing parts where required.
What you have there is a text book Holler.
The ferrel is reversed as well. If the blade does not seat properly when inserted with the maker mark to the reverse assemble it with the mark to the front. Although not common, this is seen on period examples and will not devalue it any. Great score! I'm happy for you!
Paul

[gregM]

Paul, Skip, Larry, William--Thank you very much.

[gregM]

I was able to get it today for $150. This is my first Regular Army dress
dagger. I do have a SA dagger and a couple sawtooth butcherknives.
Most of my blades are US and British.

Thanks again for all your help.

[Skipper Greenwade]

Way to go Greg! $150 for that dagger was a very good deal.

I hope my first response wan't too negative. I didn't realize the dagger was complete with the scabbard and I know what a pain in the a** it can be to find a proper scabbard. The thing can haunt you for years when, for a little more money, you could have had a complete dagger and moved on to something else.

Keep an eye out for a set of hangers and a portepee and you will have a nice rig for a very fair price!

Congratulations again,
Skip