Eickhorn KM-like, Water Police-ish Dagger Question

[Luftm40]

Hi...my apologies, but I'm not able to load pics at the moment. I'll post some ASAP. Hopefully a description will suffice for the time being. I bought this dagger in Switzerland in the late 70s. It has the etched Eickhorn logo, and is a Navy dagger save for the blue leather wrapped handle and flaming ball pommel. The scabbard is the hammered variety. There is no insignia attached to the handle. The dagger is of exceptionally high quality...the blade in particular looks like an original Eickhorn Navy to me...although I am not an expert. What is this? A fake? Parts dagger? I've never known for sure. I know etched Eickhorn logos are a no no on water police daggers, and have always assumed it was an imposter of some sort....

[collecter]

Hi from the description it sounds like the water protection police,in Fred Stevens book 'Reproduction Recognition' he states the globe pommels on originals are made of solid brass,the post war versions are apart from being slightly smaller and less defined made of heavy yellowish alloy.Is the blade etched with naval insignia?,there is a photo in the book of an original with an etched Eichorn squirrel holding a sword,Im no expert and not aware if an etched mark is wrong or not and look forward to seeing some photo's.John

[Billy G]

From the description, if the Eickhorn logo is etched I'd say the piece is either a full reproduction or cobbled together from real & reproduction parts. Pics would certainly help but I don't have a good feeling in general. Sorry man.

[Luftm40]

All of the fittings are solid brass, and the blade has the typical KM etch

[Luftm40]

Here are some pictures. Before everyone pounces on me....I am under no delusion that this is a wartime piece...I know it is not. I purchased this in 1979 when I was traveling through Europe as a student. I have no recollection what it cost, but it couldn't have been much because I had almost no money on that trip. I collected daggers at the time, and was intrigued by the Eickhorn mark and quality. It came from a shop that sold military accoutrements. I would like to know if this is a "1957" product of the Eickhorn company, or an out right fake. It also seems to me that original parts may have been used. The logo is the upside down etched variety found on post war Eickhorn products. The handle is wood, wrapped in genuine leather .

[Luftm40]

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[Luftm40]

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[Luftm40]

Here is the blade....

[Tiger 1]

The scabbard and crossguard look to be okay.

The pommel, grip and blade look to be post war. You are correct about rhe etched tm being postwar versus the stamped TR era style.

The grip color is way too blue and the double wire grip wrap was not used by Eickhorn. The pommel looks to be a postwar copy.

Hope this helps some.

Tony

[Billy G]

In addition, the felt buffer pad is generally thought to be indicative of postwar manufacture. Probably a mixture of real & reproduction parts.

[Luftm40]

Thanks! This basically confirms what I had thought...

[Tiger 1]

Not a bad looker. Could be used in a shadow box with some pics and small insignia.

At least you wouldn't have to worry like most of us would if it was an original period example.

Tony