Teno Dagger Measurements

[Craig Gottlieb]

Approximately 2 years ago, I purchased a dagger hoard from a recently deceased 101st Airborne veteran. Most daggers were in mint condition. One of them, a Teno officer dagger, which came with mint leather hangers, had zero burnishing on the scabbard, but showed no characteristics of being unfinished in any other way. The dagger is item number 3980 on my website.



A recent thread wherein this dagger's authenticity was questioned, prompted me to do a comparative study between the dagger in question, and another 100% original and not-disputed dagger, also on my website, as number 3689. The comparison dagger can be traced by me back to 2003, and then before that, to Brian Maederer (from whom, my records show, I purchased this piece).

[Craig Gottlieb]

A couple of notes before I begin the analysis. As most dagger collectors know, the Teno comes with two types of numbers (numbers are found on all original Teno daggers, matching, on the scabbard throat and the blade). Study has never shown these two variations to be different in any other way, save the type of numbering on the blade. Sometimes, the numbers are stamped, other times, they are etched. To begin my study (and please hold all posts until the end), I compared the weights of the parts on each dagger (which I will refer to as "the plain dagger" and "the blackened" dagger. The results were striklngly similar. Measured in ounces, both are virtually identical.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Pommels shown are (left) the "Plain" pommel, and (right) the "darkened" pommel. Please note, I will always show the plain dagger part to the left. Height is identical, width is identical. Note that the "Plain" pommel has factory lacquer remaining on the surface, while the "darkened" one has lost the lacquer over time.

Measured in 100ths of a MM
Plain Pommel Height: 38.86mm
Darkened Pommel Height: 38.82mm

Plain Pommel Width: 10.78
Darkened Pommel Width: 10.80

[Craig Gottlieb]

Please also note that the gears on the pommel are identical, right down to what I call the "slanted" gear. Please also note that on the "slanted gear" there is a tiny molding "flaw" in the form of a vertical casting line that extends from the right corner of the gear. On both daggers. Again, the "plain" dagger is on the top, the "darkened" dagger is on the bottom. Study the micro details: although there are microscopic differences one would expect from a mass-production item, certain key die characteristics are plainly evident. These pommels came from the same dies.

[Craig Gottlieb]

A final photo study of the pommel shows the underside to be finished in a very similar fashion. Note the "yellowish" substance present on both pieces. In addition, note the grind marks on the flat surface of the underside, and the identical sizing of the tang holes.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Again, please allow me to continue before posting.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Now, onto the Pommel. Here are two photos of the eagle head and body. Plain is on top, darkened is on the bottom. Because these are die-cast (proof of this in a moment), there are some tiny "slop" differences that are a result of cast-to-cast variation. However, a close-up study reveals many important die-characteristics, including the two noted examples.

[Craig Gottlieb]

While we're at it, the Pommel dimensions are identical on both the plain and the darkened examples. I chose the "shaft" where the pommel seats into the pommel, as my area for comparison.

Measured in 1000ths of a MM
Pommel Shaft, Plain Example: 18.30
Pommel Shaft, Darkened: 18.28

200ths of a MM difference.

Finally, here is the reverse of both cross-guards, again: plain on the left, darkened on the right.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Please note in the photos above, that there exists a small circle (that even has the same dimple at the 10 o'clock position). This circle shows that both the cross-guard on the plain and the darkened Teno were die-cast (which involves a type of injection molding). Anybody who knows the process better than me, please excuse any technical inaccuracies here. The point is, the cross-guards were made using the same method. I would suggest that every original Teno would have this circle behind the cross-guard motif.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Before we leave the crossguard, please note the design on the Teno swastika. Left picture is the "plain" dagger, right picture is the "darkened" dagger. Notice the "rounded" top gear. Again, you will find ultra-tiny differences, that are a result of the manufacturing process (these were not "struck" like medals, but cast. Still, plenty of die/mold details (such as the rounded top gear) are evident.

Diagonal Width of Swastika cross-ssection (top right to bottom left)
Plain Dagger, 13.36 MM
Darkened Dagger 13.38 MM

[Craig Gottlieb]

Now, on to the scabbard. Since you could study the scabbard details for days, I will focus on a few random areas. Here is the top of the scabbard, where the body meets the throat. Top photo is the plain dagger, bottom photo is the darkened dagger. As you study the dot-patters, you will see that the scabbard shells were made using the same dies (these were struck as halves, then soldered together).

[Craig Gottlieb]

Last pictures of the scabbard comparisons. Again, top photo is the plain example, bottom photo is the burnished example.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Dimensions on the scabbard are as identical as the other dimensions I've taken, differing only in 100ths of a MM.

In summary, here is a comparative study of two daggers. The "plain" dagger was purchased in Santa Ana two years ago (more or less) as part of a veteran grouping, from a vet who had just passed. It came with a mint set of rare leather hangers. The dagger we used for comparison can be traced back to 2003 by me (I sold it back then), and then earlier, by Brian Maederer, where my records show, I purchase the dagger for the customer to whom it was sold.

Other characteristics not studied here are not problematic - grips are identical (construction method, general weight, finishing techniques, dimensions). Same is true of the blade details - length, width, tang shape, tang-tip. Here are the Teno and Eagle etches on the blade. Note the etches have virtually identical patterns. Remember that while etches are applied by hand on a dagger blade, which may result in some "slop" the details should remain virtually identical. Note the following:

1) Position of the "dot" after "Ges." in the top photo.
2) Note the identical shape of the eagle head and mouth
3) Feather count on eagle's breast is the same
4) "T" in the Teno Logo held by the eagle is shifted to the left on both examples.
5) The "slanted I" in the "Eickhorn" logo (featured inside the etched sword blade).

[Wim Vangossum]

IMO I see two original daggers. I have no explanation why one example has no factory burnishing on the scabbard. Any chance it was once heavy cleaned and someone sprayed a transp. laquer over it?


Regards, Wim



Freedom is not for Free

[Craig Gottlieb]

Wim: Unfortunately, I have NO explanation why the dagger was not burnished. What is evident from a study of the "plain" dagger is that it was factory finished. It exhibits the identical factor lacqueur throughout that many other "darkened" Teno daggers exhibit. It turns a yellowish color over time, and is unmistakable when you know what to look for.

I had many dealers suggest that "in order to sell this dagger, I would have to send it out to have the scabbard burnished." While "burnishing" is not the correct term anyway, I chose to leave it alone, as it came that way, out of the woodwork. Maybe someday another one will surface. Until then, I wlil consider it the same as a "mint strike error" that occasionally makes it out of the US Mint.