Early WKC navy dagger

[Patrick W]

Hi Guys

please could I get some opinions on this dagger that just came in, seems to be very hard to find a match posted.

Having looked at it in hand I think it is a very early possibly post WW1 Reichsmarine dagger that has been period upgraded by swapping the pommel. The patina on the brass parts matches throughout and shows plenty of wear and cleaning.

Strangely although the blade has the usual push catch there is no provision on the cross guard for a button. Scabbard and blade have matching stamped number and throat has Reichsmarine acceptance mark.

Does it all look ok?

Many thanks in advance

Patrick

[Patrick W]

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[Patrick W]

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[Patrick W]

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[Bulldog]

Hi Patrick, this one is hard to work out but I think it could be ok. The pommel is either a Holler or the replacement pommel (holler type) its hard to tell as its worn, the cross guard is WKC and the early ones like this sometimes had no release button especially on depot pieces, a thick leather buffer pad replaced the butt plate directly under the cross guard but its missing from this one. The plain blade is correct for a depot piece and the maker mark was used into the 1920s. The scabbard is the early rope type typical of M21 and M29 models, again often seen on depot pieces and appears to be WKC. The markings are hard to work out, the M over the anchor on the scabbard throat is a provisional reichsmarine mark (1919-21 black grip and black scabbard model), it may be possible it continued to be used early on with the new brass scabbards on the reichsmarine 21-29 model. I could not say when the O and numbers were stamped. I think this one has gone through a lot of updating which was done with navy daggers, the last changes probably being the white grip which was reintroduced in 1929 and the pommel in 1938. Hope this helps.

[Dr.Vet]

Hi Patrick, correct early M29 WKC dagger.
For comparison a dagger from my collection.

Regards
Dr.V

[Dr.Vet]

next photos

[Dr.Vet]

reichsmarine mark

[Patrick W]

Many thanks both for the great information and knowledge shared. I think the depot markings are period as I found another WKC with same font markings sold by a dealer

http://www.johnnyg.westhost.com/d839.html

This was a really lucky find as it was sold at auction as a reproduction dagger

[Bulldog]

Great find Patrick, and another great looking dagger Dr. Vet. It definitely looks like the provisional reichsmarine 19-21 navy property mark anchor under M was used sometime into the reichsmarine 21-35 period when the eagle over M was used which also continued sometime into the kriegsmarine 35-45 period. Good info thanks.