SS Himmler daggers question

[Ron Weinand]

BrianK The Himmler M33 SS Dagger is a high demand dagger and I don't believe they were produced in the thousands, more like 10,000 and then MOST were destroyed at the end of the war, so a value of $15k to 20k is not unreasonable when you compare it with the M36 Dagger selling for $10, which is much more common (and also in high demand. When you compare these daggers to the prices of paratrooper helmets and DD SS helmets and rarity, it is plain to see prices are a product more of demand than rarity.

[BrianK]

I don't believe most Himmler daggers were destroyed at the end of the war due to the profusion of daggers available on dealers' websites. All SS daggers are priced predominantly by demand, not supply. Years ago at the MAX shows the stacks of SS daggers were almost as high as the stacks of SA daggers. To each his own, but for $20,000 one can find rarer TR items.

[The Red Baron]

I think the Himmler daggers will always command a huge premium due to demand....which is what drives any price, even if that demand is, itself, driven by a desire for a scarce item. I really love these daggers.

[Ron Weinand]

Just from my motel buy experience (over 350), I have found SA Daggers in veteran's hands out number SS M33 Daggers 20 to 1. Also, if you look at membership statistics, there were way more members of the SA when compared to the SS membership, especially when you consider the number of SS members post 1942 after daggers were no longer issued.

[BrianK]

Don't believe the ratio is 20 to 1 - only the prices. Wish I had saved those old pictures with stacks of SS daggers on dealers tables. Whatever the price asked, SS daggers are easy to find, and Himmler daggers, admittedly somewhat harder to locate, are usually in much better condition than the ordinary SS EM. If you want something really rare save up and buy a SS Rohm.

[The Red Baron]

Just from my motel buy experience (over 350), I have found SA Daggers in veteran's hands out number SS M33 Daggers 20 to 1. Also, if you look at membership statistics, there were way more members of the SA when compared to the SS membership, especially when you consider the number of SS members post 1942 after daggers were no longer issued.

[BrianK]

The funny thing is the ratio on dealer's websites is much closer to 10 to 1. Looks like most SS daggers were not motel buys - or veteran's hospitals.

[Don Prince]

Gentlemen,

I know I'm going to ruffle some feathers...

Here Is My Personal Opinion... SA or SS Daggers issued during WWII are what I consider original manufactured daggers (Period)! Blades purchased from manufacturers post WWII could possibly be original blades produced during WWII. However, these blades along with parts from other original daggers, or newly manufactured parts are simply FAKES! The only reason dealers would introduce these pre-WWII variants into the collection community is for money, and this will eventually tarnish the dagger market for the collecting community. It's getting more difficult to purchase a dagger and have confidence that it's an original WWII product. It's becoming more important that you know your dealer's history and reputation, and the dealer must be forthright with the customer.

Kind regards,
Don_

[Br. James]

For many years I have been of the opinion that there is a difference between 'Frankensteins' and fakes: Daggers assembled from parts of original period manufacture are "parts daggers" or Frankensteins, while fakes are comprised of parts which are of post-war manufacture.

Br. James