Himmler Letter opener

[25thlight]

Whats a few years ago?
It came from the Arthur Hayes collection over a decade ago.
I had this piece displayed at the SOS last year and the two years prior to that, no one has questioned it's authenticity and one of the bigger dealers wanted to throw it in his auction.
I encourage the input if you have information with substance, but to say that a few years ago guy "X" said they made a mistake.
Who are the "Gurus" ?
What needs to stop is guy's blowing sh*t up without having to explain why a piece isn't correct.

[J. Wraith]

Whats a few years ago?
It came from the Arthur Hayes collection over a decade ago.
I had this piece displayed at the SOS last year and the two years prior to that, no one has questioned it's authenticity and one of the bigger dealers wanted to throw it in his auction.
I encourage the input if you have information with substance, but to say that a few years ago guy "X" said they made a mistake.
Who are the "Gurus" ?
What needs to stop is guy's blowing sh*t up without having to explain why a piece isn't correct.

No one has ever been able to say that these are original or post war as they were apparently manufactured before and after the war. No one saying anything when something is on display does not mean their not taliking at the dinner tables. Its a nice piece but the ask at the show was 10 or 12k. You can buy one for 1500.00 on occasion and still ask yourself the same question when looking at it. Is it period or post war?

[JoeW]

Whats a few years ago?
It came from the Arthur Hayes collection over a decade ago.
I had this piece displayed at the SOS last year and the two years prior to that, no one has questioned it's authenticity and one of the bigger dealers wanted to throw it in his auction.
I encourage the input if you have information with substance, but to say that a few years ago guy "X" said they made a mistake.
Who are the "Gurus" ?
What needs to stop is guy's blowing sh*t up without having to explain why a piece isn't correct.

Truly, what information of substance have you provided? Any documentation that any types of letter openers were gifted by Himmler as listed in his files? Being shown in Tom's book with his seal of approval does not supply me with any particular information as to the authenticity of your piece. It has a nice pedigree going back to Dr. Milestone's collection, but we know long ago Atwood was having damascus pieces made. Must we always proceed on the assumption that an item presented in correct and must be proved otherwise?

No one has ever been able to say that these are original or post war as they were apparently manufactured before and after the war. No one saying anything when something is on display does not mean their not taliking at the dinner tables. Its a nice piece but the ask at the show was 10 or 12k. You can buy one for 1500.00 on occasion and still ask yourself the same question when looking at it. Is it period or post war?

I agree with you completely.

[BrianK]

Since it's controversial, like I suggested, it will be a tough sell, esp. in today's market. I'm no dagger expert, just telling you what almost everybody thinks. If you really want to sell it now, why not offer it to Tom Wittmann? If it's in his book, he might want to buy it or consign it.

[Barry Brown]

Since it's controversial, like I suggested, it will be a tough sell, esp. in today's market. I'm no dagger expert, just telling you what almost everybody thinks. If you really want to sell it now, why not offer it to Tom Wittmann? If it's in his book, he might want to buy it or consign it.

Since Paul Mueller's 1960's damast letter openers were proven to be Attwood promoted fakes collectors have always been wary of any "SS letter opener". I turned this one up in the UK about 50 years back, it was also featured in the Wittmann book, and in one of the early Johnson books. Despite the book exposure I sold it several years back for a relatively modest price.

[Barry Brown]

2 more

[TonyS]

Dr Ron of Warrelics had one of the first type posted on his website for a hell of a long time for about $1200. Same pattern with the Himmler signature and flowers. From his description he couldn't tell if it was authentic or not.

Is it the type that was made after the war?

[25thlight]

Yes the whole letter opener market has been affected by pieces like the one shown with the runes which doesn't even appear to be real damascus.
Wittmann told me that he still believed in the one I own but the market was virtually destroyed by the other copies.
I've had this piece in my possession for several years and no one has presented an ounce of proof that this is a post war piece.
I'm always learning and open to new information but I have a problem with opinions or blanket statements that have zero substance, at least point to features or deficiencies that make you have an opinion. Comparing this piece with others that are obviously very different isn't a fair analysis in my opinion.

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hi,

interesting subject, but this is always the same problem : you say that no one ever gave proof that this was post war made... but this is also 100% true that no one ever gave proof that it was war made.
Between the two opinions, i will take with caution such items (even if it may be real).

See You

Vince

[mrcrtm]

Damast

Great discussion with many valid points. I own one of the other type of Damast Himmler Letter openers pictured in Wittmans Book and will put up some pics later today.

[reichenberg]

There's one on this website, it's been there for quite a while.


http://www.colonelsmilitaria.co.uk/shop.php


item 50061

[BrianK]

I agree that the original Himmler letter opener may be real, and copies then were made which destroyed the market. I think this may have happened in the cases of other daggers, SS prototypes etc. Similar to the case of fake Honor Rings destroying the HR market. In the case of the Himmler letter opener, that particular dagger has been kicked around WAF for years as to whether it's pre '45, whether it's authentic, etc. You're not going to have much luck finding positive opinions here, or posting it for sale on estand.

[mrcrtm]

Damast

Here is the one i have. It is basicly identical to the one pictured in Wittmans Book as shown with the exception that mine has the initials "HH" in Gold rather than the silver SS Runes. Full Damascuss and very well made. Mine and the one pictured in the Book are the only ones of this type known. Do not believe it had always been in the case but the same case is also shown. Do not really care when it was made or by whom, all i know is i like it.

[mrcrtm]

Damast

more pics

[mrcrtm]

Damast

Last ones