Flyingdutchman

Gentlemen, there's a nice video about the early German Naval daggers by Tom Wittmann on YouTube: Tom Wittmann early German naval daggers Tom captures these early pieces very well. A few nitpickings, nothing really serious: - The first daggers he shows are Prussian pieces that were used also on the ship Amazon. One of these daggers, the one with the bent crossguard arm, seems to have got a replaced scabbard. It is likely the scabbard of a later dagger of the 1848 pattern. You can see this dagger at minute 16:39. - Basically he forgets to mention here that in 1844 also for the ship Amazone, a dagger-like Hirschfaenger was regulated for the officers. Such a piece is also published already. - Wrongly he describes a dagger of the 1901 pattern as being from the year 1890. It is the long dagger with open crown pommel. This is a typical 1901 pattern for sea officers. - There was no dagger of the 1902 pattern. The long dagger for naval officers with the open crown was introduced in 1901, all shorter daggers were just private purchased variations, and off course worn by sea officers. - There were no and never silver colored administration daggers. Administrative officers were not allowed to carry any daggers at all during the Imperial time, these were reserved for sea going officers only. This is also true for the later Weimar and Nazi period. In that time normal daggers were carried by administrative nco‘s and officers with silver coloured hanger buckles and hooks. This silver colored dagger in that video is most likely a dagger that lost the late war chemical gilt, daggers like this are already known to exist. - The so-called heavy daggers he showed were not pieces just for the rich mans Kids. First and foremost they were daggers for prospective officers, which were given to them by parents or comrades as personal weapon. No cadet carried them on duty, only those 1890 pattern cadet daggers regulated and issued to him. Only in their time as Faehnrich, after their election to officer status by the officer-corps these pieces were occasionally carried. With the introduction of the pattern in 1901 these pieces slowly disappeared. However Tom is absolutely correct, they are desirable items and always the center of any navy dagger Collection. - The very short Imperial dagger shown by him is certainly neither for an airship nor a submarine commander. There are real pieces and period photos, showing that they carried normal officer daggers. It is a private production of unknown purpose, probably a memento and/or a letter opener. However Tom's video is worth watching and it's fantastic that he gives a basic introduction into those early weapons. Best; Flyingdutchman

1916 rank list: Red Eagle Award 3rd cl with ribbon Royal Order Of The Crown 2nd. cl. Iron Cross 1st. cl. Service Cross Bavarian Military Order Of Merit 2nd cl. with swords. Brunswick Henry The Lion Award

Yes, in younger years.

Gentlemen, lets look on a scarce and for some a little bit not that nice bird, however a genuine example coming from a time with many difficulties for Europe and Germany. Most likely the dagger started his career as a 1919 Pattern dagger with a black scabbard. The blade was once longer and therefore deliberately shortened. It’s shiny nickel plated and probably a Damascus steel blade, impossible to judge coz only the dagger gods know for what weapon that blade was originally made. Its not a crude weapon, handwork is there and there’s a perfect dagger to scabbard fit. The dagger is published in a book, which makes a nice add. Thanks for looking Flyingdutchman

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohenlockstedt Nice engraving. Could you find both officers in the ranklists? The 1927 Honor ranklist is available as pdf https://sbc.org.pl/Content/370076/download/ Bon chance! Best; Flyingdutchman

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4660.html

... I need to find out coz it’s for a publication. However. Thanks for your help. Best; Flyingdutchman

... we see them sometimes field made, sometimes professionally produced issued examples. First are Austrian troops.

... interesting, indeed. I wasn’t even aware of that badge, so there’s much to learn here for me. For the sake of colorization, the badge in question should be in gold ? Thank you 🙏 Best; Flyingdutchman

... a collector friend nailed it down, as it seems. Thank you, Sven! Prince Heinrich is wearing a badge for Royal adjutants to the Kaiser. How many Flügeladjutanten the Kaiser had? That must be pretty rare, eh?

GreyC, sorry for not making this clear enough.

Im still thinking of the Hohenzollern crown as it appears on that ring:

Bayern, I think you’re right. But could that be a Prussian crown, which would also mean not Imperial? Thanks for your help! Best; Flyingdutchman

I’m wondering what badge he’s wearing? 🤔

... no, unfortunately there’s no maker mark on that item. Best; Flyingdutchman