Vic Diehl

Here is a copy of the Eagle seal

verticle shot

another

better blade scan

9q

8q

All the pics are the same size, but I can not add more

5q

4q

3q

out of scabbard

Pics

Hoping the title catches your eye. On vacation so cannot send pics. Picked up this Spanish dagger unknown to me, please help me with your expertise. Brass mounted throughout. Scabbard---Imperial german, Navy type Dagger hilt--white celluloid wire wrapped grip. Imperial german Type crossguard with capstan knob ends, centeral located winged prop on both sides. Design is cast into the crossguard. Pommel-- Single turned knob matchng the crossguard ends. Blade. Tang stamped DAMAST but nickel plated. double stamped Carl Eickhorn, squirrel on one side, written logo on the other. Blade obverse has a squadron of 5 single wing planes with turning props in formation over a village, other side has Toledo, and the Crowned FF with Spanish Coat of arms. Entire setup is quailty. Any help appreciated. Vic

Dan: Thanks for a most informed answer, I needed the help. Vic

Please help me on this as my brain is giving out! Portepees--Both sword and dagger were worn by --- 1. Officers and Unterofficiers with portepee (wore the portepee with both sword and dagger) 2. Unterofficers without portepee (wore daggers and swords without any knot). 3. Other ranks below Unterofficier wore troddel on either bayonet or "other ranks" sword. 4. If an officer wore a bayonet for dress he could wear it with the portepee. Please help me understand this correctly. vic

Rick, thanks for these important additions!

I can't seem to get the "size matters" thing figured out--the pics I need large like the sinkings list I have to reduce and others fly right through. Anyway enjoy. It is interesting when you look at all of the Kriegstagbuch of this and other Kaiserlich U-Boots and see the actual maps of their daily positions and that they spent 95 percent of the time on the surface. Most of the sinkings were done with the deck cannon. Diving was done generally to escape.

The SMU 86 survived Torpedo, balloon, and mine attacks.

This one made history!

Ships and Tonnage

The Voyages of SMU 86 are famous in both British and German History. After receiving the dagger I got copies of the War Diary of SMU86 and read about all of its voyages. I charted all of the sinkings made by the U-Boot as well as the attacks launched against the U-Boot. Only the final voyage is actually marked but all sinkings are shown.

The dagger is so interesting as it shows the different periods of naval service by actual modifications to the dagger itself. It started off as a standard cadet dagger with center ridge and Bormann named as was done by many cadets. The blade was later shortened to officer length. Amazingly Borman had the geometry of the cadet blade changed and added fullers as short officer blades of the period. Later the handle was switched to celluloid and the Third Reich Pommel added during that period. This dagger was vet purchased by the late Herman Maurer of New York in the 1960's and remained in his possession until his estate was settled, when it came to reside with me.

Here is an interesting German Navy dagger with much history. Werner Bormann was born 19.7.1887 Appointments during the Great War: From beginning of service to 3.1915 LI Wacht Ingenieur cruiser SMS Kaiser Barbarossa March to June 1915 U Boot Schule July to August 1915 at disposal of 2 Halb Flotille UBoote 9. 1915- SMU 28 Wacht Ingenieur 26.4.1917 Oberingenieur SMU 86 9.1918 to the end he was at the disposal of the Flottilla Reichsmarine-- Kplt Ingenieur on 1.7.1921 KKpt Ingenieur 1.1 1928 Third Reich Retired

Chip: George Siebert is listed in the KFAC membership list. Siebert, George. Hanau, Leipziger Str. 61 Cand.chem.,Beigetr 4.8.14 How does the Cand. chem. translate? Will you post this pic? Vic

Chip- Thanks again. I will continue to pursue this topic. I recently purchased a 1915 KFAC rank list as well as a copy of the official uniform regulations of the kKfK, so there is data out there it is just so rare. Vic