Description
E.& F. Hörster Solingen, two-line italic TM. This dagger was recently obtained from a Michigan family who state that the owner “received this dagger when he was a boy living in Muncie, Indiana. A Neighbor had returned from the war and gave it to him. He played with it some as a kid and therefore; there are some scratches on the side of the scabbard”. Factory frosted aluminum hilt fittings show minor surface wear with much frosting remaining to the spherical pommel with raised sunwheel swastika, ribbed ferrule and crossguard with winged railcar wheel Bahnschutz insignia on the obverse langet. The crossguard winged insignia has a casting flaw in the right wing as found on Eickhorn produced 2nd model Bahnschutz daggers, indicating once again, the exchange of parts among the dagger manufacturers. Black solid celluloid ridged grip is perfect with no cracks or chips. Polished, blade grading EX/EX+, shows light surface wear/runner marks with some gray shadowing, but no nicks to cutting edges. Blade is complete with black leather blade buffer pad. Dent-free, polished, frosted-steel scabbard shows some minor surface wear and above mentioned scratches [pings] to the reverse left edge to the shell, but no pitting or other damage. Dagger is complete original Bahnschutz hangers in Exc./Exc+ condition showing light wear/age to the aluminum bullion facings with black stripes and to the black velvet backings. Hangers show age patina to the less commonly seen, plain silver plated fittings with rectangular buckles as shown on page 122 of Collecting the Edged Weapons of the Third Reich, Volume I. The spring in the sliding closure on the lower clip on the long hanger strap is broken/missing, but does not interfere with the proper functioning of the clip. Nice Hörster Bahnschutz example, complete with ORIGINAL hangers; originally brought back from WWII as “war booty”. EX+/EX++ (24806)
AUCTION 2