War relics forum. Uniforms, Guns, helmets, battlefield archeology.
Kriegsmarine dagger with plain blade
This is a discussion on Kriegsmarine dagger with plain blade within the Daggers and Swords of the Third Reich forums,
part of the German Militaria 1933-1945 category in War relics forum; Hi Guys, here is another dagger from my collection.
This is an earlier issue dagger which has been updated with ...
Hi Guys, here is another dagger from my collection.
This is an earlier issue dagger which has been updated with the new 1938 pattern pommel with eagle and swastika design. The blade is harder to find plain type, unmarked apart from the makers mark of "PDL" for Luneschloss. Most Navy daggers have engraved blades. The grip is a really nice dark orange colour. The scabbard has the reef knot style bands, again not so often found.
I expect this dagger was worn for some time before the new regulations came into force and the eagle pommel as added to bring it up to date.
Hi, Ade from earlier do you mean Imperial or Weimar? Did the dagger have to be upgraded with the new type pommel or could the owner have carried on using it with i presume a crown pommel. I understand the KM were the least NS of the services and a Nelson eye would be turned if you didn't want to accept the Kaiser had gone.
Yes, when I say earlier it is certainly a pre '38 production peice. But it is hard to pin down the date exactly. The pommel is the best way to date it. Imperial ones were crowned, while Weimar era daggers had an odd flame type design. Perhaps a more expert dagger collector than me would be able to tell from some other feature though I don't have the book on Navy daggers. But a good clue here will be the trademark. Like many companies, Luneschloss changed theirs over time. I have seen a different mark, with the company name in an oval around the helmet design, being used on Heer daggers. You are right, the Navy was very conservative and clung onto tradition, being the least National Socialist of all the Armed Forces. You were allowed to keep the old design pommel in wear.
The German Navy (Kriegsmarine) officially carried daggers as early as the 1840's and continued to wear edged weapons throughout the Third Reich Period. Naval dirks were normally produced of gilded brass fittings and scabbard, with white grip and bright blade often having nautical theme etchings. The scabbard was produced with a engraved lighting bolt pattern or had a hammered finish. The so-called 1st Model, actually a Model 1929, was equipped with a round pommel top. After 1938, Naval dirks received a pommel change which depicted a closed-winged eagle which clutched a wreathed swastika. These dirks are often found with a portepee, i.e. decorative tassel wrapped about the grip.
The Kriegsmarine was the last of the three branches of the German Armed Forces to adopt a Nazified dagger on January 28TH 1938. The Kriegsmarine dagger was a modified version of a traditional design that dates back to the creation of the Prussian Navy in 1848. The main modification of the Third Reich era dagger was a change in the Reichsmarine flame shaped pommel to one featuring the national eagle with swastika. The dagger is roughly 10" long, nickel/silver plated, drop forged steel, stiletto style blade with dual, narrow, central fullers to each side. The blade features the standard acid etched design of fouled anchors and ornate foliage pattern. The dagger has a nicely detailed, fire gilted, brass crossguard and pommel. The crossguard features an embossed fouled anchor to both obverse and reverse centerpieces and an ornate foliage pattern and rosette tips to the horizontal arms. The reverse centerpiece of the crossguard has an integral spring loaded locking button. The pommel is a likeness of the Wehrmacht style eagle with down-swept wings clutching a wreathed swastika. The dagger has a white celluloid grip mounted on a wooden sleeve with twisted, dual strand, brass wire wrap still intact. The dagger comes with woven gilted/aluminum portepee which is tied in the correct manner. Originally designed as a functional item to secure the blade sidearm to the holders wrist the portepee evolved into a purely decorative accessory. The portepee consists of a gilted/aluminum cord with interwoven gilted/aluminum slide and stem and twisted braid crown and ball on a wooden template base. The dagger also comes with its original hamered brass scabbard. Hammered scabbard version Naval dirks are quite rare, as they were only available at extra cost during the period.
What a beauty Ade , now that is a superb example you would like in your collection !! I love it and i`m jealous . the colour of the grip is not the norm on these and it`s wonderful , and the patina on those hangers , super . Fully loaded as they say and all looks original to the dagger !!! How long have you owned it Ade ? By the way i dont know if you can see ( because of the portepee ) the reverse of the cross guard but is there an anchor or a diamond shape floral type casting ?
Orange grips were an optional extra. My other two are white gripped. The crossguard has the usual fouled anchor design. The hangers are a nice early pair with tombak fittings. These I bought especially for this dagger about 10 years ago. It took me a long while to find the right set to go with the dagger. But I have owned the dagger for over 20 years. It came from Canada.
Now you have the rest of us drooling, I am impressed and can't wait until I find one. Thank you for posting parts of your collection and to Nick VR for the information. This is simply a great post !
Kriegsmarine dagger with plain blade 
I don't have the book on Navy daggers. But a good clue here will be the trademark. Like many companies, Luneschloss changed theirs over time. I have seen a different mark, with the company name in an oval around the helmet design, being used on Heer daggers. You are right, the Navy was very conservative and clung onto tradition, being the least National Socialist of all the Armed Forces. You were allowed to keep the old design pommel in wear.
Re: Kriegsmarine dagger with plain blade 
I love it and i`m jealous 
. the colour of the grip is not the norm on these and it`s wonderful , and the patina on those hangers , super . Fully loaded as they say and all looks original to the dagger !!!
Linear Mode
