SS Dagger — Eickhorn Transitional RZM 941/38 SS

Here we have an Eickhorn Transitional SS Dagger with the double proof Eickhorn maker’s mark and RZM 941/38 SS. This one is priced to sell so grab it while it’s still available.

The grip is complete, but not without use wear typical of these daggers, consisting of a few notable scratches, a hairline crack beginning north of the roundel, and continuing about an inch south. It’s important to note that I only noticed this crack under magnification – it’s very subtle. There are also three minor surface chips typical of these daggers (see photos). It appears this dagger once employed a vertical hanger as there is also a pair of strap indentations around the lower recess of the grip (south of the Eagle). You can see these indentations (wear marks) in the close up photo of the grip Eagle. The SS roundel is very nice, retaining 95% of it’s enamel and detail. The Eagle is equally as attractive, retaining 99% of its detail – very little wear at all, which is what we like to see. The cross guards are the nickel plated type, and have withstood time very nicely. The plating on each is 99%, with some minor bubbling where the guards meet the wood of the grip, which is where we usually see this. The pommel nut is nice and tight, showing no definitive signs of having ever been removed.

The blade has some room for improvement should someone wish to bring it back to life. For some reason these SS daggers are difficult to find these days with minty blades. The cloudy areas are smooth (only surface deep), and could likely be cleaned up with a skilled hand. The blade’s edges have a several “burrs” as well, but again this is something that could be cleaned up if one so chose to do so. Though the motto and maker’s mark have lost their deep gray tone, I see no indications of this being due to any type of polishing or buffing. Clear areas of the blade still show a strong crossgrain.

The scabbard is the painted type, with 95% of the paint still in tact, just dirty. There is the normal use wear consisting of some scratches, paint chips and a few dings (mainly along the narrow sides of the body). Like the cross guards, the scabbard fittings have retained their nickel plating very nicely, with 98% in tact and no bubbling. They too have their share of use scratches and a ding on the throat fitting. The tip ball shows no signs of the typical impact damage we see with these scabbards. The dagger fit to the scabbard is tight, with no grinding or friction – just a smooth, tight fit as expected.