I have been a collector for several years, but the kind of stuff you pick up at garage sales. I never got into the extreme aspects of many of the items I've picked up. one thing that I have been curious about is the term; Parts Dagger.
It is my understanding that these are daggers made after the war from remaining stocks of parts, is that true?

Hi Beek.

Welcome to the forum and yes you are correct.
Sometimes if a part of a dagger is damaged or worn, somebody may replace it with the same part from another similar dagger.
This might sound fine and nobody would notice but this is far from the truth.
As you may know there were many different makers of Third Reich Daggers and they all had there own very slight differences whether it be the shape of the grip or shape of the crossguard. This means that different parts from different makers of daggers (although the same type of dagger) would leave obvious signs, whether it be gaps between the grip and crossguards and blade and crossguard. It would be quite difficult to make up a dagger from different parts and it not be obvious to a collector.
Parts daggers are still collectible but are not worth the type of money that a genuine piece would.
Hope this helps.

Best wishes.
Ian

www.simplydaggers.co.uk

Yes,even since then folks will take the parts from good daggers & piece them together to make one " good" one. Results are a dagger that technically all original, looks presentable but nothing really "fits".Lots of difference in value too.

Hello Beek:

Welcome to the forum.
Here you will find many knowledgeable collectors who are eagar to help.
We believe that the only "Stupid Question" is the one that was never asked, so don't be shy.
My fellow members have done a excellent job of defining the term "Parts Dagger".
Here is a link ...

http://www.lakesidetrader.com/sa.html

... to a fine tutorial on dagger basics which includes images of the conditions that they have discribed.
I consider it to be a "Must Read" for any dagger collector.
I trust that you will find it to be helpful.

However, You still have to remember that some of these makers often borrowed parts from other makers. Just because a dagger by one maker has a scabbard by another, automatically doesnt make it a parts piece. Best to do as much research and get good refrence books as possible.

quote:

Originally posted by lar:
However, You still have to remember that some of these makers often borrowed parts from other makers. Just because a dagger by one maker has a scabbard by another, automatically doesnt make it a parts piece. Best to do as much research and get good refrence books as possible.

Agreed!
Hey lar, it looks as though you're due for an upgrade of your rank insignia.

I concur with lar and daggerob.
It has been well established that not only manufacturers "borrowed" from each other various parts, especially smaller companies. But that it now appears from "authority" figures in our hobby that "Mixed" base material
i.e. nickel and plated parts were used when certain "early" parts ran out and were replaced by later ones. So during the "parts mat'l" transition period mixed base material parts were factory assembled.
There should IMO, be no dispute of this at this point since there has been sufficient examples of these over that years from "battlefield Liberation" examples. Besides
that fact that it just makes sense.
Regards,
-serge-

You wanna hear a parts dagger story? OK, this has happened to me last year.

Another collector on another forum offered last year in the sales section the following dagger.

I had a few pictures for review, e.g. this one.

I have asked the seller if the dagger in question is a one piece original. He confirmed. I bought it. After receipt I examined it. Now take a look at the fitting of the blade and the crossguard.

I took the dagger apart and now look at the grinding marks at the tang. A clear evidence that this blade has been manipulated recently to fit into the cross guard.

close up

another view on the bad fitting of the blade and the cross guard

So be careful even if you receive lots of good pictures. They may not show the details of interest. Always clarify in advance the inspection time and return policy.

The seller in this case and I have agreed on 5 days inspection time with a return policy regardless of the reasons. I returned this one and received refund. The only money I have lost was twice the fees for shipment. Still aggravating, but better than burned completely.

So be careful even if the pics seem to show good details.

Hmmm, don´t know why the first 2 pics do not work. Second attempt.

Hmmm, strange. Don´t know, why they don´t work. Sorry. These are two pics of the seller. Maybe he manipulated these as well

Sorry ivbaust on your "parts" experience.
At least the seller returned your purchase amount and didn't claim "that's the way it came from a vet".

-serge-

That maker is VERY rare and someone sure tried to 'tune up' that blade. I would be very cautious of a dealer that sold something in that condition. It is good you had the return policy.

Mark