same length sheath blade as 1932 mvsn, cast aluminium fasces handle has the word "fideliter" on both sides of the eagle headed cross piece. item was purchased with san marco lion belt buckle. what does the forum think?

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Hi william ,didnt jimmy tell you what it was ?cheers graeme .

hi,
this knife is a normal wwii fascist knife but the belt is 1970 made and don't go with fascist period or wwii . the knife was used in fascist era and san marco don't accept this knife but has two different one called San Marco for officers and Regia Marina for nco and troops.

for this fideliter the scabbard is wrong , the leather in the back is wrong, replacement from the pics it seems.
how much do you pay fot it?

Eughen is right on with his evaluation - a tourist rip-off

hi eughen i myself think that the leather hanger is a relacement but the dagger and scabbard were defninately produced as an item.you mention a "fideliter",what exactly do mean by this.i take the word on the crosspiece to translate as honour or loyal.ipaid £400 for the dagger .i bought it ,perhaps wrongly,because i dont think i will ever see another one like it ,even though the "the russian"thinks it is a tourist rip-off.get back in touch .

Hello William,

While I am not familiar with this dagger, if I understand E correctly, this dagger is actually legitimate period dagger in the wrong scabbard and with a post war belt.

I think the dagger is well worth the 400 pounds you paid. While the scabbard may not be original to the dagger, It is original for a model 1932 and has value.

I am not sure who the Rusian is, but in this case I think we can safely ignore him/her.

Just my 2 cents

Jim

Don't know the time period but,,That buckle has the Lion of Zion on it,,with the 10 commandments.. It's Ethiopian..The Itals had many a battle there!

I based my opinion on my experience at Camp Darby, slightly outside of Pisa in the time period of 1970-1971. These daggers or very similar daggers were pressed into the hand of every GI leaving the base as a valuable souviner of WW11. Memories fade over the years but I vividly remember being relieved of $20 for my "part of History".

The lion on the belt buckle by the way is The Winged Lion of St Mark - the symbol of the city of Venice and the San Marco Marine Battalion or it was at least at the time I was in Italy.

your right! I stand corrected! The wings threw me off. also, the Lion also has a crown..So no 10 commandments,,it must just mean the book/gospel of St. Mark..

St. Marks it is.. Thanks , G.