Dear friends,
Further to our exchanged correspondence I’ll open a new topic “Bulgarian Royal naval dirk” and I’m ready to share all information which I have to Royal Bulgarian daggers. Some of those daggers are well known, some very rare, some under discussion. Just for your guidance from 1934 until 1945 ten kinds of daggers were in used:
Navy officer dirk, Army officer dagger , Air force officer dagger, Medical officer dagger, Labor service officers dagger, dirk of Royal military orchestra, Police officer dirk, Gendarmerie officer dagger, Fire officer dagger and Brannik officer dagger.
To my great regret I’m not in possession of all ten kind of daggers but I do hope that Gary or Jim or somebody else may have full collection of those daggers.
I’ll start with the oldest Bulgarian dagger - Navy officer dirk was approved with the signature of prince Ferdinand I in 1905.
Sorry but presently I’m moving in new house and I haven’t time to put in order my collectin,so I’ll improvise with a small photo studio.

Shortly before the final Russian evacuation in 1879 Bulgaria received as present 6-7 Russian war vessels .From 1879 until 1913 Bulgaria had 42 Navy officers only, most of them were Russians, Germans or French navy officers. For example from 1899 until 1908 the first naval officer and Navy chief was French Lt Paul Pichon. During this period 1st model naval dirk was in used – produced in Solingen with engraved blade.
2nd model was produced in Bulgaria .

The belt and hangers

Part of the belt

pc 2

1st model naval dagger

the dagger

Scabbard

Naval sword

The Horster Naval Dagger is quite similar to the Royal Russian of the same period. However, it must be much more rare.

This full set up is quite extraordinary.

Jim

Jim is right. The dagger is exactly like the Russian one. I am wondering whether there are any marks on the pommel or the in the etching elements to indicate that this one is specifically Bulgarian.

Thanks for showing it to us.

Hi friends,
You are right. The both daggers are similar – most probably same.
As mentioned before in 1879 Bulgaria received as present 6-7 Russian war vessels, but I forgot to tell you that due to the fact that Bulgaria hadn’t experience naval Bulgarian officers and crew ,for many years those vessels remained with the Russian’s crew
There isn’t any marks on the pommel or any other etching elements for indicating nationality of the dagger.
As far as I know etching on the pommels of the Russians dirks started from 1914.
Just for your guidance I’ll post 2nd model naval dirk.
The dirk was made in Bulgarian naval work-shops and had plain blade – made by wasted French bayonets “Lebel “.On account of his simplistic mode in our days you can find a thousands fakes.

I have a small naval dagger with no markings on the pommel, like yours. I will try and get photos to post here.

Thank you Pesho,

Perhaps Gary will post his Russian Horster here.

Jim

Here is the first of two scans. Note the great detail for a 9" (23cm) dagger.

I have this as one of my wofe's miniatures.

I also thought it was Russian.

What do you guys think

Jim

2nd photos

Hi Everyone,
Sorry for the delay in responding but somehow I missed several of the posts.

Pesho, those are beautiful Bulgarain Naval pieces that you have. I do not have any of those in my collection as I do not generally collect pre WWII era edge weapons except Japanese swords. I realize that some of these were used during WW2 but I had to draw the line somewhere as my collection was getting out of hand!

Jim, I do not have a Horster Russian naval dagger in my collection. Maybe your message was meant for a different Gary. I just wanted to respond to you so that you didn't think I was ignoring your request.

Gary

Sorry Gary, I thought it was you that had one.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this dagger I posted.

You too Pesho

Jim

Jim, regarding your dagger, if I had to guess (and I am) I would have to call it Russian. There are so many similarities between the early Bulgarian Navy and Russian daggers that it becomes almost a coin toss. Now with that being said,I have seen in a reference book a full size example of your dagger. I believe they called it a Bulgarian 1st Captain's dirk or something like that. With the Bulgarian Navy being so small, it would seem more believable to me that it was originally Russian and that Bulgaria "borrowed" the dirk for the use of their navy. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Gary

Hi guys I nearly missed this topic, here is a pic of my Bulgarian Navy dagger, it has no markings of any kind on the outside and I have never tried taking it appart so I have no idea if there are any stamps inside.
I bought this one about 8 years ago but have no idea what it may be worth today, anyone got any information on present values?

Simon