I just bought this and thought that I would share it with you as it is very interesting.

Has anyone else ever seen anything like it?

The RK probably stands for Robert Klass, it has the same stamp you see on the reverse of 36 Links.

Funny thing is the logo might be in between the sizes for a Rohm and a normal dagger as well. I dont have any now so perhaps someone could confirm.

Any suggestions on what it might have been used for? maybe a prototype or some sort of quality control?.

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Can you post a closeup pic of the reverse where the tang intersects the blade. I'm trying to figure out why there is a bright area there?

Could be a light flash Plating?? Or from the acid etched when the logo and motto was done..??

I dont have a flash but will take another one tommorow

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Well Martin, I do not know what to say here. I can't figure out what the deal is with the bright area on the tang. Here are a couple suggestions of what could be going on there:
1- The tang could have been dipped in some sort of solution to artificially age it, like acid maybe?
2- The blade could have been dip plated? or cleaned by some sort of dip?
3- Could also be nothing and this hobby is making us all overly suspicious.

In a couple views here it appears that the spine might be sharp? or it could just be the lighting.
Lastly I've seen another (maybe the same one) tang stamped in this fashion here on GDC several years ago. I'm not sure the outcome of that discussion. What I can say is that this was stamped after the blade was forged. In my experience the forgers markings are usually raised up off the surface. Why this one is marked as such I have no idea... Maybe some sort of control sample? The odd maker mark size is also puzzling.
Can we see the dagger assembled?

Paul

Its just a blade, has been in various UK collections for a number of years including Frederick Stevens!. Came out of Germany as just a blade.

I am happy to send it to whoever for a hands on IMO its real, but at the end of the day it is only a blade. I think whatever part of the production process puts the shine on a blade has gone slightly up the tang then they have ground it back to meet the crossguards it has left a little of that exposed.

Far as I know the only process that put a shine on the blade is a grinding wheel...

The appliance of Science, here are some extreme close ups using my fake detecting Gizmo. Its clearly an original acid etch, the logo and the dedication are the same depth, colour and the "nibbles from the acid are similar" both sides. I have been looking at loads of blades in the last three months and the pictures speak for themselves.

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This is a picture of where the blade meets the tang, as you can see its not a weld of any kind.

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