Seems reasonable?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230258446549

I've had several of these and that is a good looking one at a reasonable b.i.n. price.

Ed, it says the blade is blued. I've never seen a period blued blade on these, have you?

john

John, This is the second one i've heard the blade was blued. Mine were both regular satin finished steel.

Gentlemen,

Is the knife Navy Proofed or is it a commercial model?

Richard Kuchta

They make no mention of any proof mark only the distibutor and maker mark. Rich are you saying this is most likely a commercial piece?

Although it has German source markings, if that is a what I think it is, then it’s a WW I era Austrian Navy Diver’s Knife not German. Very hard to see in the image - but what I’ve pointed out could be an Austrian Double Headed Eagle. Unless that is what you are looking for, then I think that some more pictures might be helpful at this point. FP

I believe the WKC trademark on this piece is later than WW1.

I agree with Ed, that WKC mark is post WWI. I have a Weimar Feuerwehr dagger with that mark as well as an early 3R Feuerwehr bayonet. I can't speak to the stamping Fred mentions, very interesting though.

I guess the seller doesn't have a good macro camera::

Hello, there are two stamped symbols in the brass as you said but they are to me unreadable. I even used a jewelers loupe and still they are meaningless to me. I sure do not think I can take a pic of them. I will try to do macro photography but I do not know if it will work. These symbols remind me of hallmarks such as you see in silver antiques, etc. What do you think they are for? I have taken several pics of these but they are still unreadable to me. I used a fine macro setting on my digital but either the light is too bright or too dim or the flash messes up the image. I am not a pro at photography. But, there are two definite symbols on there and look like hallmarks but I can't tell what they are. One looks similar to an H and the other looks like a beehive or something like that. Maybe you can see something in the pics. They are not too clear but the best I can do. all I know is this is ORIGINAL and was acquired by me from a old time large collection several years ago. it is exactly like the book examples I have seen and the only one I have ever run across in years of looking. It is very heavy solid brass with the blade and handle end screws into the large threaded tube. I hope these photos help you but I can guarantee this be be the real McCoy as I said before. As to the hallmarks, I am not even sure why they are there at all. Never seen that on any German piece before. I have an extensive collection myself and am just thinning it out a bit. I have seen one of these for sale once before and it was priced at over 2000 dollars. I feel my price is very fair and a good investment. Thanks for you inquiry. I hope you are seriously interested in this piece. Larry

Somebody can correct me if I’m wrong. But I think that TW has cited the “high neck” WKC trademark not just as Weimar, but also as seen on some pre or early WW I items as well. I think that it’s a good knife, just not German Navy, having instead having what I believe to be Austrian markings. Posted below: an image from an earlier thread. FP

Great pics Fred and yes probably a contract made piece. I still say it's a real fair buy.

Aug Luneburg were still in business in Kiel during WWII Kiel is on the Baltic in Northern Germany so I struggle with the Austrian landlocked Navy theory

A J, This is from memory so I cannot guarantee the accuracy. But my recollection is that the Austrians had a large naval base on the Adriatic. And that at some point the Germans as co-belligerents also used the base. And while I don’t have any problems with this knife. I did with a Third Reich motif embellished example that I may still have a picture of somewhere. Best Regards, FP

Without the German Naval Proof Marks, it is difficult to call it a German WW11 Diver's Knife. I have numerous Diver's Knives that are Navy proofed. Those that do not have the Navy Proof are usually referred to as commercial diver's knives.

Richard Kuchta

I owned 1 of these that have some engraving on the scabbard. Tom Johnson stated it was Austrian.

Old Brigade were offering one earlier this week at best part of £700 but thats gone theres one on www.Speedbid.com at the moment with a starting bid of £250 and no takers Vendor states he bought it in Keil some years ago if anybody is looking for one
I am not the vendor or anything to do with them just giving you all a heads up