Hi guys i have been looking at an army dagger with a damascus blade the blade and tang are unmarked.my question is does the damascus pattern normally run down onto the tang or is this a red flag,the ones i have been looking at in mr wittmanns army book, all the tangs all seem to be ground down in the fitting procees but the one i am looking at the damascus pattern is visable on the tang and this worries me slightly.....any help is appreciated guys
regards Adam

I'm no expert on damascus blades , but, the way I understand it, some have damascus tangs and some don't. Those that don't have a non-damascus tang welded to the blade. It would seem those with damascus tangs would be more desirable since you get more damascus and most of the noted damascus makers have their marks, or other marks, on the damascus tang. I think you are right about the grinding. It is often seen, but I'm not sure grinding was always necessary. Someone with greater knowledge and who has seen more than a few damascus daggers should be able to elaborate further.

I think I know the dagger you are looking at.

I asked expert opinion on it because I too wanted to believe.
No makers mark, no smith mark?

It is not a venture for the feint hearted.

Wittmann has one on his site at less than half the money of what a marked piece would command. To my mind his argument on it`s originality is not convincing enough, but at least he can add a COA to help move it along. Although the provision of a COA is not even mentioned!

Maybe I`m appearing cynical but neither do I believe in Santa any longer; & when you get burned in this hobby- as most of us have- it is not a pleasant experience.

Assume that you buy it & then later you need to cash it in. That is going to be a very hard sell. Believe it! Have you tried selling anything lately?

Mistakes are very expensive & that one would be unbearable! JMO

Thanks for the opinion guys i do understand damascus blades are risky business and with the price of them it pays to find out as much infomation on as possible...If the damascus blade is of early production and the fittings are all the later plated type does anyone think this could be a parts dagger or could it have been put together later on in the war when parts were getting scarcer???? I am not too concerned about being able to sell it down the line as i am mainly a hoarder and havent sold anything to date, but obviously i dont want to buy a dagger that isnt correct and could have been put together by anyone!!!!
your help is much appreciated
Adam

I must revise my previous comment on the dagger that was listed on Mr. Wittman`s site to be recently become past tense.

The item in question is no longer listed & therefore cannot even be used as a reference.

I`m sorry but I do not think you are going to get any definitive green light on something like this.

I seriously considered such and ultimately decided against it. Likewise you have to make your own judgement or get a very good return option that will allow you the time to get a COA from a universally recognised authority.

thanks Lanser i havent heard back from the seller yet i have asked him where he got it from and when he got it!!! like you say i dont think i will get any green lights on this one and its alot of money to loose if the dagger doesnt turn out to be correct, i suppose if the seller would give a good returns option then he must be pretty confident it is correct (but then again he may not know it is correct or not)
Just as a matter of intrest does anyone know where a COA could be obtained from over in the UK???
Thanks Adam

Contact Fred Stephens,a Member here.
For a price.
Seiler (Yank in UK)

And dealers are all angels that tell nothing but the truth.

It is now reserved so good luck to the buyer.