Has anyone seen this blade on an SA?

[boomboom]

I have a couple of SA's and even a SS but I've been told by so called experts at gun shows that this blade is a fake and told its real but doesn't belong with this handle and scabbard?This is also my first on a chat board,so any help would be appreciated.Boomboom

[Walkwolf]

It is a 'deluxe' Demascus blade, usually seen on High Leaders daggers.

I do not know if it is original or not, but I think the 'Damasceening' on this
SA dagger may be a surface finish only, which will mean it is a fake/replica.
I have seen an identical dagger in a British publication on militaria
collecting from the early 1980's.

True Damascus blades contain many swirling layers of different metals which
continue throughout, the same way Japanese Samurai sword blades
are made. A look at the tang may show none of the same
'texturing' that the blade has.

Is the blade made by Eichorn ? Apparently there were/are few people
who knew/know how to make blades in this fashion............

[boomboom]

you can feel the grooves with your fingernail.THANKS

[Walkwolf]

you can feel the grooves with your fingernail.THANKS

The 'grooves' are etched on by an acid treatment on a replica blade,
however there will be some resistance as the treatment
does create ridges.

[boomboom]

I run across this stuff once in a while I run a pawn shop in California I sell some and started my own little collection a year ago.Boomboom

[boomboom]

close up of maker

[Walkwolf]

Looking at the blade close-up does look like an applied finish. Perhaps someone who
has handled original(s) will be along and can say for sure, but I'm guessing it's
a repro. The difference is something like $600 to $1000 for a 'regular' SA
and maybe $1500 to $3000 for one with a deluxe type blade,
so you can see why they are faked.

There are so many fakes out there these days, and posting a few things on the
Forum is a good idea to get some answers. BTW, the Hitler Youth knife
in your display case is fake, most likely the finger ring is too.

I realise that pawn shops cannot pay a whole lot for their product, so you will
probably get lucky with WWII German stuff from time to time because their
owner(s) simply don't want it. The SS dagger looks very good and possibly
the HJ Leaders dagger might be genuine - both worth several $1000.....!