Ivory / White Army Dagger by Alcosa

**naptime** · 01-01-2015, 10:27 PM

Hey everyone. I am about to purchase this dagger but not until after it's made it past the Warrelics gauntlet. Based on the photos, what do you think? Thanks for your help!

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 01-01-2015 10:27 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Rossi** · 01-01-2015, 11:48 PM

I am not seeing any red flags based on your pics. IMO a good one. I am sure some other folks after waking from the New Years Slumber will opine. Happy New Year Bud!

Rossi

**dr73** · 01-02-2015, 12:58 AM

Your dagger is a nice textbook example with a type 3 Alcoso crossguard. Very nice patina too. Just one small thing, you have put the dagger in the scabbard the wrong way

. When the eagle is facing you, the scabbard rings should be on the right.

Danny

**naptime** · 01-02-2015, 06:38 AM

Thanks for the info. Is there any way to get a ballpark date on this dagger? I've read that the white handle versions are early but a Type 3 crossguard makes me wonder if that is wrong since that implies two previous crossguards. Thanks again.

**Rossi** · 01-02-2015, 06:53 AM

Definitely a Type 3 Crossguard. The logo style for the Alcosa Solingen Makers Logo Mark with the ACS Hanging Scales to left and script to right on blade to my knowledge was used around 1940-41. As far as the handle color being white & having to do with earlier time period I am not sure about. I don't know if the type 3 guard is any harder to find IMO. See if Danny, Gerrit or blade folk weigh in with any better intelligence than I.

**little big man** · 01-02-2015, 11:43 AM

To my knowledge the white grip was used more in the later period, not completely sure tho but I have seen a lot of white grips on later types. A lot of companies changed designs sometimes within months of the previous one, check out the crossguard reference section on wardaggers site it has approximate dates for each guard.

**dr73** · 01-02-2015, 09:26 PM

Alcoso used a total of 4 different crossguards. The first one is very hard to find. The second one is almost impossible to find and still missing in my collection

The third one (on your dagger) is the most common. The 4th type is also called "high lift" and not easy to find. White grips are usually seen on late daggers. For example: 9 out of 10 Alcoso armies with the high lift crossguard and last trademark (AWS) have a white grip. As said before, I think your dagger is completely textbook.

Danny

**heers68** · 01-03-2015, 03:17 PM

Agree with others here, nice correct Alcoso made shortly before the transition to the "high lift" guard and the scabbard throat screw moving to its final single rear location... Kevin.