Kriegsmarine 1st model Eickhorn etched dagger with M38 pommel and hammered scabbard

[Cwrenn]

I'm new to collecting but am trying to build a quality collection. I recently purchased this KM Dagger but noticed the 'Squirrel' looks different in mine versus others that have posted on this site. Some seem to lack the detail mine has on the inside. Is this normal? Sorry to ask such an elementary question but I'm trying to learn. Thanks in advance!!

[Frogprince]

Deferring of course to the specialists, it looks like a good earlier example to me. Best Regards, Fred

[Rossi]

Welcome to the forum! Blade has the Eickhorn 1935-1941 Seated Squirrel Maker Mark. Buffer pad is proper color. Looks to be okay from what I can see but any chance you can post better blade shots of etching, pommel, hilt, crossguards & scabbard?

[Anderson]

Commenting on the Eickhorn logo; 1935-41 is too wide a time frame for this logo which has the "coiled tail". The extra detail coil of the tail was present in 1935, but was quickly dropped. Most logos of this style seen are coil-less tail versions which I understand cover most of the 1936-41 period. That would date the dagger at 1935.

I think that would tie in with Fred's comment about this being an "earlier example"

[Rossi]

Some Makers Marks for Reference:

[Cwrenn]

Thanks for the information. Here are the additional pictures you requested:

[Tomaz]

The maker mark is correct and personally i have seen a lot more like this with the detail inside the tail than the one without. The dagger has a standard Eickhorn M38 pommel and their later larger style crossguard so this dagger dates between 38-41, if it was earlier it would have been an M29 and had either the ball pommel or the M38 replacement eagle pommel which was an eagle pommel designed specifically to update earlier models to M38s.

Best Tomaz.

[thebig]

Some Makers Marks for Reference:

Hello Rossi, on the blades of the KM daggers you can see only three logos of your pictures. I have marked they with KM in green. You can also see an oval stamped logo on the blades of the ex-M29 daggers with a replacement eagle.
You also showed an interesting logo, the squirrel over-the-shoulder with two paws. This logo is rare and can be seen on the blades of the parade bayonets. I have a nice bayonet with this logo in my collection.
Best,
Oleg.

[Rossi]

Hello Rossi, on the blades of the KM daggers you can see only three logos of your pictures. I have marked they with KM in green. You can also see an oval stamped logo on the blades of the ex-M29 daggers with a replacement eagle.
You also showed an interesting logo, the squirrel over-the-shoulder with two paws. This logo is rare and can be seen on the blades of the parade bayonets. I have a nice bayonet with this logo in my collection.
Best,
Oleg.

Nice piece Oleg. A beaut!