Distributor Mark

[Chris76]

Hello everyone,

I would like to talk a little about the distributors mark/engravings on the Army daggers.
How many were there?
And is there a specific reason for their large engravings?
I mean, the engravings are so big that, in my opinion, it tends to "take over" the blade in comparison to the actual maker.
After all, the distributor of a dagger doesn't seem that important for the owner / buyer.

The first picture is an Alcoso and the second a Puma.

Best Regards
Chris

[dr73]

Hi Chris, these distributor marked daggers are actually quite scarce or even rare. I agree that the distributors name on the blade is much larger than the maker mark. There is an easy explanation for this. These distributors were in it for the money. The more daggers they sold, the more money they earned. You should look at these engravings as advertisement. The distributor wanted to make it very clear where the dagger came from. This may not be important to the owner of the dagger but the distributors knew officers would show their blades to others

Danny

[Larry C]

Its rather imposing..IMO due to the nationalistic pride of the times.....The idea of a man to wear a Dagger or Sword required by Hitler..was fashioned by the times of the Roman culture. Even the Standartes on the Pole with eagle on top of the box....the idea of that came from Rome.
IMO it would bother me..if it were me back then..and being proud to have in honor a sword or dagger.....but not to have a big retailers name emblazoned across the blade. I think it takes away the idea of Germanic pride. Almost the same as having a Buck Knife with a name of "Walmart" as a subcontracting distributor.
LOl me personally..I cant stand to see any RZM marking..that has eclipsed the identity of the producer. Regards Larry

[Chris76]

Hi Danny and Larry,

I understand that the main thought behind this was advertisment, but still, the size of it.
At least the one on picture 1, the 2nd picture is more acceptable in my opinion.

And like Larry said, If I buy anything I really don't want the distributors name on the item. Especially since we are talking about an engraving which you can't remove and put in the trash can.

[dr73]

Hi Danny and Larry,

I understand that the main thought behind this was advertisment, but still, the size of it.
At least the one on picture 1, the 2nd picture is more acceptable in my opinion.

And like Larry said, If I buy anything I really don't want the distributors name on the item. Especially since we are talking about an engraving which you can't remove and put in the trash can.

I think this is probably the main reason why these distributor marked pieces are so rare. Almost nobody wanted them

[Chris76]

Hi Chris, these distributor marked daggers are actually quite scarce or even rare. I agree that the distributors name on the blade is much larger than the maker mark. There is an easy explanation for this. These distributors were in it for the money. The more daggers they sold, the more money they earned. You should look at these engravings as advertisement. The distributor wanted to make it very clear where the dagger came from. This may not be important to the owner of the dagger but the distributors knew officers would show their blades to others

Danny

Would you say a dagger with an engraving like this is more expensive than a dagger without it?

[dr73]

Personally I would pay a little extra for a distributor marked piece. I have quite a few army daggers in my collection but not one that is distributor marked.

Danny

[Rancid66]

Larry in addition, it should be added that a lot Solingen factory, was in a difficult finacial situation.
For them it was crucial importance was getting business from the state (National socialist Party).
The same (National socialist Party) is extensively these kind of support, to gain favor among the Solligen industrialists, who was in any real political sense - Conservative.

Regards
Vedran

[Larry C]

So are you saying Vedran that the main producers were willing to take a loss financially..by outsourcing there work to subcontractors and distributors to save face?...... or is it like the NS party saying..."Well if you want to survive..you have to put this distributors name on the blade..because the distributor is paying us more lip service.'

That may be a possibility..as the reason why so many SA producers just closed their doors to the RZM also...Interesting.

[Rancid66]

Profit plays a huge role.

Regards
Vedran