The John Bannister Collection - D-Day and Militaria
Lot 2239:
Description
This WWII-era German mixed parts dagger features a blade produced by SMF (Solinger Metallwaffenfabrik) of Solingen, as evidenced by the seated king trademark. The piece includes the Luftwaffe pommel with swastika motif, a crossguard featuring the Army eagle clutching a swastika, and its pebbled Army scabbard with dual suspension rings. While the metal components appear to be authentic zinc or aluminum alloy common to the period, the handle is a later wooden replacement rather than the original wire-wrapped celluloid. The blade shows some surface oxidation, light spotting, and evidence of sharpening, while the scabbard and hilt fittings exhibit a darkened patina and general wear consistent with age and field use. This piece was a souvenir brought back by John Klein during his service with the 709th MP Battalion and the 52nd MP CID in Frankfurt and Hanau, Germany, between 1952 and 1958. Klein’s transfer to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Hanau in 1953 placed him in a more specialized role. The CID dealt with more complex felony-level crimes involving military personnel or property, and leftover denazification issues. Being in the CID likely gave him unique access to various regions and facilities, which may explain how he curated this specific collection of relics. The son of John, stated that his father said he saw children in the street playing with this particular piece, and were breaking and hitting the handle against the concrete. So he liberated it from them. L 15.5″, W 3″, D 1″.Disclaimer: Due to the high quality of WWII German fakes, Donley Auctions has described this item to the best of their ability and assumes NO liability or responsibility if information provided is incorrect. Authenticity is unknown. Buyer assumes all responsibility to determine whether or not an item is authentic. Buyer may request additional photos, ask detailed questions and make inquiries into the specifics of this item. All content and information is provided “AS IS” and without warranty, implied or otherwise. Absolutely NO refunds are given for this item or any military relics, regardless of age or condition.
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