One
facet of edged weapon collecting that I have
always encouraged my reference book readers
to engage in is documentation. Nothing brings
an historical artifact to life like the supporting
detailed documentation. I devoted an entire
chapter in my Volume I of Collecting the Edged
Weapons of the Third Reich (pp 289 - 301) to
documentation procedures for collectibles. As
pointed out in that chapter the real conversation
piece is a German dagger that not only was worn
by "some Nazi" during the period,
but one that has been carefully documented as
belonging to a particular individual. Once the
owner has been ascertained (not an easy task),
some diligent research can often substantiate
the specifics of your owner's service record,
to include his rank and positions held, his
units and campaigns served in, dates, places,
etc. Sufficient details can often be gathered
and compiled to make your individual edged weapon
"talk".
Likewise,
the collector can often add to both the interest
and the value of an edged weapon by documenting
the specific Allied officer or soldier who captured
the German edged weapon and returned home with
his welcomed war souvenir. U. S. Army "capture
papers" (AG USFET Form 33) provide excellent
provenance on the authenticity of the German
dagger, sword, or bayonet in question. Once
again, some diligent research can often result
in very detailed information concerning your
World War II veteran. A "Recommended Format
for Veteran Documentation of Military Collectibles"
is provided to the reader on page 298 of my
Volume I.
Our new "JRB&M
Featured Item" is being offered complete
with accompanying documentation to include the
1945 U. S. Army Form 33. The beautiful Third
Reich Senior Forestry Cutlass by Carl Eickhorn
was returned to the States after World War II
by U. S. Army Lieutenant Lloyd R. Kuhn, 101st
Airborne Division. Lt. Kuhn served in the U.
S. Army 327th Glider Infantry and participated
in the well-publicized World War II Rhineland
Campaign. His Army Form 33 certificate was signed
on 7 December 1945 and authorized Lt. Kuhn to
return home with one 1917 Luger pistol and "one
knife" (obviously, the Forestry Cutlass).
The 1917 Luger is an Imperial 6-inch barrel
DWM Navy Luger which remains the personal property
of his son Robert D. Kuhn.
Here is the opportunity
to add a choice, fully documented edged weapon
to your collection that will definitely "talk"!
LTC (Ret) Thomas M. Johnson
President
Johnson Reference Books & Militaria
****************************************************SOLD************************************************************
Carl Eickhorn, Solingen, stamped squirrel holding
sword TM. This Senior Forestry Hirschfänger
was recently obtained from the son of Lt. Lloyd
Kuhn, 327th Glider Infantry, 101st Airborne
Division who shipped it back as "war booty"
on 07 December 1945, as documented on the photocopy
of the CERTIFICATE of captured enemy equipment
that is included with the hirschfänger.
The hirschfänger remained in Mr. Kuhn's
possession until his death in 2006. An illustration
of this pattern Hirschfänger appears in
the Eickhorn Kundendienst as Nr. 427, "Vorschriftsmässige
Hirschfänger mit Elfenbeinschalen"
(Regulation Hirschfänger with Ivory Grip).
Gilded brass hilt fittings show light surface
wear/age to the plain hilt/spine, ribbed ferrule,
unadorned knuckle-bow, crossguard with stag
hoof quillon and fluted clamshell. Genuine ivory
grip plates, with nice age toning/striations
show minor surface scratches and a few tiny
hairline cracks adjacent to the obverse ferrule,
but no chips and are complete with all six gilded
brass acorns without oak leaves.Polished double-etched
blade measuring 13" in length grades EX++
showing light surface wear/runner marks and
some light gray shadowing, but no nicks to the
cutting edge and is complete with green felt
blade buffer pad. Etch pattern features scenes
of Auerhahn, stag, doe, boar, hunting dogs and
hunter as shown in the Kundendienst.
Black leather scabbard shows
light surface wear and a few surface nicks,
but no rips, tears, creases, or damage to the
reverse stitching. Gold-washed/lacquered brass
hilt fittings show light surface wear and much
factory finish remaining with a depression to
the reverse upper and lower fittings The fittings
are stamped "11" beneath the undamaged
retaining staples. Nice Eickhorn Hirschfänger
complete with photcopies of the "bring
back" documentation and studio portrait
of Lt. Kuhn in his Army Airborne "Ike Jacket"
Service Uniform with jump wings and bloused
boots. EX++ (26271) $1,395.
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Johnson Reference
Books and Militaria
403 Chatham Square Office Park
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Phone (540) 373-9150
Fax (540) 373-0087
e-mail: info@johnsonreferencebooks.com
Orders only: 1-800-851-2665
