[ Home Page ] [ Third Reich ] [ Old Reich ] [ Kaiser Reich ] [ Imperial Russia ] [ Axis Powers ] [ Italian Fascist ] [ WW I ] [ Landsknecht ] [ Kaiser Wilhelm ] [ Frederick the Great ] Hunting and Shooting in Germany Page 9      Hunting Dagger (Hirschfänger) of the Reich National Forestry Service (NFS) (Item HUNT 9-1; Important Third Reich Daggers) DESCRIPTION: Here is a great NFS dagger or Hirschfänger (literal translation: “Deer Catcher”). It’s fitted with ivory-colored celluloid grips that have three brass acorns affixed to each side of them. The dagger is by the firm of Eickhorn in Solingen and has the famous squirrel logo familiar to this company. The etched blade has great hunting scenes–deer, boar, gamebirds, elk, partridges, and jaunty German hunters. The scabbard is of top-grade leather and this sporting weapon measures about 18½ inches long in its scabbard. Some collectors claim that these forest-service pieces are among the most beautiful of all Third Reich daggers; they certainly are graceful looking and special, indeed. PRICE: $985.00    German National Forestry Service Dress Dagger (Hirschfänger) (Item HUNT 9-2; Important Third Reich Daggers) DESCRIPTION: Here is a very excellent dress dagger of the National Forest Service (NFS). This was a conservation group at first and was established under the supervision of Reich Minister Hermann Göring and its purpose was to control and preserve the natural resources of the German forests. Even today in Europe, many of the methods employed by this association are still practiced. These dress daggers were part of a “snappy” mostly green forester’s uniform that was worn by members of this very necessary conservation project. The dress daggers came in two styles and were made by more than a dozen Solingen firms. The models were very similar, but with distinct grips; one with white celluloid grips and the other with stag-antler grips. The famed Solingen firm of WKC produced the stag-grip model we offer, here. These beautiful grips have three brass acorns on each side. The “WKC” mark is the depiction of a knight’s helmet so familiar to collectors of the very finest of Germanic edged weapons going back to the seventeenth century. The blade is beautiful with etched scenes employing grazing deer, hunting dogs, foxes, and pictured groupings of hunting equipment. The scabbard is accomplished in fine top-grade leather with brass throat and boot fittings. In its scabbard, the dagger measures about 18½ inches long. Weapons collectors say that this NS dagger would most likely be voted the most beautiful dagger of the Third Reich era. The overall condition of this one is nothing short of superb! PRICE: $985.00   This photo is from James Atwood's book on daggers. The standard dagger is shown on the left.  Deluxe Hunting Cutlass by Eickhorn (Item HUNT 9-3; Important Third Reich Daggers) DESCRIPTION: Herein all its glory is the plat de résistance of hunting daggers of the Third Reich period. This was the official sidearm and high-dress piece as designed by Reichsforstmeister Hermann Göring, himself. The organization that used these cutlasses was the German National Hunting Association (Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft). This again is the deluxe model not to be confused with the models issued for use by the enlisted ranks of this service. The deluxe style had to be purchased from the Eickhorn company by those leaders, and they were quite expensive in their day. (The higher-ranking and specialized officials were salaried while the lower ranks were often volunteers.) In looks and style, these deluxe versions are much finer and more beautiful than the enlisted version, but whether lower rank or deluxe, this whole line of Hirschfänger (“deer catchers”) certainly was the most handsome of the edged weapons of the NSDAP years. The deluxe model measures about 17 inches long in its scabbard and is slightly shorter than the enlisted model. The condition is very good and the beautiful, etched blade is the picture of perfection indeed! Five of these deluxe daggers were purchased directly from the Eickhorn firm in Solingen by famed collector-dealer Major Jim Atwood in the 1970s. These were produced in the Third Reich period by Eickhorn in a very limited production because when retailed, the cost would exceed what the forestry officials were prone to lay out for a dagger that would be worn only on special occasions. It was possibly the singular most expensive dagger ever produced in the Reich. Naturally, when Eickhorn closed its doors in 1945, all items that bore the swastika had to be adjusted by removing said symbology. Later, Atwood found a defunct firm in Germany that made various stickpins in the 30s and 40s and he bought them out as well; in that lot there were some silver stickpins from the Deutsche Jägerschaft and in size and design they were exactly the expected superior detail as the insignia that Eickhorn had removed from the Hirschfänger. So, the replacement is of period manufacture and that is an important feature. PRICE: Price $2,700.00; the only other deluxe model on the web is priced at more than $5,000.00. (To view that dagger, go here.) Late Important Information Discovered as of Recently: This deluxe dagger above has been found to be a later-made piece by the firm Eickhorn and has something to do with the daggers bought by Major Jim Atwood in the 1970s. We believe these daggers were produced in the 1970s by this firm so, therefore, we believe they were not produced during the Third Reich period and the stag head with swastika is all that is Third Reich produced. The dagger is still a very beautiful example, but was one of the few Third Reich daggers produced by Eickhorn in the 1970s. Atwood did much business with Eickhorn and other cutlery manufacturers. The dagger is still a very valuable piece. One was recently sold by Mead Military for $5,000.00. The value of one of these pieces can only be set with someone’s appreciation of the manufacturing of such an eloquent weapon. The description I have given above pretty much remains the same with the history of the deluxe dagger, however since the possibility remains that this dagger was made in the 1970s, we will not present it as an original Third Reich piece but as questionable as to the era. We have decided to offer it simply as a beautifully constructed and exceptional piece at $1,950.00 and it certainly must be unique today as we have not seen any other except that one sold by Mead. One would be most fortunate to be able to add this beautiful specimen to their collection. $2,700.00; but now at a reduced price of $1,950.00    Master Class Shooting Medal from Hannover, 1903 (Item HUNT 9-10) DESCRIPTION: This is actually a gem of a shooting medal in genuine 800 silver. It features a three-piece, beautifully stacked star upon which a three-part center features three shields in white pristine enamel. All of this is supported by a silver-ribbon framing in the finest jeweler fashion. Upon the ribbons is engraved “14. Deutsches Bundesschiessen-Hannover 1903.” The star is suspended by tiny chain links from a decorative silver bar that bears the word “Meisterschaft.” On the back of this bar is the fastening pin done in the style of important badges of the Empire. At the back of the star is a finely finished circular wheel-like backing that once again reads “Meisterschaft,” plus a jeweler’s logo and the silver mark “800” and some symbology having to do with the German Jeweler’s Guild (a half moon and crown). Here we have an elegant medal from the turn of the century that demonstrates how important the shooting sports were to the German Fatherland then and now! This is truly an important historical piece. PRICE: Price $350.00   Nuremberg maker's logo Dollar is for the viewer’s perspective  Nuremberg Medieval Hunting Scene on Pewter (Zinn) (Item HUNT 9-11; OLD 7-15; SPECIAL SALE) DESCRIPTION: Here is a plaque or some would call it a wall plate that depicts an 18th century wild boar hunt in a German forest. The scene shows four hunters and two hunting hounds in the act of bringing down a huge wild boar. We say 18th century because there is a date at the bottom front framed in that says “1755,” but this may be the year the plaque was cast. We tend to believe it to be the case; it certainly is the style seen in early museum collections. It seems to be depiction of a mid-16th-century hunt. The action illustrates the kill stroke being delivered from a hunter to the left who is stabbing the animal with his boar spear while the hunter in the middle blows the hunting horn that sends the age old sound of “hallali “This is the old clarion call of the successful hunt. The detail of the sequence is phenomenal and typical Nuremberg pewter art that has been a noted art form in this city for myriad centuries. This art form was passed from father to son. On the back of this plaque is a stamp that depicts a nude female holding a wreath that is positioned above her head. This is evidently the logo of the maker. Zinn or pewter art goes back into the 10th century when a synod permitted its use as a substitute for gold or silver church vessels. For centuries the art of Zinn decorative arts has been a Nuremberg tradition and the artists in that field excelled in it beyond any European competitors. The plaque measures 16 x 12 inches and could be described as “deep dish” with artful, scalloped edges. This museum piece is in perfect condition and has been carefully preserved for a very long time. This is a dramatic historic scene and a great investment. PRICE: Price $1,500.00; Special Sale: reduced to $1,200.00   Boar hunting was a very dangerous sport.  Elegant Imperial Hunting Sword (Hirschfänger) with Figural Pommel (Item HUNT 9-12) DESCRIPTION: Here is one of the finest Hirschfänger that has appeared in many years. It has a beautiful pommel that depicts a silver, highly detailed wild boar's head, and the crossguard is comprised of double hunting hounds of two precisely different breeds. The weapon has silver fittings and the grip is of stag horn. Below the crossguard is a stylized clamshell guard and the grip is adorned with silver acorns. The gorgeous blade has triple gold-on-blue etching with depictions of a potpourri weapons, floral motifs, a deer, a hunting horn, etc. All of this is in sharp, clear detail considering this piece is most likely from the mid-19th century. It has gilded brass fittings on the black leather scabbard. The secondary skinning knife fits into a special brass pouch and it is almost dagger-like in its blade shape and is quite rustic. The scabbard shows either the maker or the seller—Stroblberger-München—at its lower reverse locket. Blade length 23.5 inches with an overall length of 29.5 inches; condition is very good. This excellent hunting sword would grace any fine collection. The monarchy normally sponsored the sport of the hunt and was mostly joyed by the aristocrats and the well to do (not indulged in by the common man) and there were stringent restrictions on who could hunt and where and when an elegant weapon such as this one could be worn. It is highly probable that the weapon was owned by a Bavarian gentleman, who at least was one of the landed gentry or a forestry official serving the German Game Service in the employ and service of royalty. PRICE: $4,800.00 # 2280 TRADED AWAY; NO LONGER AVAILABLE.   Note : "10./SS A.H." Outstanding SS-LAH Framed Target (Item HUNT 9-13; SS 38-37) DESCRIPTION: The target is approximately 18 inches in diameter and is displayed in a black, wooden frame, which is its original frame for display and features the period framer's marking on the back. It commemorates a special shooting competition for members of the SS-Leibstandarte in Berlin on 7.8.1936. Along with the date and location information, it's marked "10./ SS A.H." (10th Company SS Adolf Hitler). There are nine bullet holes with the name of the shooter noted on the target. This is a unique and artistic example of early Third Reich military competitive shooting. The overall condition is very good. The animal depicted in the print is a roebuck. This offering is not only exceptionally rare, but ultimately historically important as well! PRICE: SOLD   Hitler-Jugend Shooting Target (Item HUNT 9-14; YOUTH 10-21) DESCRIPTION: This speaks for itself: a great item from the Hitler Youth organization. Guns were not totally banned in the Third Reich—only to certain of its individuals. The young were taught early to be able to use a gun during their turbulent times. Hitler expected everyone armed to show up in the streets ready for action should it be warranted just as they did during the Freiheit of the Weimar Republic, which did restrict guns. Our gun shows here often sell bumper stickers that state Hitler took the guns–nope! This is in excellent condition, albeit, it was folded, otherwise, pristine. PRICE: $75.00   Jäger Tea Set (Item HUNT 9-15; THIRD REICH TABLEWARE 1-17) DESCRIPTION:This was made by the Felda Rhön porcelain company of Thuringia, Germany, with St. Hubertus shown on the pieces representing a hunting association. The airplane symbol on the bottom is just as interesting. The company was started in 1889 and first started using the airplane maker’s mark in 1933 to 1949. The company now uses a different maker’s mark. So, it is safe to say that this set was probably made either during the Third Reich or after the war. Probably conditions were rather worse after the war to obtain materials as they were already complaining about that close to the end of the war. So, our guess is that it was made around 1933 to 1939. The plate is 8½ inches in diameter, while the sugar bowl is 4 inches wide by 2 inches high. The cup is 4 inches wide by 2½ inches. The set is in pristine condition. PRICE: SOLD   Meissen St. Hubertus Jäger Wall Plate (Item HUNT 9-16; THIRD REICH TABLEWARE 1-18) DESCRIPTION:This is not a Third Reich piece, but about 40 years older, created around 1900. On it is the stag with the Christian cross representing St. Hubertus. His story is well known in Europe as the poacher who fell over a crevice and a white stag appeared with a cross between his antlers. He lowered his head and let Hubertus grab on and he was pulled up. The stag advised him to stop his poaching or hell would yawn before him. He then treated animals with dignity and the symbol of the stag with the cross became the icon of hunting associations all over Europe. Our plate is made by Meissen and is in excellent condition with a hanging loop on the back. During the Third Reich when Hermann Göring became Jägermeister of the hunting clubs, the cross was changed to a swastika. It’s 9½ inches in diameter with the rich, green coloring still vibrant and the call letter/numbers of the hunting lodge this represented at the bottom. It bears the symbol of Sachsen (Saxony) at the top. PRICE: SOLD   Three-Piece Set of a Marksman’s Silverware (Item HUNT 9-17; THIRD REICH TABLEWARE 1-19) DESCRIPTION:The is a very interesting set of silverware showing all the trappings of the German shooting master: the Homburg hat, rifles, and target. It must have been made for the discerning collector or shooting club and was probably part of a larger set. It is of heavy silver, “900,” we believe. The maker’s mark is rather hard to read. PRICE: SOLD   Page One Page Two Page Three Page Four Page Five Page Six Page Seven   Page Eight Page Nine Contact Us Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence. Please E-mail for any additional information you may need. If you prefer, contact 'Germania' at PO Box 68, Lakemont, GA 30552 or call at 706.782.1668. Please! do not call during the wee hours of the morning. The best time for calling us is between 9 and 11 am and between 9 and 11 pm eastern time.