Md. 1889 artillery dagger, - latest arrival -

Just added this to my collection:



markings:



...and a picture with it in wear:



Please feel free to comment.

Congratulations !

This is a rare and in very good condition M. 1889 artillery dagger carried by foot-artillery gunners until WW1. It was then used by officers and NCO’s as a campaign edged weapon, being more comfortable than the regulation sword.

Thank you! I'm very pleased with it

Why the wood grips are different colours? One of them is a replacement, or you have tryed to restore it?

Very nice dagger ... I wander why are the grips different colors?
hmmm maybe its from laing on one side for so long unmoved the wood changed color.

Thanks Dragos. The grips are untouched originals, I also think that the wood changed colour from staying unmoved on the same side. Or maybe it was stained with oil/grease at some point in it's existance.

Thanks Dragos. I also think that the wood changed colour from staying unmoved on the same side.

Do you really belive that?

The best explanation is that the bayonet stained for a long time in the same position with the dark wood panel under in humidity and the rust stained the wood as it happened around the rivets and at the ends on the other side.
The grips are original as the rivets have rust pits in them and to clean up one grip with sand paper would thin it visibly.

Trust me, i've seen my share of similar stuff... I have photos with the "uncleaned" dagger. And the grips look just the same. If they were held by nuts and bolts it would be a viable plan to replace them, but as they are riveted, that would make things a lot more difficult... One can easily see the rust stains around the rivets on the whiter grip.

Maybe the next owner of this item will use wood stain or varnish to dye the grips in a similar colour. I won't. It looks better this way.

It is for sale?
Here is mine!(and few others)




This post has been edited by Cristian on April 11, 2008 11:05 am

Nice ones! I already saw them on the "6 Dorobanti" forum.
I see there is a difference at the scabbard's throat - yours has a "lip" like the one that the VZ-24 scabbard has. The end of the scabbard has the usual little ball at the end or is it plain like mine?

And no, it's not for sale. I enjoy collecting these items and until (and if) i find one in better condition, it stays in my display case.
...the search continues for a portepee/knot to go along with it.

Have fun collecting.

This post has been edited by Mannlicher on April 11, 2008 01:42 pm