E-390a Army Officer’s Dagger by C. Gustav
Spitzer (SCARCE Maker)
As everyone is aware, the Spitzer trademark is a SCARCE Maker on Army
Daggers. I believe that this example is a mid- to late-period piece
utilizing the Type B crossguard (Volume I, page 99). The silver plating to
the hilt and scabbard has that untouched look with a nice dark patina. The
plating grades 98% with the minor loss appearing to the pommel top. The
pommel is the 14 leaf type (Volume I, page 114, type E). The definition to
the standing oak leaves is outstanding, being reminiscent of early produced
pieces. The top displays bubbling and some plating loss. The
celluloid grip is a pumpkin orange color, being the Type B-gp with thicker
segments (Volume I, page 12, middle). The grip is very nice indeed,
exhibiting NO wear/age other then some age soiling to the recess areas.
The ferrule is the standard seven joining leaves style having a matching silver
plated finish (Volume I, page 117, second from the right). As stated
earlier, the crossguard is the B type Generic (Volume I, page 99). The
edges display faint wear, probably resulting from storage while the surfaces
exhibit minor bubbling in a few areas. NO worries here! The
definition to the eagle is beautiful having NO casting problems evident.
The blade is mirror bright with 100% crossgraining. There is faint
smudging to both the obverse and reverse sides. The reverse ricasso is
etched with the Spitzer trademark. It features a circle having the
firm’s name and location running around the outside perimeter C. Gustav
Spitzer / Solingen (Volume II, page 222). The blade grades strong
excellent! A small light brown leather washer is intact (Volume I, page18,
upper). The scabbard appears to be an E. Pack & Sohne product having a
matching silver plated finish, with the exception that the scabbard throat is
the thick style, vice thin style utilized by Pack, and is retained by a reverse
center-positioned headless flush screw instead of the Pack two side screws
(Volume I, page 121, second from left). The lower quarter of the scabbard
shows hard carrying time in the form of taps, bumps, nicks and minor dents.
The matching silver plated finish is intact with minor bubbling to both side
edges. A GOOD collectible example by a seldom-seen maker! Excellent.
$675.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item E-390a
