Fakes & Reproductions
Parts daggers, reproductions and outright fakes — and how to avoid them.
Parts daggers
Many collectors prefer untouched original daggers that have never been tampered with or taken apart since leaving the maker. “Parts daggers” are made up from original parts of other daggers. Signs to look for:
- A scabbard that doesn’t fit: not all scabbards are interchangeable, so the blade may be loose, leave gaps, be too tight or not fit at all.
- Missing scabbard screws, or non-period replacement screws.
- Early nickel fittings mixed with later plated fittings.
- Crossguards that don’t match the grip: large gaps, or an oversized and poorly fitted grip.
- A poorly fitted blade and crossguard with gaps.
- A tang nut with plier marks or a rounded knuckle.
- Mismatched patina between parts.
Reproductions
A reproduction is a copy of an original item, often made with modern materials and with slight differences. A replica is an exact copy made with the same materials and techniques. A counterfeit is an unauthorised copy made to deceive.
Counterfeits and fakes
Faking of German swords and daggers began in the early 1960s, when Lt. Col. James Atwood, a US Army officer living in Germany, bought up as many surplus parts as he could find in Solingen — mostly factory rejects — had missing parts newly made, and sold the results as “parts daggers”.
