Description

Grand Admiral Erich Raeder and his later replacement, Admiral Karl Doenitz, awarded cased "Honor Pattern" Naval dirks bearing their sentiments to several deserving successful U-boat captains, other naval heroes, and also to at least two retiring admirals. Less than eighteen of these daggers are known to exist today in collections. The pommels which graced the Honor Pattern Naval daggers were made in advance of the dagger presentations, as the pommel design included seventeen rose-cut diamonds. Since the Eickhorn firm was not a jeweler, the oversized pommels used for these daggers were cast, fire-gilted, threaded, and then sent-out to a jeweler to mount the diamonds. After completion, these pommels were in stock and available for use as the need arose. The other fittings and scabbards were also produced in advance. The Damascus blades were then hand-forged because the dedication required a unique blade for each new recipient. This is how the Carl Eickhorn firm came to have several of these honor pommels on hand at the end of the war. Herr Eickhorn gave the late James P. Atwood five of these diamond pommels after Jim purchased many of the company's left-over parts. Jim sold these pommels to various collectors over the years and they now reside in advanced collections throughout the world. This pommel came from the estate of the late Wis dealer David E. Mathes. I learned that Herr Eickhorn gave Jim Atwood a signed letter in the 1960's regarding these pommels. I will give you the name of two dealers who may still have a copy of that letter. Prices on these daggers have gone to well over a hundred thousand dollars! This pommel is another example of the one that appears in a color photo in the book "Collecting the Edged Weapons of the Third Reich, Vol 8, Page 195," by Thomas M. Johnson.

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