Original German Pre WWI Bavarian Stag Handle Hunting Dagger Knife with Handguard & Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. In use for centuries, the German Hirschfänger (Deer Catcher) long hunting daggers have always made lovely display pieces, as well as military sidearms. Many of the early bayonets used by the various German States were based on the Hirschfänger design, which is both simple and elegant, almost a short sword in practical terms. In the Kingdom of Bavaria, these took the form of shorter knives, which had a bayonet style blade attached.

The Hunting and Forestry organizations under the German monarchy were often controlled by aristocrats and well-heeled businessmen. They were generally not organizations inhabited by the common man. The purposes were generally formed for the conservation of game and forestry. Elaborate hunts were great occasions for the well-heeled, while the ladies used the hunting lodges for match-making and gossip. The cutlasses of these Imperial organizations were often extremely ornate, or they could also be utilitarian, made to perform the final killing thrust on game. Both types were often owned by a single individual. Many examples were used strictly for dressing up the beauty of a hunting/forestry uniform.

This is a fantastic Imperial German WWI Era Bavarian Stag Handled Hunting Knife, complete with scabbard. The hilt is fit with gilt brass, much of which is retained, with a slightly curved stag horn grip. This was originally fitted with two brass acorn ornaments on each side over the grip pins, however one is missing on the left side now. Instead of the “S” shaped crossguard with opposed Deer’s hoof finials, this grip is “sword” style, and has a hand guard, which terminates in a Deer’s hooves at the crossguard and where it meets the grip. There is also a beautiful “scallop” shell guard on one side, much like those seen on earlier “hunting sword pistols”, which has a hunting horn under a German Crown, with oak branches on either side.

The lovely bright steel knife blade is still straight, free of major damage and shows only very minor staining and wear. The blade has no post manufacture sharpening to the edge, and these originally were generally intended for thrusting, to finish off their wounded catch. There is no maker marking on the blade, which was not uncommon for a high end custom made hunting knife of the period. Many edged weapon factories sold unmarked blade blanks to outfitters, who would then add the fittings to the blade.

The leather scabbard is fitted with gilt brass, with an acorn frog button, as often seen. The leather is in good shape, though it does show some bending and scrapes in the finish. The gilding is very well retained, and it just looks great!

A really great example of a Pre-WWII Bavarian Hunting knife, complete with scabbard and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10″
Blade Style: Single Edged Knife with Fuller
Overall length: 14 3/4”
Handguard: 4 1/2″ L x 4 1/2″ W
Scabbard Length: 10 7/8”