Imperial Auto Club Dagger by Pack – D1095

In 1899 the German Auto Club was founded as an organization to assist the Kaiser’s army with the offer to provide skilled drivers for the newly invented automobile at that time, should the occasion arise. For a member of the organization it was kind of a patriotic duty to offer one’s car with him as the driver, as most of the owners of automobiles during these early years were nobility and affluent citizens who were members of this club. In this offering is a dress dagger worn by one of the members of this esteemed organization.

The genuine “bone” grip to this dagger is in very good condition, void of any stress lines or cracks usually associated with this material. The pommel is comprised of  the beautiful open style 8 panel configuration, culminating with 4 pathways rising to a cross at the top. The crossguard is very similar to what the Reichmarine daggers used during the period, with a block center and fluted extension guards. In the center of the obverse is a small gilded automobile horn, the logo of the club. There is some minor play in the hilt assembly as to be expected with these spring pressure fit edged weapons. As there is no release button to press to remove the dagger from the scabbard. Additionally, the minor shrinkage of the grip as it dried also plays into this. That aside, it not horrible by any means.

For as old as this edged weapon is, it has a fine scabbard accompanied with it. The leather is in truly outrageous condition, void of any major scuffing, cuts, stitching issues, or other challenges. Both upper and lower nickel silver fittings have turned dark with age, as nothing has been cleaned on this edged weapon for over 100 years The lower fitting is snug to the shell, where the upper has a little play in it due to the small staples which were used to fasten the hardware.

Finally, the 12” blade remains full length, straight, void of any sharpening, tipping, buffing, polishing, or cutting edge chips. The floral acid etched design and surface has some dark spots on both sides as shown. Once again, you are looking at an edged weapon that was manufactured by hand just after the turn of the century. Though the leather washer is gone to time, the crossguard protruding spring keeps the blade secure in the scabbard shell. I would imagine that the next owner of this rare dagger would display it out side of the sheath anyway. On the reverse is the Siegfried wood chopper logo that blade enthusiasts know all to well, the trademark of the Pack edged weapon firm.

A textbook example of a rare dagger by all means. Afterall, there couldn’t be all that many members of this nobility organization to begin with.   $4495.00