VERY RARE SHORT SUBORDINATE FORESTRY CUTLASS WITH EAGLE & SWAZ CAST INTO FERRELL.

I’ve had perhaps two of these, original rare daggers in my collecting career. This is the third. The hilt is cast in aluminium, is fire gilded and features a small eagle and swastika cast into the ferrell. The stag grips with 3 acorns each side, designate this as being a ‘subordinate’ forestry cutlass. The ‘senior’ rank has cream celluloid grips. The acorns on this piece would originally have been gilded too, but are made of a grey wartime alloy that seems to absorb any finish over the years. This happens other daggers and medals made of this stuff. However, all are present, matching and in perfect condition. The fire gilding to the hilt is virtually 100% intact, with just a very little wear to the high spots to designate age and time. The scabbard is black leather with brass upper and lower fittings. The lower fitting has scalloped edges and a beautiful oakleaf and acorn design impressed into the surface. There is an original brown leather forestry frog on the upper fitting. A rare accoutrement on its own (£200).
The blade is very beautiful. Virtually mint apart from some slight age to the riccasso edges. It’s a short triple etched design, with a boar and deer etch running from tip to hilt. There is NO maker, but the general thinking is that these are probably Holler pieces. A very, very nice cutlass and something that just does not appear on the market very often.

Code: 4757