Discounted price £975 (was £1250)

By instruction of the consigner

It was a musician's joy, when Bunting acquired this fine example of RAD Leader dagger from friend and fellow musician, Chris Farlow. The princely sum of £80 was paid in August 1970. Although the blade had signs of sharpening, it was the near perfect heavy silver plating that led to Bunting adding this piece to his collection.

RAD Leaders dagger for sale made by Carl Eickhorn. The German RAD dagger, with heavy silver plate finish over aluminum eagle head and crossguard assembly. The dagger with fine off white ivorine grip plates. Polished blade with motto 'Arbeit Adelt' to obverse, and Eickhorn manufacturer logo to reverse. The scabbard in  heavy silver plated finish.

Condition report: The dagger in overall very good to excellent condition. The eagle head and crossgaud still with 98% heavy silver finish remaining (the majority of these daggers have much of the silver plate missing, and the aluminium showing). The off white ivorine grip plates free from any cracks or damage. The polished blade has the motto remaining clear and deep. Likewise the manufacturer logo. The blade has much original polished finish remaining, and is clear of any pitting. However the blade has been sharpened along with blade edge, and this is clearly evident both sides of the blade.   The scabbard retains 98% of its original heavy silver plate finish.

Provenance: From the collection of specialist edged weapons collector, Alan Bunting. The RAD Leader dagger noted in his ledger as having been purchased on14th August 1970, at a cost of £80.00. Although not stated in his ledger, all Bunting's daggers were purchased from his friend, and fellow musician, Chris Farlow. A copy from Bunting's ledger, showing this RAD Leader dagger is included in the sale. Each edged weapon within the Bunting collection was wrapped in a form of brown waxed protective paper, and stored within his safe. This dagger also comes with its protective paper wrapping.

Notes: Alan Bunting died in January 2018. After serving with the RAF, Bunting became an Audio Manager with the BBC, and later worked with many record companies. A classical musician in his own right, Bunting quickly moved over to music production. It was during the 1960s that he met rock musician, and military antiques dealer, Chris Farlow. They quickly became friends, a friendship that led to Bunting collecting Third Reich edged weapons. Farlow, himself an edged weapons collector for a while, sourced the best examples for Bunting. Bunting's ledger shows that he started collecting in 1969.

Additional notes: Although Bunting's leadger states this dagger was purchased with a set of hangers, these are no longer with the piece. The family have no idea what happened to the hangers, and we are selling the dagger without hangers.