Perfect Bulgarian Fire Forces Officer Parade Dagger Set 2010

We offer you a perfect, full-set, Fire forces officer parade dagger that is a brand new model of 2010. This is the last one of the beautiful series newest Bulgarian daggers, created and made by master Kolikov. The dagger model was created after the royal fire forces dirk from 1930s. The Kolikov’s make is copying to almost 100%. The only differences we can find in decoration, the hangers and master’s stamps on the blade.

The Fire forces dagger here distinguishes by its unique design and bigger size that makes its absolutely beautiful look, perfect for collecting and display.

Dagger is awarded either to high rank officers for special merits or as a gift by the Ministry to prominent state people. The set comprises:

- highest quality hand made dagger with hangers

- a wooden case, with leather on the outside and soft velvet on the inside.

- There is a brass plate where names or gift messages can be engraved.

The dagger’s full length is 43 cm / 16,9 inches. Dagger only is 36,5 cm / 14,4 inches long, the blade only is 23cm / 9 inches.

The material employed for the blade is high-quality French stainless steel of the "T-50 MO" type. On both sides of the blade can be noticed specific Old -like Bulgarian ornamentation. In the middle of one of them reads: “Duty and Honor”. This motto was borrowed from the WWII Youth’s Organization called “Brannik” that existed prior to 1945. On the other side is placed the motto of the Bulgarian fire forces: "Po silni ot ogynia" (“Stronger than the fire”). A sign of the only authorized master of M2003 daggers, Kiril Kolikov – a shield with KK letters, is discreetly engraved on blade’s bottom.

Master accented on the exquisite cross guard and handle, copying the royal model of Fire forces dagger. The blade is mounted by a beautiful Fire Forces pickaxe decorated with a mythical flying dragon throwing up five fire flames. All this made of solid brass/ yellow color material which is nicely polished. The hilt is made of polycarbonate, a quality material again, in yellow color, symbolizing the fire. Hilt is additionally decorated by a gold-like lace. It ends by a symbolical crown, remembering fire flames again.

Scabbard is nickel plated, ending with a bronze top, on the other end – a brass element. Scabbard is holding stylish hanger hooks. Kolikov engraved the hangers copying the original royal Fire forces logo from 1930s. It depicts the fireman equipment from that time – a fire forces helmet, crossed axe with hook, a rope and fire ladder.

The carrier of the dagger lies on red color basis, a soft wool material and completes with a hook and buckles illustrating lions’ heads.

Both the maker and ShopBulgaria guarantee the quality of this excellently made dagger we offer you! If you wish to purchase the dagger only, without a case or hangers, please contact us in advance.

GENERAL INFORMATION

In 2003 was panted the new-model Bulgarian daggers. They are based on Bulgarian royal model dagger employed prior to WWII. The people who made up this model are H.Dermendzhiev, T.Predov and K.Kolikov. The series includes 9 different daggers which you may see on our web page.

It is interesting to note that after the long-awaited dagger model was patented and approved as part of the officer’s uniform of the Bulgarian army, it didn’t start to be made in quantity. One of the reasons is that the army is constantly under reform and lacks the necessary financial resources. Up to now, there has been fabricated a small number of daggers only. There are made either single-order pieces to accompany awards or to mark some very special occasion. Supposedly, the daggers fabricated are no more than 15-20, and most of them were ordered as an award or a gift to few Bulgarian generals and VIP guests of the government.

After the daggers are ordered, they are listed under a certain number in the army, as the officer’s name the dagger is given to is also to be included. The number is engraved on the dagger’s blade. The daggers we offer you don’t have a number, for they won’t be part of the army registers.
Common characteristics of the modern Bulgarian daggers:
Each of the three dagger models is to be characterized by a different color: the ivory is for the Air force, the Infantry daggers are yellow colored, whereas the Navy ones are black.
All the daggers have crowns, just like the Royal model. The hilt also repeats the royal model, so does the cross guard. At the front side of most daggers can be noticed the royal cross for Bravery. On the reverse is the army symbol, depending on the type of troops. The Infantry symbol is a lion in an upright position, with a shield (just as the Royal), the Air force symbol is a propeller with wings and somedecoration, whereas the Navy symbol is an anchor with ornaments.The blades of all daggers are the same: on one of the sides can be noticed the engraving of traditional ornaments and the lettering: “Duty and honor”. It is interesting that the designers of the dagger have made use of the motto of the famous youth Nazi organization of WWII: “Brannik”. So far, however, all the daggers have been with the lettering offered in the project: "S nami bog" / God with us (the same as with the royal tradition). What is also interesting is the special make of all molded metal parts: they are of 930-probe silver. Every dagger goes with a hanger. The daggers made by order can have a luxurious case with plate where name can be inscribed. It has to be mentioned that master Kolikov is the one who makes the daggers which are to be awarded by the President himself, to foreigners in most cases).

Kolikov is one of the most favourite blade masters in Bulgaria. He is born in 1948, and study the dagger’s-making at the old master work-shop D. Dimitrov. Kolikov get the master degree in 1977, received several awards and certificates from different exhibitions, and took part in over 50 international shows. Blades that he created over the years were awarded to celebrities like Kim Ir Sen, Fidel Castro, Leonid Brejnev, Francoi Miteran, Vladimir Putin, prince Charles, Franc Bekenbauer, etc. Each of master’s creations is result of over 120 operations, most of them – about 80% are hand made. Each of the daggers that Kolikov made represents his development, creative spirit and master work.