Description
Product Description: Very nice example of a 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger that features a blade marked “Original / Eickhorn / Solingen” flanking each end of the signature Eickhorn Squirrel. The blade on this 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger is excellent, flashing its original bright sheen that is highlighted by its crisp cross graining. The guard and pommel are also excellent retaining nice amounts of their original finish with a few dark areas in the recesses on the left side of the eagle’s wings. This 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger features an orange trylon grip that was likely not exposed to much sunlight due to its light color. The grip is grooved and neatly accommodates twisted wire that exhibits slight lifting in a few of the grooves. This 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger is complete with its original scabbard that retains a generous amount of its dark finish. The scabbard exhibits areas of light staining and spotting throughout. This is a very nice example of a 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger that was obviously stored correctly and protected from the elements.
Historical Description: The Luftwaffe dagger was a piece of regalia with a unique history. After WWI, Germany was prohibited from having an Air Force. In 1933, the Nazis formed the Deutscher Luftsport-Verband (DLV), which was a paramilitary aviation organization. DLV officers wore a long dagger. In 1935, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler instituted the new German armed forces, the Wehrmacht. One of the branches of the Wehrmacht was the Luftwaffe. Luftwaffe officers at this time wore what we know as the first model Luftwaffe dagger. This was a shortened version of the earlier DLV dagger. It featured a scabbard covered in blue leather, and a blue, wire-wrapped grip. The crossguard featured a round, “sunwheel” type swastika, flanked by down swept, stylized “wings.” The pommel was in the form of a vertical disc, with another, larger “sunwheel” swastika. In 1937, the Luftwaffe instituted a new dagger form, known to collectors as the second model. This new dagger was similar to that worn by officers of the German Army. The second model had a metal scabbard with impressed decoration, and no leather covering. The crossguard bore a Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a swastika. The blue grip was replaced with one that was orange, white or yellow. The various types of grips were a matter of personal preference and did not indicate branch or rank. The pommel of the new dagger featured a swastika within an oak leaves motif. The blades of these daggers were steel, and many but not all were manufacturer marked.
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