2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger – Tiger

Product Description: This 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger – Tiger is a high quality piece, loaded with eye appeal. The blade is very bright, having been cleaned at some point in the past, though some graying spots remain on both sides. The blade ricasso on the reverse is cleanly stamped with the desirable and eye-catching “Tiger, Solingen” logo. The handle is a nice one, with only light, even wear. The crossguard and pommel are very attractive, with lots of detail on the flying Luftwaffe eagle and swastika emblem. The grip wire is nice and tight, and the light-colored grip is clean, with no chips or damage. The handle is complete with a correct original Luftwaffe Portepee, which appears to have always been there. The aluminum wire Portepee is completely intact, showing only light age and wear. This 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger – Tiger is complete with its original scabbard. The scabbard shows even, light wear and age toning (matching the handle perfectly), and is well-preserved, with no dents or damage. This dagger is a really nice representative example, and remains in excellent condition.

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 downswept, 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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