Alcoso 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger

Product Description: This is a really beautiful Alcoso 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger. The blade on this one is nice and bright, with typical runner marks and a very small amount of gray spotting. The reverse of the blade is etched with the “scales” manufacturer logo of Alcoso in Solingen. This dagger has a gorgeous handle, with a light honey colored grip. The grip wire is intact, and the grip has no cracks or chips. The metal fittings on the handle are aluminum and very attractive, with lots of detail, and just a hint of wear. The eagle on the crossguard is particularly striking, with bright high points contrasting with original dark tones in the recesses of the design. The scabbard is nice and straight, with an uncleaned, old patina. The hanger rings are present and undamaged. This Alcoso 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger has a great look, is in excellent condition overall, and is an excellent representative example of this dagger type.

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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