Luftwaffe Dagger in Original Paper Packet – Hörster

Product Description: This Luftwaffe Dagger in Original Paper Packet is an incredible and extremely rare time capsule from WWII. This dagger is still contained in the original paper packet in which it left the E. u. F. Hörster factory prior to May 1945. The paper packet consists of two layers. The outermost layer is a purpose-made dagger envelope, which is marked with the commercial type maker logo of the Hörster firm. It’s also stamped with an inventory or control number, “2321,” in blue ink. This outer envelope is made of a tan paper, which shows wear throughout. There are some missing bits and tears, as well as color fading from age, but it remains sound overall. Inside this envelope, the original wartime Luftwaffe dagger is wrapped in an off-white paper packet. The dagger has not been removed from this packaging since WWII! This inner wrapping shows only light age and no doubt has protected the dagger well through the decades. This Luftwaffe Dagger in Original Paper Packet is a rare opportunity to own a German dagger that is exactly as it would have been when it originally left the place of manufacture.

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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