RLB Leaders Dagger Hanger

Product Description: This RLB Leaders Dagger Hanger is an extremely tough item to find. The straps are made of grained black leather, with silver finished alloy fittings. The leather retains nice color, and virtually all of the original surface, and all of the black stitching is intact. The metal fittings feature nicely detailed ornamentation, and are uncleaned, with a lovely original patina. The belt clip is well marked, with the round RZM logo, the maker code “M5/10” indication manufacture by the firm of Wilhelm Deus in Solingen, and “D.R.G.M.” indicating a legally protected design. The clips for affixing this hanger to a dagger scabbard are also “D.R.G.M.” marked. This piece is really very nice and is complete, with functional spring clips. It would be hard to find a nicer example of a RLB Leaders Dagger Hanger. The condition rates as excellent plus.

Historical Description: The Reichs-Luftschutz-Bund (RLB) was a Nazi organization tasked with air raid defense in German cities and towns. It was a civil organization that was subordinate to the Luftwaffe. Originally organized in 1933 by Herman Göring in 1933, the RLB had 15 million members by 1939. As with virtually all civil, political, and paramilitary organizations during the Third Reich, the RLB had ceremonial edged weapons for use with formal wear by enlisted members as well as officers. The first pattern enlisted dagger was introduced in 1936, with a grip emblem that featured the stylized organizational initials “RLB” in blue enamel, over a swastika, on a black ebony grip. The scabbard was painted black. The organizational emblem of the RLB changed in 1938, so a new, updated pattern of dagger was introduced that year, with the “RLB” grip emblem replaced with the new logo of a black enameled swastika on a sunburst. Officers of the Luftschutz carried similar daggers, with the first, 1936 pattern featuring the early-type organizational emblem on a leather-covered grip, paired with a matching leather covered scabbard with a single suspension ring. The second pattern, 1938 RLB officer dagger used the later organizational emblem on the grip, and a second suspension ring and band was added to the scabbard. Many first pattern officer daggers were converted with the second scabbard ring, after the new pattern was introduced. Although the Luftschutz was a huge organization, few members had formal or dress uniforms, and so only a relatively small number of its members purchased daggers. RLB daggers are scarce and very desirable collectors’ items today.

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