Second Model Luftwaffe Dagger – Unmarked

Product Description: This Second Model Luftwaffe Dagger is a very attractive original piece, with a really great blade. The blade is in near mint condition, with a perfect original tip. There is no manufacturer marking on the blade, which is not uncommon for a Luftwaffe dagger of this vintage.  The handle of this dagger is really nice. The fittings show only extremely light wear, and retain easily 90 percent of the original finish, with fantastic detail and attractive contrast to the pommel and crossguard. The ferrule appears to be made of steel and has some oxidation. The original, late war style white grip shows only very light wear, with no chips or cracks. The grip wire is intact. This Second Model Luftwaffe Dagger is complete with its original scabbard, which is made of zinc. The scabbard shows the dark gray color of the base metal, and is complete with its original suspension rings. This dagger remains in excellent condition overall, and is a great 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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