Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a mid-war production 2nd Model Luftwaffe dagger. The celluloid grip of this dagger is a lovely caramel color, having faded from the original ivory. This is typical for celluloid due to how it reacts to light. It remains in great shape throughout, and has a nice slightly tapered shape, still tightly wrapped with bullion wrapped twisted wire. There is a bit of cracking near both guards, with a small chunk missing near the pommel.

The hilt mounts are very good condition. The pommel is very good and still shows most of the original detail. The "mobile" swas (hook crosses) on both sides are clear and still the oak leaves around them are raised out. The pommel appears to be solid aluminum, possibly originally plated, and still shows much darkening in the recesses. The handle is a bit loose on the tang.

The crossguard is also made of Aluminum, which was an "Air Age" material, used to make most airplanes. It was considered fitting and desirable for the eagle-shaped guard to be made of this material. The front side is an eagle with a breast and talon area that is vaulted out much more so than the crossguards seen on other types of daggers. This guard shows little wear and has great feathering on the eagle. The bird, of course, flies to the left and grasps a mobile swas (hook cross) in his talons. The reverse panel is decorated with small pebbling, which is still clear. It looks like it was originally plated, but now that has worn away almost completely, with some darkening still visible in the recesses of the design. The ferrule looks to be plated steel, and it is still in very good condition, showing a lovely oxidized patina.

The blade on this example is not nickel plated, which is common for later produced blades. It is in relatively good condition, looking to have suffered surface oxidation and staining in the past, which was then cleaned away. This has unfortunately removed most of original factory final polish grind crossgrain, now only visible in the light in some areas. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. There is the usual runner wear, and a bit of past peppering visible in areas. The edge is correctly unsharpened, however the last 3/8" of the blade shows a bit of bending.

There are no maker marks that we can see, but that is not uncommon for Luftwaffe and Army officer daggers. Outfitters often purchased unmarked blades from major makers, and would do the fitting themselves. The unique final grind cross grain is definitive for WWII German production.

This steel scabbard is in very good condition, dent free and looking to be zinc plated, which has now matured to a lovely gray patina. The hanger bands are not magnetic, and are well defined with have hand enhanced oak leaves tipped at a 45 degree angle. They show only light wear, and the harder steel rings themselves have worn just a bit into the fittings, indicating only light use. The throat is the narrower version seen, secured by a single flush mount screw on each side.

This really is a very nice example of a 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger, complete with its original scabbard. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Overall length: 15 1/4”
Crossguard: 3 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 11 3/4”