Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Produced in the 1960s by Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co of Solingen, Germany, this is a South African Air Force (SAAF) dagger. Reverse ricasso features the letter M inside a shield. Features gilded brass hilt fittings that show almost no surface wear with virtually 99% of the gilding remaining on the nozzle-shaped pommel and crossguard. Obverse/reverse langets have bordered motto, PER ASPERA AD ASTRA meaning "through hardships to the stars". White sharkskin-over-wood base skin shows only light surface wear and is divided into 3 sections by 2 ribbed gilded brass ferrules. Plain, plated, diamond cross section blade grades near mint condition. Leather covered scabbard shows only light age to the black leather and is complete with upper, center, and lower dent-free, gilded brass fittings. Obverse center fitting features the South African coat of arms in raised relief and is complete with 2 brass suspension rings. Offered in near mint condition.
The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force has seen service in World War II and the Korean War. From 1966 the SAAF was involved in providing infantry support in a low intensity war ("The Border War") in Angola, South-West Africa (Namibia) and Rhodesia. As the war progressed, the intensity of air operations increased until in the late 1980s, the SAAF were compelled to fly fighter missions against Angolan aircraft in order to maintain tactical air superiority. On conclusion of the Border War in 1990, aircraft numbers were severely reduced due to economic pressures as well as the cessation of hostilities with neighbouring states. Today the SAAF has a limited air combat capability and has been structured towards regional peace-keeping, disaster relief and maritime patrol operations. During the apartheid era, it was known by its Afrikaans name of Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag (SALM, lit. "South African Air Power"), a moniker which has since been depreciated.
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