*WW2 German Luftwaffe Officers Dress Dagger & Scabbard 2nd Pattern by E&F Horster, Solingen, c1937*
An early Third Reich Luftwaffe Officer’s dress dagger 2nd pattern (introduced 1937) – honey-coloured phenol resin grip with a tight wire wrap – steel scabbard. 25cm double edged blade, 39cm overall. The blade’s reverse ricasso is maker marked E. & F. Horster & Co Gmbh, Solingen, with the company’s downward pointing sword and interlocking HHS initials.
The Luftwaffe dagger holds a unique historical significance. After World War I, Germany was prohibited from having an Air Force. However, in 1933, the Nazis established the Deutscher Luftsport-Verband (DLV), a paramilitary aviation organization. DLV officers were distinguished by wearing a long dagger. In 1935, Adolf Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by creating the new German armed forces known as the Wehrmacht, which included the Luftwaffe as one of its branches. During this time, Luftwaffe officers began wearing the first model Luftwaffe dagger, which was a shortened version of the earlier DLV dagger.
The first model Luftwaffe dagger had a scabbard covered in blue leather and a blue grip wrapped with wire. The crossguard featured a round swastika known as the “sunwheel,” flanked by stylized “wings.” The pommel took the form of a vertical disc, featuring another larger swastika. In 1937, the Luftwaffe introduced a new dagger design, known as the second pattern. This second model resembled the daggers worn by officers in the German Army. It had a metal scabbard with impressed decoration and lacked a leather covering. The crossguard displayed a Luftwaffe eagle clutching a swastika. The blue grip of the first model was replaced with orange, white, or yellow options. The choice of grip color was a matter of personal preference and did not indicate branch or rank. The pommel of the second model featured a swastika surrounded by an oak leaves motif. The blades of these daggers were made of steel, and while many were manufacturer marked, not all possessed such markings.
*Condition*
In excellent condition – the blade is in great condition with no nicks or pitting. The grip has a tiny almost unnoticeable crack near the crossguard and lovely aged patina. The scabbard is undented and fits snugly, it has some age related tarnishing and pitting. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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