A Rare Croatian Diplomatic Dagger

A WWII Croatian Air Force Dagger - A WWII Croatian Air Force Dagger - Air Force Dagger WWII, by Braca Knaus, Zagreb (double marked on blade and scabbard throat); fittings and scabbard are in silver plated tombac, exhibiting moderate wear; handle is made of synthetic off-white material, having few hairline cracks, which is usual with this type of dagger; blade is nickel plated, few spots of rust, but overall in very fine condition;  scabbard have few minor dents, but about 97% of plating intact; this dagger comes with original hangers, showing use and age, but a good example in slightly worn condition. In overall very fine condition.

Manufactured by "Braca Knaus, Zagreb" (marked on the throat of scabbard); nickel-plated hilt fittings exhibit slight surface wear to the circular pommel with twisted rope border and center obverse with raised inscription, "NHD" (independent state of Croatia). The straight crossguard features downward rolled quillons with a twisted rope pattern border and triplet design on the obverse and reverse quillon block. The plain black celluloid grip shows minor surface wear and no cracks or chipping. Blade is approximately 25cm (10 inches) long, bright and shiny, unmarked, double edged blade, in extremely fine condition. The scabbard is straight, patinated nickel-plated variety, and features a pebbled area between the two hanger bands; it retains virtually 100% of the factory dark finish,. In overall extremely fine condition. Rare dagger in excellent condition.

Bronzed hilt fittings exhibit slight surface wear on the circular pommel, with center obverse raised inscription, "NHD" (Independent State of Croatia) within a twisted triplet border. The Navy style crossguard features quillons in the form of two dolphins facing an entwined (Croatian style) triplet motif on the quillon block. The white celluloid grip with horizontal grooves has few tiny hairline cracks, but otherwise showing hardly any use. Blade is approximately 25cm (10 inches) long, unmarked, double edged blade, exhibiting spots of rust, about very fine condition; un-cleaned and untouched. Scabbard is straight, bronzed, no dents, and retains virtually 100% of original finish; throat is marked “Braca Knaus Zagreb”. In overall very fine + condition. Scarce dagger.

A typical Air Force dagger fittings, both pommel and crossguard in silvered non magnetic metal; grip in white colored synthetic material, slightly cracked; scabbard is made of non-magnetic silvered metal, its straight without dents, showing age and minimal use and marked on a throat "Braca Knaus Zagreb". The blade is what makes this dagger unusual; standard Air Force blade (as is Army, Diplomatic, and others) is approximately 24.5cm long, aprox. 2.5cm wide, and is convex; blade on this dagger is double edged/diamond cross section, 23.5cm long, 2.0cm wide and with pointed, sharp tip; it is marked "Braca Knaus Zagreb", with original leather washer, and slightly rusted; with hangers (these in poor condition due to storage); dagger itself in very good condition and untouched since 1945 (purchased in Zagreb from a family this Summer). The only other type of blade manufactured by Knaus that we are aware of is so called Ustasha - PTS dagger; (some believe it is PTS - Pavelic Body Guard Dagger, while some believe it is a Honorary dagger of Croatian Black Legion). This dagger is extremely rare and seldom found. There are two likely possibilities how did Air Force dagger assembled with Ustasha dagger blade; either by mistake, or at one point during the production no other blade was available. This is first time we have encountered this type of blade on Croatian WWII dagger.