Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, Etched Version, With Hanger

(Luftwaffe Offiziersdolch mit Gehänge). A superb and well-preserved Luftwaffe Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 43 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 27 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. Notably, the blade features double-sided, acid-etched designs consisting of arabesque latticework, with the reverse also bearing a central Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika. The blade sits securely within a nickel-plated alloy crossguard, the obverse of which bears a finely-detailed Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, with an intact black leather buffer pad covering the seam. A single piece of ribbed light brown celluloid comprises the handle grip, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled silver wire cord. It completes with a nickel-plated alloy pommel consisting of a double-sided wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. The dagger is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic shaft. Two integral oak leaf bands are set into the upper third of the shaft, each retaining a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat has a functional spring catch to firmly hold the dagger in place during storage. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks and sporadic loss of nickel plating to the blade, minor loss of plating to the hilt fixtures, and moderate surface oxidation throughout the scabbard. It remains in a near extremely fine condition.

The dagger is accompanied by a matching hanger, consisting of a functional gilded alloy spring clip with two loops emanating from the bottom edge. Each loop retains a dark grey doeskin strap topped by a dark grey rayon tresse, bisected by machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire piping. Each strap has a functional gilded zink buckle, and completes with a functional gilded spring clip to lock onto the scabbard’s loops. The top clip is marked with a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logo and code “UE 10” for an unidentified manufacturer. Measuring 27 cm in total length, moderate loss of gilt finish is evident to the metal fixtures, while the straps demonstrate some material fatigue. The hangers remains in an overall better than very fine condition.