Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, First Pattern, by E. & F. Hörster

(Luftwaffe Dolch für Offiziere, 1. Form). A very well-preserved, first pattern Luftwaffe Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 49 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 31 cm-long, nickel-plated magnetic steel blade which retains factory-original sharpening to both the tip and edges. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “E. & F. HÖRSTER, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic monogram logo. The blade sits securely within an aluminum alloy crossguard which takes the form of a pair of stylized rings, inset on both the obverse and reverse with a central gilded sunwheel-style mobile swastika, with an intact dark blue Moroccan leather buffer pad covering the seam. The handle is composed of a wooden core situated within a ribbed dark blue Moroccan leather grip, with the ribbing retaining an original silver wire cord. It completes with a rounded and flattened aluminum alloy pommel, decorated with double-sided and gilded sunwheel-style mobile swastikas, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a magnetic metal shaft which is fully lined on the exterior with dark blue Moroccan leather. Three aluminum alloy fixtures are secured to the tip, mid-section, and throat with side rivets. Emanating from the latter two is a multi-link aluminum chain which culminates in a functional spring clip to lock onto a corresponding uniform hanger. The clip is maker marked with the logo of Overhoff & Cie, Lüdenscheid. A functional spring catch situated within the throat firmly holds the dagger in place during storage. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks to the blade with sporadic tarnishing (particularly to the ricasso), in addition to minor fatigue to the leather of the handle grip. This early example remains in an extremely fine condition.