Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, with General’s Hanger, by ALCOSO

(Luftwaffe Dolch für Offiziere mit Gehänge). A very well-preserved Luftwaffe Officer’s dagger hanger, measuring 42.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains factory-original sharpening to the edges and tip, as well as a rich cross grain throughout the base metal. The reverse ricasso is maker marked “ALCOSO” for the former firm of Alexander Coppel, Solingen, flanked by the company’s classic scale logo. The blade sits securely within a silvered alloy crossguard, the obverse of which bears a raised Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, with an intact blackened leather buffer pad covering the seam. A single piece of ribbed off-white celluloid composes the handle grip, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled wire cord. It culminates in a silvered alloy pommel which bears double-sided gilded mobile swastikas situated within circular oak leaf wreaths, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the handle is a matching knot, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a cord of identical construction. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic metal shaft. Dual integral oak leaf bands are set into the shaft just below the throat, each retaining a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. A functional spring catch situated within the throat firmly holds the dagger in place during storage. Some issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include running marks and tarnishing to the blade, with loss of finish to the plated fixtures (resulting in some surface oxidation to the scabbard). IT remains in a better than very fine condition.

Also accompanying the dagger is a matching hanger, consisting of a functional gilded zink alloy spring clip, decorated with raised oak leaves, with two loops emanating from the lower edge. Descending from each loop is a slate-grey doeskin strap topped by a layer of slate-grey rayon threading, in turn trimmed with silver aluminum wire tresses. The straps are adjusted with functional gilded zink alloy buckles, similarly decorated with raised oak leaves, and culminate in functional gilded zink alloy spring clips to lock onto the scabbard’s loops. Marked with a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logo and code “UE 10” for a widely-documented distributor of edged weapon hangers, this example measures 28 cm in total length as presented. Demonstrating moderate to significant loss of gilt finish throughout the metal fixtures, it remains in a better than very fine condition.