BACKGROUND: In March 1933 the Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports League), was established by incorporating all civilian flying clubs into the one organization. The DLV was utilized as a camouflage civilian organization to train personnel for the future Luftwaffe. As a civilian organization it was able to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the Versailles Treaty, which prohibited a German military air service. In February and April 1934 respectively the DLV introduced a dagger for Officer’s and a knife for all ranks. Later in 1934 members of the Fliegerschaft, the secret military branch of the DLV, adopted both sidearms for wear. Shortly after the unveiling of the Luftwaffe in March 1935 a modified version of the DLV’s Officer’s dagger was adopted for wear by Luftwaffe Officer’s and EM/NCO’s personnel who held a valid pilots licence. Originally the early daggers were produced utilizing nickel/silver fittings until 1936 when the early fittings were replaced with polished natural aluminum fittings. Of Note: On July 15^TH 1937 a second pattern Luftwaffe dagger was introduced was introduced for wear by Officers, Senior Officer Candidates and Officials with the equivalent Officers ranks and the first pattern dagger was discontinued.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Early, (circa 1936-1937), roughly, 12 1/8" long, bright, nickel/silver plated, drop forged steel, double edged, stiletto style blade with a flat central plane. The blade shows light surface spotting through-out but is still quite bright and clean. The blade has no manufacturer’s markings. The original pebbled, blue leather washer is intact. The dagger has a cast, polished natural aluminum crossguard and pommel with gilt washed sunwheel swastikas. The crossguard is in the form of extended, horizontal, down swept, stylized wings with a raised, central, circular panel with a gilt washed sunwheel swastika to each side of the circular panel. The formed wooden grip is wrapped in blue Moroccan leather with dual, twisted, natural aluminum wire wrap inset into the slightly diagonally angled grooves. The circular pommel also has a gilt washed sunwheel swastika to each side. The polished natural aluminum crossguard and pommel are still quite clean and bright and the gilt wash to all four swastikas is fully retained and still quite bright. The dagger comes complete with its original, blue Moroccan leather wrapped, magnetic sheet metal scabbard with three polished natural aluminum fittings. All three of the polished natural aluminum fittings are in good condition and all three are secured to the scabbard with countersunk, flathead screws. The top and center fittings each have a hanger ring and an integral natural aluminum hanger with seven circular links to the top hanger and eleven circular links to the bottom hanger. Both the top and bottom chain link hangers are attached to a natural aluminum friction clip. The reverse of the friction clip is well marked with impressed script, "Ges. Gesch.", indicating, Gesetzlich Geschützt, (Protected by Law), and a stylized, "oLc" within a diamond shaped border indicating manufacture by Overhoff & Cie. of Lüdenscheid. The finely grained blue leather wrap to the scabbard is in overall very good condition with minimal scuffs and scrapes. The dagger and all of its components are in overall very good condition.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $ SOLD