Original WWII German 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger with Scabbard - Unmarked Nickel Plated Blade

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a 2nd Model Luftwaffe dagger with a very nice nickel-plated unmarked blade, complete with its original scabbard. The dagger has aluminum mountings with a lovely "Luftwaffe oxide gray" finish, and shows light to moderate wear overall.

The celluloid grip of this 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger is a lovely caramel pumpkin orange color, due to the fading of the celluloid material due to age and light exposure. It is a bit lighter near the ferrule, so there may have been a portepee installed on this dagger at one time, now lost to the ages. There is a bit of chipping and wear to the body, but no major damage, and both strands of bullion wrapped wire are fully intact and bright. The grip ferrule is plated steel, and has lost the original plating, now showing an oxidized patina.

The hilt mounts are very good condition, showing some wear from service, but still looking great. The pommel is very good and still shows most of the original detail. The "mobile" swas (hook crosses) on both sides are clear, and the oak leaves around them are raised out and heavily hand enhanced. The pommel appears to be solid aluminum, and still retains much of the original oxide coating overall, particularly in the more recessed areas of the design.

The crossguard is also made of Aluminum, which was an "Air Age" material, used to make most airplanes. It was considered fitting and desirable for the eagle-shaped guard to be made of this material. The front side is an eagle with a breast and talon area that is vaulted out much more so than the crossguards seen on other types of daggers. This guard shows light to moderate wear and has great feathering on the eagle. The bird, of course, flies to the left and grasps a mobile swas (hook cross) in his talons. The reverse panel is decorated with small pebbling, which is still clear. The oxide antiquing is still visible in the recessed areas of the guard, while more raised areas show the aluminum base metal well.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, definitely a rarity on 2nd Model daggers, and is in excellent condition. There is a bit of wear from use and cleaning, but the plating is fully intact and bright, showing no real oxidation or damage. There is a bit of runner wear on the blade flats, but it does not go through the plating, and the edge is correctly unsharpened, with an intact tip. There are no maker marks that we can see, but that is not uncommon for Luftwaffe and Army officer daggers. Outfitters often purchased unmarked blades from major makers, and would do the fitting themselves. The leather blade washer is still present in the recess of the cross guard, but is definitely a bit cracked and worn.

This steel scabbard is in very good condition, showing a nice oxidized patina on the steel body, which was originally blue oxide coated, now retained in only a few areas. The scabbard body is still straight and dent free, and the pebbled panels are still sharply defined, as are the embossed oak leaves and acorns near the bottom. The hanger bands are aluminum, and are well defined with hand enhanced oak leaves tipped at a 45 degree angle. They have lost the original plating in the raised areas, which now show wear from use. The throat is the narrower version seen, secured dome-head screws on the narrow sides of the scabbard.

This is a lovely 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger with a nickel plated blade and scabbard, offered in very good used condition and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Overall length: 15 1/4”
Crossguard: 3 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 11 5/8”