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The DLV (Deutscher Luftsport Verband) was organized in 1933, as a para-military sports organization for Germans to fly limited motor-driven airplanes, gliders and ballooning. The DLV Officers wore a very long dirk of 55cms. The dirk design was a crucible form consisting of cigar-shape ribbed wood grip, covered with blue leather. The round nickel-silver, flat-surfaced pommel and matching downswept winged crossguard were inlaid with gilded brass sunwheel swastikas on both sides. The long scabbard was a composition base material, covered with matching blue leather. There are three nickel scabbard mounts which are retained with staples. A chain hanger is affixed to the upper two mounts. The long blade is a nickel-plated example. Transitional DLV and 1st Model Luftwaffe examples exist which are shortened DLV examples, or examples having early composition scabbards and staple-held fittings. The 1st Model Luftwaffe evolved from these daggers.

DLV1LD - 001 - TRANSITIONAL 1ST MODEL LUFTWAFFE - SMF.

This example reflects earliest production, having solid nickel mounts throughout. The hilt fittings reflect a greenish patination, not having been cleaned in many years. The pommel has still crisp circumference edges, showing little wear time. The medallion sunwheel swastika insert reflects all brass throughout. It exactly matches the sunwheels at the crossguard. The crossguard has crisp edges to the down swept quillon wings. One quillon end is waffen-amted with a closed-winged stickbird, over the number, "96". This same stamping appears on the scabbard throat area. This same waffen amt stamping appears on the early Luftwaffe example pictured on Page 66, upper, in my Luftwaffe Book. It is interesting to note the edge of the lower butt plate is stamped with a tiny, "52". This matching number appears on the edge of the throat fitting. Neat to see this kind of stuff! The grip is a fine example. It is a wood base, wrapped with Moroccan leather. The leather is quite beautiful being in totally perfect condition. This grip is wrapped with triple silver wire, the center being twisted. The scabbard shell is the early composition material, having no metal. This leather shows a little age, but is all there, having no cuts or any problems. Nice! The scabbard fittings are matching patinated solid nickel variety. Each mount has scalloped edge decoration. They are retained with large-style nickeled staples. The obverse side of the upper mount has solder-filled holes which look like they were originally drilled for the retainer staple, but the assembler realized the wrong side was holed. These fittings are in perfect condition. Attached to the scabbard is an early matching nickel chain. It consists of nine upper and fourteen lower ringlets. The chains are connected to a plain snap clip. The blade is a killer. It retains mirror bright nickel surfaces and its original needle-like tip. This quality blade is in mint condition. The reverse ricasso is etched with the seated king trademark. The king holds a sword while sitting on the initials of his firm, "SMF". Beneath is the arched upward name of the firm location, "Solingen". The blue pebbled leather blade buffer is in place. A great example of an early Luftwaffe. Fun to look at all the neat numbers and construction techniques used to complete this piece. Very historical example.
Excellent Plus, Plus (18189) $1,395.00

This early example is a DLV transitional type. It represents the earliest of construction being produced of solid nickel base metal. It was given as a gift to a retiring commander of an air base, probably about 1935 or early 1936. The pommel and crossguard have the medallion variety swastika inserts. They look terrific, having dull brass surfaces contrasting nicely with the patined backgrounds. There looks to be some silvering remaining between the swastikas of all the fittings, but mostly it is worn. These fittings show minor carrying time, having no hits or problems. They have not been cleaned since the war. The grip is in perfect condition, displaying fine surfaces, and lots of original graining. This grip is tightly triple wrapped with silver wire, the center being twisted. Fine hilt section, here. The scabbard is the early type made of composition base, having no metal in the shell. The composition base is covered in rich Moroccan blue leather, nicely matching the graining and color of the grip. This leather is still in perfect condition. The blade pushing against the runners inside, has caused a couple of bulges in the leather. Not much to be done here, as this is a natural development with these soft shells - the force against the runners is stronger than the tensile strength of the leather material. The scabbard shell is fit with choice silver over solid nickel fittings. These fine early fittings are in perfect condition, having deeply patinated surfaces. They are retained by the larger-sized, matching silvered staples - not screws in these early fittings. There is a solid nickel chain. It has nine ringlets at the top and thirteen ringlets at the bottom assembly. The top chain is retained by a custom-produced silver connector - it is fairly long, allowing for the dagger to hang at a slightly different angle. This fitting was probably a purposeful addition to adjust the hang-length of the dagger. The chain assemblies are connected to an early nickel snap clip. The blade is a high-quality, nickel-plated example. It is mirror bright throughout, however, the obverse has just a little age pepper mostly in the area around the ricasso. The reverse blade is fabulous and full mint. It is featured in my Luftwaffe Book, Page 40 and also Page 75, lower. The center of the blade segment has engraving running nearly the entire length. It is professionally engraved, "Dem scheidenden Hauptmann von dem Unteroffizieren und Mannschaften der Fliegerhorstkommandantur Prenzlau. Basically this translates to, "Presented to the departing Captain and Commander of the Prenzlau Air Base, from the Officers and Men". The captain would have been a DLV Officer. The blade has a great trademark, being that of a very large tiger prowling across the blade. The cat is highly detailed, right down to his whiskers and stripes. The etch is so terrific, you can almost hear the growling. The cat is positioned over the a very large company name, "Tiger", and beneath this, "Solingen". The blue leather washer is in place. This is a very historic rare piece, and has the possibility of some research. Should not be too hard to find out who this captain was, and what he may have done later. I wouldn't be surprised if this Officer later wound up to be a Luftwaffe General. As we know, Herr Goering quickly promoted his old flying friends. Absolute untouched, period example.Excellent Plus, Plus (15896) $3,495.00