DLVNSFK #31093 Early NSFK Glider Pilot Knife - SMF

This early glider pilot knife has silvered solid nickel fittings. It does not appear to have ever been cleaned since the war. These fittings are still in very excellent condition having patination across their surfaces which could be confused with condition problems by people that do not know. These fittings are in perfect condition beneath the patination and it would be the choice of the next purchase whether he wishes to clean them or not. Most of the SMF pieces that you see lack the silver plating as it wore off quickly. The pommel is the three stage variety and it still is in good condition showing only normal usage signs. The silvering is still within the recessed areas of this pommel but it is worn to the nickel base on the outside areas. The crossguard has 100% of its silver plating throughout the center block as well as the crossguard arms. This center block is as crisp as the day it was produced. It includes a medallion featuring a black enamel swastika applied to the center of both sides of the center block. The crossguard wings gently flow down in three segments. Each segment is still factory crisp. The left quillon end is waffen amt with the inspector number “96”. The right crossguard and quillon end is stamped with the usual “K”. Stamped on the bottom of both crossguard arms are also markings. The left side is stamped, “T.S.5” and the right side is stamped “62”. These kind of markings stand for technical schools or “schule” and can also be seen on the piece that I show in my Luftwaffe book on page 27, upper. The markings were done to keep track of pieces owned by the school. It is also interesting to note that on the scabbard at about the center point it is stamped “5” which ties this scabbard in nicely with the knife. In addition to this stamping the scabbard also has the NSFK winged man over a swastika and next to this image is the stamping that looks like an “H” and it has the numerals “F” and “35” in the upper and lower portions of the “H” letter. This stamping can be seen on the piece that I show on page 26 of my Luftwaffe book. It is a lot of fun to study these marking and pieces that have them are always much more in demand than those that do not. The grip of this example is a wood base and is covered with blue Moroccan leather. The leather is done in two pieces and it remains in completely perfect condition having most of all of its original grain. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. This shell also has outstanding original blue Moroccan leather. This leather has no nips, breaks or cuts which is quite unusual. The scabbard is fitted with excellent mounts. The upper mount still has all of its silvering whereas the lower mount is worn mostly down to the nickel base. Again, if these fittings were clean they would be in a near full mint state. The lower ball has a couple of tap taps but they are nothing. These mounts are complete with the original flatter style screw heads and all four screws are present. Attached to the upper carrying ring is the original hanger. This hanger has a good brown leather which is retained by two ovals one on each side with two rivets holding them in place. The snap clip is an unmarked nickel based silvered variety nicely matching the rest of the knife. Attached to the snap clip is the original belt loop. This belt loop has exact matching brown leather to that of the short hanger and additionally it has a very interesting D-ring. This D-ring is a lot more stubby than most of them are. It also has a flat edge on the reverse. I just wonder whether this particular belt loop is unique to NSFK DLV glider pilot daggers. I don’t recall having a glider pilot with a belt loop in the past so this may be a very rare accoutrement. This DLV comes directly from the veteran’s family so it has never been in a collection. It is reasonable to assume that the dagger came back exactly as it is today. As we would hope, the blade is also a beauty. This blade is nice and bright and retains its needlelike tip. It has all of the original crossgraining and other than just the slightest traces of some age around the ricasso area it is in mint condition. It is rare to see a really nice blade on one of these glider pilot knives as they were mostly worn by teenagers and young men and we all know the result of that after looking at most of the surviving Hitler Youth knives. The reverse ricasso is lightly etched with the seated king trademark. The king is positioned over the firm’s initials, “SMF” and holds an upward pointing sword. Below this is the city name of “Solingen”. The original brown leather washer is in place. An extremely nice glider pilot dagger here. This dagger has many exciting extras.

Untouched Near Mint. $2,295.00

 DLVNSFK #30821 NSFK Crackle Finish Glider Pilot Knife - F&A Helbig

This crackle finish glider pilot is in excellent condition throughout. These pieces were only produced by the F&A Helbig firm. They were produced in aluminum and the grip and scabbard shell are made to look like leather. This example is identical to the piece that I show in my Luftwaffe book on page 31 and 32. The pommel is beautifully shaped being a three stage type. It shows a little minor usage but very little. The crossguard has a good sharp center block which features a mobile swastika in the center being painted black and having an engraved circle around it imitating the earlier types which were actually separate medallion inserts. Coming out from both sides of the center block are three staged wings which are positioned in a downward angle. These wings are still very crisp. The grip is actually a metal base being shaped with a bulbous center tapering on both ends. The metal has a texture added to its surfaces which simulates leather. This same treatment used to be done on automobile dashboards back in the late 1940s and 1950s. The grip is painted a rich blue color completing the leather simulation. The paint is still near 100%. The scabbard shell is completely straight throughout and has matching simulated surfaces. The scabbard paint is also near 100% and really looks good. The scabbard is fitted with satin aluminum mounts. These mounts are in perfect condition showing only the most modest signs of usage. Both mounts have twin accent lines running near the edge where they meet the scabbard shell. The lower ball is in perfect condition on this piece and both mounts are retained by flush mount headless side screws. The throat is stamped with the winged man image clutching a swastika. Attached to the upper carrying ring is the original short hanger. These short hangers are actually an aluminum metal base to which leather is added to the surfaces and held in place with an ovaled disk on each side having two rivets. The leather of this example is in choice condition throughout and there is a matching aluminum snap clip at the end. The blade of this example is bright and has all of the crossgraining. It also has a needlelike tip. Other than some in and out marks this blade is in mint condition. A very fine blade here. In fact, this entire glider pilot knife is about as nice as you will see them. The reverse ricasso is lightly etched with the double ellipse trapping the firm’s name and location, “F&A Helbig Steinbach KR. M.”. Inside of the ellipse is the elusive word, “saefler”. Every time I dictate this word I also ask if anyone knows what it is or what it means to please tell me. So far I have not had any response to my requests. I’m sure that somebody from Germany must know what this word means. At any rate, the blade is protected by a matching blue leather washer. A great looking glider pilot knife here and definitely a good investment. We do not see too many of these in good condition.

Near Mint. $1695.00

 DLVNSFK #31146C DLV Glider Pilot Knife - Paul Weyersberg

This glider pilot knife has the early nickel mounts which have been silver plated. The plating remains at about 80% throughout the piece. The pommel is the three stage type and there are no wearing hits around the edges. The original plating can be seen in the recesses. The crossguard has a good crisp center block featuring the mobile black enamel swastikas on each side. These swastikas are in perfect condition. The crossguard wings have a gentle flow downward and it is interesting to note that there is quite a bit of the original frosting still left in the areas protected by the center block. The crossguard has the “K” stamped into the end. I believe that this “K” was probably the initial of the man who made these fittings for most of the producers. The grip of this example is a wood base and it is bulbous in the center and tapers evenly on both ends. The original leather is in choice condition having no problems anywhere and still retaining its fine original grain. The matching scabbard shell leather is also in perfect condition having a good deep blue color and also all of its graining. It is rare to see original leather this good on a glider pilot piece. After all these pieces were mostly carried by young men and most of these knives went through many of the same horrors as did the Hitler Youth knives only not as bad. The scabbard mounts are matching nickel and they are in good shape throughout. All four screws are in place and they are unturned. The short hanger is also a real gem. It is of blue leather having the decorative lines on the edges. The leather is in almost new-like condition and it is retained by the standard two nickel oval plates held together with rivets. The snap clip is a matching unmarked nickel type which also has some frosting in the hinge areas. A very good outside! The blade of this example is nice and bright. The obverse has all of the crossgraining and other than the standard runner marks is in mint condition. The reverse appears to have had a spot down from the trademark and someone rubbed it off a while ago. It is not noticeable but can be seen there as the rest of the reverse blade is still in mint condition also having its crossgraining. The reverse blade is etched with the double ovals. These ovals contain the firm’s name and location, “Paul Weyersberg and Co. Solingen”. Inside is a downward pointing sword which is flanked by wheat shafts. The original matching blue leather blade buffer is in place. A very nice example here not seen too often in this condition.

Near Mint. $1895.00

DLVNSFK #30386C Early DLV/NSFK Glider Pilot Dagger– SMF

This early example has the stampings of both the DLV and the NSFK on the throat. It has very choice silver plated nickel fittings. The pommel is the three-stage variety and it is perfect throughout all of the circumferences. The cross guard center block still has the crispness of a new item. The medallion with enameled swastika is a separate applied part and it has perfect enamel throughout. The cross guard wings gently slope down and they are three-sectioned. One cross guard end has the usual “k” stamping. The grip is a wood base and is covered with choice original Moroccan blue leather. This leather is done in two pieces, although it is difficult to see the seams on both sides. The leather grain is all there and the leather surfaces are in totally perfect condition. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. This shell also has beautiful original matching blue leather. The graining is all there. The two scabbard mounts exactly match the fine silvered surfaces of the hilt fittings. These mounts are in perfect condition to include the lower ball and both are retained by flat head side screws. As noted above, the throat is stamped with the DLV marking being an open-winged propeller with swastika and also the NSFK marking which is the open wings with man standing on swastika. Additionally, the number “7” is stamped into the scabbard, as well as the lower fitting. This could stand for a class identification or possibly a technical school. Attached to the upper ring is a like-conditioned short hanger. This short hanger is made of a supple brown leather having a twin trim line on each edge. The leather is kept together via an oval shaped silvered disc which has two rivets retaining it. A matching snap clip is in place and this example is marked “RZM5-8”. The blade of this example is as nice as they come. This blade has all of the graining and a needlelike tip. It is etched with the seating king trademark. The king holds an upward pointing sword while sitting on the firm’s initials “SMF”. Below is the arch-shaped location “Solingen”. The original matching blue washer is in place. A very fine example here which as a beautiful patination.

Mint. $2,595.00 (#040110)

DLVNSFK #30385C Early NSFK GLider Pilot Dagger – Carl Eickhorn

This early glider pilot knife is in top condition. The scabbard mounts reflect fine silvered surfaces and they have patinated nicely to almost a black appearance. The pommel is the three-stage type and there are no hits or problems with this fitting. The lower cross guard center block is still in excellent condition, reflecting 100% enamel to the medallion insert swastikas on both sides. The cross guards have good downward flow to their three-stage wings. One end has the usual “k” stamping. The other end has some form of an early waffenamp, which is difficult to make out because of the bending in the area where the stamping occurred. The grip is a wood base being bulbous in the center and tapering on both ends. The original leather is in very fine condition and it appears to be done with one piece construction instead of two. This was a difficult task but obviously Eickhorn’s leather man was up to it. This leather shows only the most nominal of usage but still has all of its graining visible. The scabbard shell is straight throughout and it, too, has outstanding original leather covering. This leather shows all of its graining and there are no hits, nicks or bites out of it. The scabbard mounts are in excellent shape, the upper mount still having all of its patinated silvering, whereas, the lower mount appears to be mostly down to the nickel and there is just the slightest flattening of the lower ball but no crushing or splits. The hanger is in place, being a black leather type having line decoration on both edges. The strap is retained by two nickel oval discs which are retained by two rivets and at the end is an unmarked matching snap clip. The scabbard mounts are retained by unturned flathead screws. The throat of this example is also marked with an odd looking waffenamp. The waffenamp appears to be possibly a letter “h” with the letters “b4” and “8” in each side of the “h” letter. There is also a light stamping of the NSFK consisting of the winged man and swastika. There is also the numeral “4” stamped into the surface. Lots to look at on this fine early example. The blade is still nice and bright. It has almost all of its original graining and other than just a little bit of smudge on the reverse lower area and a little bit on the obverse, the blade is still easily in near full mint condition. This blade retains its needlelike tip. It is etched on the reverse with the small double oval logo used from 1933-1935. This oval traps the firm’s name and location “Paul Eickhorn Solingen”. Inside is a seated squirrel with serrated style tail. The original blue leather washer is in place protecting this fine blade. A very nice example here which is not mint, but it is very close to it and has some very interesting nomenclature stamped throughout.

Excellent Plus Plus. $2,395.00