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.
DLV Officers wore a very long dirk, measuring 55cm. The dirk design was a cruciform, 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.
The 1st Model Luftwaffe dagger, although still a fairly long weapon, was a shorter variation of the previously carried DLV Officer. In 1935, Hitler unveiled the "secret" Luftwaffe to the world, defying the Versailles Treaty. It became the third fighting branch of the German Wehrmacht, and was headed by Hermann Göring as Commander-in-Chief. Initially, only Luftwaffe Officers with flying status wore the new Fliegerdolch. Later, regulations were relaxed and other Officers were permitted to wear the "flying dagger". After 1937, Officers were required to wear the newly introduced Offizierdolch or 2nd Model Luftwaffe dagger.
The 1st Model, from that point on, was worn by high ranking NCO's, not officers. Initial patterns of the early Fliegerdolche were constructed using heavy solid nickel materials for hilt and scabbard mounts. Gilded brass sunwheel swastika inserts decorated the pommel and crossguard. The cigar-shape, wood-based grip and scabbard shell are covered in a rich Moroccan blue leather. A chain hanger with snap clip is attached to the scabbard. Examples produced after 1938 have aluminum fittings. Late examples were produced of nickel pot metal hilt fittings with plated steel scabbard fittings. Blades were usually quality nickel plated.
LD1 #48228 1st Model Luftwaffe Dagger by Tiger
This Tiger example has fine early nickel hilt mounts that remain in excellent condition throughout. There are no hits to the edges of the pommel and the silvering is intact.
The crossguard arms retain their original detail and remain in fine condition.
The original Moroccan leather is intact on the wooden grip, with no trouble spots and showing only typical hand wear. The grip is wrapped with brass wires.
The scabbard shell is completely straight, with perfect leather that looks great. The nickel scabbard mounts all remain in good shape, retained by headless side screws. Attached to the scabbard is a fine aluminum chain. This chain has five upper and six lower ringlets, attached to a aluminum snap clip marked OLC on the reverse.
The blade is a real beauty, with high quality nickel plating. It would be mint but for a small nick on the edge. The reverse is marked with the familiar Tiger trademark and the original leather blade buffer is in place.
A solid 1st Model Luftwaffe dagger here.
Mint Minus. $1,195.00
LD1 #48332C Later 1st Model Luftwaffe By Alcoso
This later piece is in nice condition throughout. The hilt mounts are the pot metal type but they still retain most of their silvered finish and also the pommel has most of the original gilt surface on the sunwheels. The gilt surface appears on the crossguard sunwheels also but it is mostly worn off. The crossguard arms are in good condition with tier three segments. The wood carved base grip is covered with Moroccan leather which shows some usage but is in nice condition. It is triple wrapped with brass wire having a twisted center. The scabbard is straight throughout. The scabbard is equipped with silvered steel based mounts but the silvering still remains in perfect condition these mounts. The headless side screws are all in place. Attached to the scabbard rings is a good aluminum chain. This chain is equipped with 6 upper ringlets and 9 lower ringlets. They are attached to an aluminum snap clip which is OLC marked. The fine blade is as good as you’ll see being in full mint. It has the highest quality nickel plated finish and you will not see a nicer blade. The reverse ricasso is marked with the scales having the ACS initials interspersed and to the right is the Alcoso name written in script over Solingen. The original blade washer is in place. A very nice later dagger here.
Excellent Plus. $1,195.00
LD1 #48080A Early 1st Model Luftwaffe No Maker
This early 1st model Luftwaffe despite the fact that it has no maker is a high quality piece. The hilt mounts are all solid nickel with nice raised out sunwheels swastikas in the pommel and the crossguard. The pommel shows a little bit of usage on the back rim but it is still quite crisp throughout the others. The original silvering still appears to be between the legs of the sunwheels.
The wood carved grip is covered with fine Moroccan leather. The moroccan shows a little bit of usage here and there but there are no cuts or problems. The grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire.
The unmarked blade is as nice as you will find. It has rich nickel plated fish and has an outstanding mirror look to it. There is a red felt washer which I think may have been a replacement by the last owner.
All in all a very fine 1st model Luftwaffe dagger here of highest quality.
Excellent Plus. $1,195.00
LD1 #47958 Mid Period 1st Model Luftwaffe By WMW Waffen
This mid period piece most likely has the zinc based hilt mounts which have been nickel plated. The plating is still quite good across the pommel and crossguard but it does show some age here and there. The sunwheel swastikas are a darker color and are raised out of the backgrounds which is kind of interesting. The carved wood grip is covered with Moroccan leather still in good condition. The leather is tightly wrapped with the triple wire two wires being brass and the center wire appearing to be twisted nickel or aluminum. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. The original Moroccan leather is still in good condition showing some normal usage but no nips or cuts. The scabbard mounts are the nickel plated steel type and there is some age in the mounts where the nickel plating has started to dissipate some. There is a aluminum hanger the type having 6 upper ringlets and 9 lower ringlets connected to an OLC aluminum snap clip. The blade is a fine example having excellent nickeled surface. There is one small nick on the upper edge but otherwise the blade is in mint condition. It is marked on the reverse WMW Waffen. The leather blade buffer is in place.
Excellent. $795.00
LD1 #47707 Early 1st Model Luftwaffe by SMF
This very fine example still has much of the original frosting over the nickel hilt mounts.
The pommel retains all of the frosting and silvering, as well as some of the original gilding. The crossguard sunwheels (as well as the guard itself) are in similar condition.
The wooden grip is covered with Moroccan leather. This leather remains in nice condition, showing only normal hand wear and wrapped with a skein of three silver wires, with a twisted center strand.
The scabbard shell is straight throughout and also has a covering of sound Moroccan leather that shows only minor wear. The solid nickel scabbard mounts are in fine condition, retained by the original headless screws. The throat is stamped “153”.
Attached to the hanging rings is a fine nickel chain, with nine upper and fourteen lower ringlets. Both lengths are connected to an unmarked solid nickel snap clip.
The nickel plated blade of this example remains in mint condition. The reverse ricasso is etched with the Seated King trademark of the SMF firm, and the original blade buffer is in place.
An extremely nice piece here, with great looking frosting.
Excellent Plus. $1,395.00
LD1 #46898 Early 1st Model Luftwaffe by Carl Eickhorn
This early dagger has not been cleaned and has a really nice patina throughout. Its only detract is that there is a small patch in the leather on the lower scabbard; it is not obnoxious and appears to be the appropriate leather that was used.
The mounts are solid nickel throughout being a very early production dagger. The pommel has the inlaid brass medallions and the nickel material still appears to be all there between the sunwheels. The pommel itself shows only modest usage around the edges.
The crossguard sunwheels also have a good look about them particularly the obverse one as it still has some gilt to it. The crossguard arms also are very nicely patinated having never been cleaned.
The carved wood grip is covered with Moroccan leather which is in perfect condition. The grain is also still there. The leather is wrapped with triple twisted brass wire the center being slightly larger.
The scabbard shell is straight throughout and has reasonably good leather, although it was patched at the bottom as mentioned above. The patch was obviously done as a “field expedient” and while not great is not horrible, either. The scabbard mounts also have deep patination. They are all in excellent condition and are retained by headless screws.
The chain is a nickel example featuring 9 upper ringlets and 14 lower ringlets. The are all connected to a solid nickel snap clip.
The blade is a high quality nickel plated example and still remains in pretty much mint condition throughout. It is etched on the reverse with the 1935 through 41 trademark. The original washer is in place.
This is a very early example and is of nice quality throughout.
Excellent. $1,195.00
LD1 #44593 Early, Numbered 1st Model Luftwaffe Dagger - E. & F. Hörster
This initial production Luftwaffe example has fine solid nickel mounts throughout.
The pommel is in nice condition, showing little usage and retaining the original silvering between the legs of both sun-wheel swastika.
The same is true of the sun-wheel in the guard center block. The quillon arms are the standard tripartite "wing" type, and each remains in crisp condition.
The grip is carved wood covered in blue Moroccan leather. This leather remains in completely perfect condition throughout and is tightly wrapped with a skein of three brass wires, the center strand being twisted.
The scabbard shell is as straight as an arrow and covered in matching blue Moroccan leather. This leather shows some mild wear but it completely free of rips, nips, or other problems. The nickel scabbard mounts are in fine condition and have toned to match the hilt fittings. These mounts are retained by headless side screws.
Attached to the scabbard is a fine, early nickel chain, with nine upper and fourteen lower ringlets. These ringlets are attached to an unmarked nickel snap clip.
The blade of this dagger is a real beauty with high quality nickel plating and a needle-like tip. The reverse ricasso is etched with the familiar Höller H trademark as well as a stick-bird "5" waffenamt.
It is interesting to note that right above the trademark is the number "205". Examining the dagger I was pleased to find this number on the reverse of the scabbard throat. This is the first time I have seen these small numerals placed on the throat edge and the blade.
The original blade washer is in place and in perfect condition.
A very fine, early 1st Model Luftwaffe Dagger here.
Near Mint. $1,395.00
LD1 #38989C 1st Model Luftwaffe Dagger
This 1st Model Luftwaffe Dagger is a mid-period example, with hilt mounts of silvered pot metal and scabbard mounts of silvered steel.
The pommel is in good shape, with no hits to the rims. The raised sunwheels do not have any gilding left on them but remain crisp.
The same is true of the crossguard sunwheels. The guard arms are the segmented, “winged” type which curve downward.
The grip is of carved wood covered in original Moroccan leather. This leather is in excellent shape, showing some wear but free of nips, cuts, or problems. This grip is tightly wrapped with a skein of three twisted brass wires.
The scabbard shell is straight throughout. It retains the original Moroccan leather covering which is in very nice condition; it shows traces of wear but it too is free of problems. The scabbard mounts are silver plated steel, the upper mount and center mounts showing slight wear to the plating. The lower mount has all of the silver and just some mild age in the surface, but nothing too bad. These mounts are retained by flat head screws, a bit in unusual as most pieces of this type have headless screws. There is a screw in the right upper portion, the right lower portion, and one in the center left.
The attached aluminum chain has six ringlets making up the upper chain and eight on the lower. These two chains are attached to an aluminum snap clip marked “OLC” and “Ges Gesch”.
The blade of this dagger makes up for many of the minor flaws on the outside. It is a high quality, nickel plated example that remains in mint condition. This beautiful blade is unmarked and retains the original blue leather blade washer.
A good, basic starter example here, priced reasonably.
Excellent. $850.00