The Reichsluftschutzbund or RLB was the official air raid protection group for the state. It was established by Air Minister, Hermann Göring in 1935. RLB groups were kept busy training the German population for civil defense. Beginning in 1936, enlisted members of this organization were issued a dagger. The dagger had nickeled mounts with black ebony grip and black painted scabbard. The short hanger was permanently attached to the scabbard. The 1st Pattern example had an applied grip insignia which features the organization's initials, RLB, in a blue enamel superimposed over a silvered sunburst. The second style dagger was issued in 1938. It was essentially the same dagger, however, the grip insignia featured a large black-enameled swastika, superimposed over a sunburst. The blades were a plain polished finish variety. The Officers of the RLB initially carried daggers with one scabbard suspension ring with early RLB lettered insignia on the grip. The dagger has silvered nickel mounts with leather covered grip and matching scabbard shell. A 2nd Officer Pattern was introduced in 1938. It was nearly identical to the previous type, except the new insignia of the RLB, a large black enameled swastika grip emblem, was substituted for the earlier RLB grip emblem. Additionally a center ramp was added to the scabbard to accommodate a more substantial two strap hanging method. Many existing 1st Pattern daggers were converted to 2nd types during the period.

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1.  RLBALL #33429 Personalized 2nd Model RLB Officer Dagger

   This example is the later style RLB Officer Dagger, having the aluminum hilt fittings. These fittings are still in choice condition, having a satiny sheen that aluminum retains. The upper pommel has a good subtle tip to the center area, and the edge has a deep accent line that runs around the circumference. There are a couple of carrying signs but no real “hits” along the edge. The crossguard features the stubby winged art-deco bird which has plain surfaces and grasps a plain wreath with mobile swastika. The wreath around the swastika is pierced. The details to the bird have good hand enhancing to the eye, beak, and wing feathering. The triangular shaped quillon crossguard arms are accented with three straight lines that run the lines of both sides. A fine looking crossguard here. The grip is a carved wood base, having a bulbous center that tapers on both ends. The original leather is in choice condition, being installed in two pieces. The graining is still quite prevalent throughout this leather. There are no cuts, scuffs, or any problems in the leather surfaces. The grip button is the type with a starburst in the backgrounds and a black enamel mobile swastika in the center. The enamel has some damage on the center area of the swastika, but all of the legs are still intact. The original silvering has worn off of the sunburst and it is down to the copper base. The scabbard shell is also a fine example. This shell is covered with matching Moroccan leather, and it too retains most of the original graining. The shell is in perfect condition, having only a couple of minor scuffs along the right lower edge. The shell is equipped with the three silvered scabbard mounts. The silvering is still excellent throughout these mounts. The reverse upper mount has a jeweler engraved monogram, representing the original owner. The letters are “HK”. The “K” letter has shading in between the twin scribed lines, which indicates that this would be the original owner’s surname. The engraving is extremely well done and definitely performed by a professional. A very nice touch here! The fittings are retained by the original headless side screws. The eyelets and rings are also in good condition. This dagger shows very little wear to the outside. The blade is a real beauty. It is completely bright with all of the crossgraining, and other than the normal runner marks, it is easily in full mint condition. This blade also retains its needle-like tip. The blade is protected by a matching blue-black leather washer. A very nice RLB Officer Dagger here.

   Excellent Plus, Plus. $2,495.00

2.  RLBALL #33511C 2nd Model RLB Enlisted Man's Dagger

   This RLB Enlisted Man’s dagger has the early nickel-style mounts. The pommel cap is mostly patinated and looks to have good nickeling below. This cap has no hits to the surfaces and is equipped with the equator-like center band that runs around the circumference. The crossguard shows some handling signs, having a few mild “taps” on the breast of the art-deco eagle. This eagle also shows a little bit of wear to the top portion of his head. The eagle has the typical stubby wings and grasps a plain-style wreath with raised out mobile swastika. Behind the swastika are pebbled surfaces. The crossguard is equipped with arms that both end in 45 degree angles, giving the feeling of motion. The quillon arms have three sets of deep accent grooves running the length. The grip is a fine ebony wood, being bulbous in the center. This grip is in completely perfect condition. The RLB insignia is the sunburst variety, having most of the silvering worn and being down to the copper finish. In the center is a mobile swastika having black enamel inside. The enamel has some minor hits here-and-there, but is not too bad. The scabbard is nice and straight throughout. This steel scabbard has received a professional paint job, not too long ago by the looks of it. The paint has been extremely well done and really looks great. The original triangle retainer is in position, and attached is a good condition short hanger. The hanger has a nickel tab that is bent over and secured by four rivets. The leather is still good, having decorative lines on each side. The snap clip shows some age but it still is in good working order, being marked on the reverse with an “A” and “DRGM”. The blade of this example is just slightly gray and looks as though it may have been resurfaced a while ago. It does have good graining to the surfaces, but it looks slightly wider than the factory type, and I can also see remains of pitting at the bottom area that was not completely taken out when the blade was redone. All and all, though, not a bad job here and certainly is an improvement over what the blade must have looked like previously. The blade grades at about excellent to excellent plus in its redone state. This blade is buffered by a black leather washer. A pretty nice example here, having some restoration but it is priced accordingly.

   Excellent. $1,295.00

3. RLBALL #32846 RLB 2nd Model Officer Dagger – Paul Weyersberg

   This RLB Officer Dagger has never been cleaned. It is deeply patinated throughout and the next owner may very well wish to clean it up as it would probably look pretty good as the basics are in very acceptable condition. The hilt fittings are the early solid nickel type. The pommel has the nice point in the center and there are no hits to the rim around the edges. The center equator area still has the nice, crisp indented line that runs around its circumference. The cross guard depicts the art-deco bird in the center. This eagle has stubby wings and looks to the viewer’s right. He clutches a plain wreath with “floating” style mobile swastika. The bird’s eye and beak have been cut in by the factory. The quillon arms are actually a triangular shape at the ends. They have 4 decorative lines which run the length of each arm on both sides. The scabbard mounts have toned to a very dull patination. The grip of this example is a wood base having a center bulbous area and tapering to both ends. It is covered with original blue-black leather. This leather still has all of its graining and remains in perfect condition. The grip insignia is an outstanding example. It has the sunburst in the background and for once, all of the silvering is still all there. (These usually are down to the copper.) The center area features a fine enameled black mobile swastika. The original enamel here is in choice, perfect condition. A nice hilt! The scabbard shell is straight throughout. This shell is equipped with matching blue-black leather. The leather still has all of the graining but as these pieces sometimes do, there is a little pull back at the left seam where the leather has shrunk from these many years. It is not bad though and hardly shows. There are no other leather problems on this scabbard. The scabbard is fitted with steel base silvered mounts. These mounts show some age in their surfaces in the form of some freckling. They will clean up a lot though and certainly look better if someone wanted to do this. These mounts are in good overall straight condition though, with no dings or bends. They are retained by the original unturned flathead side screws. The blade of this example is a high-quality steel with excellent polished surfaces. The tip still remains needlelike. The blade is still in bright condition, although there is a little bit of smudge here and there on the reverse; however, the obverse is still nice and clean. This blade still grades at at least excellent plus plus. The reverse ricasso is etched with the double ovals. These ovals contain the firm’s name and location “Paul Weyersberg & Co Solingen”. Inside is the downward pointing Roman-like sword place between two wheat shafts. The original matching blue-black leather washer is in place. A decent 2nd model RLB here that will clean up substantially if desired.

   Excellent Plus. $3,495.00

4. RLBALL #32764C 2nd Model RLB EM Dagger

   This RLB EM Dagger is equipped with the later style fittings which are a nickel plate over pot metal base. There is a little bit of lifting here and there on the crossguard and the pommel does show some wear to the plating. Overall though these fittings are not bad compared to some of them I have seen in the past. These later fittings just did not hold up very well under improper conditions. The pommel still has a good shape throughout being the “derby” look. It has a vaulted out equator that runs around the center area. The crossguard features a center placed art deco style eagle. This bird has short stubby wings and is relatively plain having a plain wreath with mobile swastika having pebbles behind the insignia. The crossguard arms are line decorated and they are cut on an angle to give the symbolism of motion. The grip is a fine ebony wood which is in perfect condition throughout. This grip has a bulbous center with tapering ends. In the center obverse is an applied RLB 2nd style insignia. It features a sunburst in the backgrounds with a black enamel swastika superimposed. Most of the silvering is gone from the sunburst but the enamel from the swastika is still in excellent condition only showing some usage sings. The scabbard is straight throughout and has a repainted surface. The repaint is well done having a slightly dull finish to it and being 100%. The lower mount is a nickel-plated tapered type and it is retained by two headless side screws. The throat is also a plated example and is retained by a headless flush mount screw in the center obverse. The hanger for this example is a replacement. The tab was apparently made up by the person that replaced the hanger and it is slightly off from the original but looks good. Instead of the four little rivets used to retain the leather the restorer who did this work put a rivet in the center. The blade leather is well done with twin line decoration and the clip is an early snap clip which is solid nickel and unmarked. In fact, this is the type of clip that we see on early political SA and SS daggers. The blade of this example is still bright having some extremely minor age in the surfaces but not bad. It still rates at least at excellent plus and retains its needlelike tip. The unmarked blade is buffered by the original black leather washer. This dagger has a couple of restoration aspects to include the new hanger and the scabbard paint but overall it is still a pretty nice example.

   Excellent Plus. $1,495.00