Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, First Pattern, by Lauterjung & Co.

(Luftwaffe Dolch für Offiziere, 1. Form). A first pattern Luftwaffe Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 48.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 31 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains factory-original sharpening to the tip and edges. The reverse ricasso is maker marked with the early- to mid-pattern “TIGER” logo of the firm of Lauterjung & Co., Solingen. The blade sits securely within a nickel-plated metal alloy crossguard which takes the form of a pair of stylized wings, bearing double-sided central sunwheel-style mobile swastikas. The handle grip is composed of a wooden core fully lined on the exterior with a dark blue Moroccan leather grip, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled wire cord. It completes with a rounded and flattened nickel-plated alloy pommel, bearing double-side sunwheel-style mobile swastikas, which screws in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a magnetic metal shaft with nickel-plated magnetic metal fixtures secured to the tip, mid-section, and throat. The latter two feature integral loops which retain a multi-link aluminum chain culminating in a functional spring clip for uniform suspension. The clip is maker marked with the logo of Overhoff & Cie, Lüdenscheid. A functional spring catch situated within the throat firmly holds the dagger in place during storage. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include running marks to the blade, loss of gilt and nickel-plating to the hile, some fatigue of the leather handle grip, total loss of the scabbard’s leather liner, and loss of nickel plating to the scabbard’s fixtures. The early dagger remains in a fair condition.