Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, Second Pattern with Hanger, by F.W. Höller

(Luftwaffe Dolch für Offiziere mit Gehänge). A well-preserved Luftwaffe Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 42.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains factory-original sharpening to the tip. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “F.W. HÖLLER, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic thermometer logo which is executed with 11 gradations. It sits securely within an aluminum alloy crossguard with an intact brown leather buffer pad covering the seam. The obverse of the crossguard is overlaid by a raised Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, while the reverse features a pebbled field. A single piece of ribbed white celluloid composes the handle grip, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled silver wire cord. It completes with an aluminum alloy pommel consisting of double-sided mobile swastikas situated within circular oak leaf wreaths, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the handle is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a cord of identical construction. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled and nickel-plated magnetic steel shaft. Two integral oak leaf bands are set into the upper third of the shaft, and each retain a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. 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 and scratching to the blade (the latter consistent with cleaning or polishing), some loss of nickel to the plated fixtures, and minor material fatigue to the portpee. It remains in a near extremely fine condition.

Also accompanying the dagger is a matching hanger, consisting of a functional silvered zink alloy spring clip with two integral loops emanating from its lower edge. Each loop retains a slate-grey doeskin strap, topped by a layer of slate-grey rayon threading which is in turn trimmed with silver aluminum wire tresses. The straps are adjusted with functional silvered zink alloy buckles, and culminate in functional spring clips of identical construction to lock onto an accompanying dagger’s scabbard loops. The upper uniform clip is maker marked with the logo of F.W. Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid. Measuring 27 cm in length as configured, the hanger demonstrates loss of finish to the metal fixtures and minor material fatigue to the embroidery of the straps. The set remains in a near extremely fine condition.