1st & 2nd Pattern Luftwaffe Daggers

[Vega 2112]

These are my Luftwaffe Daggers in both 1st & 2nd pattern. The 1st Horster is in near perfect condition. The 2nd pattern is none maker marked, very late but in un issued & perfect condition. The hangers are perfect too, there is no wear anywhere. Both came from a veterans family, he was a British Interogator based in Berlin at the wars end. The 1st was from a Luftwaffe Pilot & the 2nd came from a store. Great items. I will photo the SMF Sword from the Interogator very soon. Enjoy.

[Vega 2112]

More of my Luftwaffe Daggers.

[Vega 2112]

More of my Luftwaffe Daggers.

[Vega 2112]

More of my Luftwaffe Daggers.

[petedispol]

Great daggers impossible to upgrade
I am new to this forum or any to be precise. I see your name on many occasions, interesting stuff. I have been fortunate in one way, to have inherited many, many... too many pieces of Imperial through to Third Reich memorabilia. I am unsure as to use the forums or try and achieve some one to one association from selected members, as there is so much of it?
I am fully aware that not all of the medals,daggers,cuff titles can be real, but I do know that a vast quantity of these pieces are real? I don't want to block up any forums, or have everyone responding asking for views, details etc and not having the time to respond to all of them, risking ignoring people, and there time frames to respond.
I do not know how quickly people respond on the site, to posted threads, or necessarily where to post items. I have posted a new topic [I believe.... not very good at this I am afraid] entitled.....info on Ferdinand Lieberman bronze bust. I have not posted pictures yet but will do as I know it is a must when talking about items, but took the gamble that everyone in the know, would know what the quality and workmanship of this person, and drag out the so called experts.
Please could you take the time to respond, your advice would be appreciated. I will be online for a few hours.


Cheers
Pete

[John G.]

Pete,
You should post your inquires in "new" seperate thread....attaching it to an old post is unproducive for your purposes.....

There are several pretty knowledgible collectors here....(humbly, including me....) we'll be glad to help....but you need to post only a couple items at a time, take as many as needed photos to show it item....and one of us should be able to help.
Now we can't appraise an entire collection....but those items you are especially unsure of....to begin with at least....and I'm sure we can help on most things....
John G.

[William Kramer]

Hello there,

Lovely daggers you have there. In my opinions, 2nd patterns with a white grip are far more appealing than with an orange grip. A bit off topic, but hopefully more than some other posts in this thread) but does anyone know why some have a red, orange, or white handle? I know the black handles stood for something but the others, is there a legitimate reason or just how individual makers wanted it to look?

William Kramer

[John G.]

The color of the grip on a Luftw. or Army Dagger was completely up to the purchaser/distributor....and meant nothing in and of itself....
John G.

[Frederick Prinz]

I’m in agreement with the color of a grip having no particular significance. But of the opinion that the differences seen were probably more a matter of the materials available to makers. For example, we see the change from nickel silver to aluminum and eventually zinc as supplies of the metals for hilts/fittings dried up. With the substitutions being forced on the makers - who had no other viable options available to them as more and more strategic materials went to the rearmament of Germany.

I also think that the topic of grip color can be something of a slippery slope. As there was a time when guys were selling daggers with deeply colored grips as special order “General Officer's” daggers, and the black gripped “Funeral” daggers at a significant extra cost premium. Which subsequent investigation showed for the deeply colored grips was the result of age and ultraviolet light reacting with the (as manufactured white) type of solid plastic used. And for the black grips, many examples showing evidence of a lack of adhesion after aging, and the removal of a white painted finish from the black (period) solid plastic. With even some of the much more resistant white celluloid type grip coverings showing some slight toning due to age and the environment. (If I can find it I may have a a catalogue page specifying white grips and the type of plastic which is known to change (exterior) color, and some pictures of broken orange/other colored grips with white interiors if the matter is still in doubt.) FP

[H. Hoth]

Very nice looking collectible pieces. I need to add a 2nd Luft to my collection, but it must wait until I can get my chained SS.

Good Luck. H