Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of an early German WWII 1st Model RLB Subordinate Dagger, complete with its correct black enamel scabbard and original leather belt hanger. This early pattern is considerably less commonly encountered than the later 2nd Model and is immediately distinguished by the elaborate grip emblem incorporating the RLB initials above a small hook cross on a radiating starburst. This is the first 1st Model RLB dagger of either the Subordinate or Leader pattern that we have had available, making it an especially interesting example for the advanced political edged weapons collector.

The hilt fittings are constructed from nickel plated alloy, commonly referred to by collectors as pot metal. The plating is exceptionally well preserved and remains over 95% intact, with only a small area of loss on the obverse of the pommel.

The pommel has the characteristic rounded derby form with an equatorial band around the center, where the small area of plating loss is visible. The crossguard carries a distinctive Art Deco style eagle with short, broad wings clutching a smooth wreath and central hook cross. The quillons are decorated with cut line detailing and terminate at approximately 45 degree angles, giving the guard a dynamic appearance.

The entire hilt assembly remains firmly seated on the blade tang with no noticeable movement.

The grip is a fine ebony example and retains much of its original sheen. Condition is very good overall, with only light pressure denting and some localized chipping near the crossguard. Ebony is naturally brittle, and the pressure exerted by tightly fitted dagger mounts can often result in cracking or chipping around these areas.

Set into the grip is the distinctive early RLB insignia. It features a blue enamel:

RLB

above a small enamel hook cross, both superimposed over a radiating sunburst. The insignia remains in very good condition, with silver wash still visible in the recessed areas and approximately 80% of the blue enamel retained.

The blade is one of the strongest features of this dagger and remains in excellent condition. It retains almost full factory final polish grind crossgrain on the flat areas of both sides, a finish known in German as Pliesten. It is created by polishing the blades with large leather covered wheels using a slurry of extremely fine grit, and is nearly impossible to replicate using modern means. For advanced edged weapon collectors, the survival of this original crossgrain is an especially important feature because it indicates that the blade has not been aggressively polished or resurfaced after manufacture.

The edge remains completely unsharpened and free from dents. There is some scattered oxidation staining, together with light runner wear and a few swirl marks from past cleaning, but there is no major rust damage and the blade retains excellent overall presentation.

This example was made by Paul Weyersberg & Co., Waffenfabrik (Weapons Factory) of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in western Germany. The reverse ricasso is etched with a clearly legible:

PAUL WEYERSBERG & Co.

SOLINGEN

in double ovals around the firms trademark "Sword-and-Wreath" logo, which was the only marking they used during the Third Reich era. This company was one of many in Solingen owned by members of the Weyersberg family, and was founded in 1840, but not registered with Solingen until 1921. They made a large number of edged weapons during the interwar period, and then during the third reich era. The company survived the war, but ceased production in 1955. For more information on this maker, please see J. Anthony Carter's definitive reference GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The steel scabbard is also in excellent condition and remains straight and completely free from dents or bends. The original black enamel finish is retained almost entirely, showing only light age related crazing and checking with a few very small areas of flaking.

The solid nickel scabbard fittings remain in very good condition and display only a light patina from age. Both flush mounted retaining screws for the lower drag are still present. The reverse throat is secured by its original cheese head screw, which shows no obvious evidence of having been turned.

Attached to the scabbard is the triangular hanger retaining wire, which still carries the original leather belt hanger. The hanger is secured by a bent nickel silver sheet fitting riveted directly to the leather.

The spring clip remains fully functional and is made from solid nickel. It is clearly marked:

OLC in a diamond

This is the trademark of Overhoff & Cie. of Lüdenscheid, a well known German manufacturer of metal fittings and uniform accessories. The leather itself remains in excellent condition, with only a small amount of verdigris and oxidation visible around the metal clip.

For the RLB or German political edged weapons collector, this is an especially strong 1st Model Subordinate Dagger. The early blue enamel RLB grip emblem, over 95% surviving hilt plating, excellent ebony grip, unusually strong factory blade crossgrain, identifiable Paul Weyersberg maker mark, nearly complete black enamel scabbard, and intact OLC marked leather hanger combine to make this a particularly desirable and complete example of the early pattern.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8 3/4"
Blade Style: Double Edged Spear Point
Overall length: 13 3/4“
Crossguard: 3 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 9 1/4"

The Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB) (National Air Raid Protection League) was an organization in NSDAP Germany in charge of air raid precautions in residential areas and among smaller businesses. The RLB was organized by Hermann Göring in 1933 as a voluntary association. Existing volunteer air raid precaution associations were forced to merge with RLB. In 1939 the RLB became a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization), while in 1944 it became an affiliated organization of the NSDAP Party. RLB was dissolved by the Allied Powers after the end of World War II. Its successor in the Federal Republic of Germany was the Bundesverband für den Selbstschutz.

The RLB was in charge of educating and training ordinary German men and women in civil defence procedures necessary for the basic level of local self-help of the civil population against air raids. The local level was formed around air raid wardens and operated in small first intervention squads. The training include fire fighting, protection against chemical weapons, communication procedures and preparation of houses and apartments against air raids.

In 1939 the RLB had about 15 million members, 820 000 volunteer functionaries (of which 280,000 women) and 75,000 local units. The membership was trained at 3,800 civil defense schools with 28,000 instructors.

- RLB was led by a Präsidium, whose president, and vice president and chief of staff, were active duty general officers of the Luftwaffe. The presidium was in itself a department immediately subordinated to the Ministry of Aviation.

- Coterminous with each Luftgaukommando (air district command) was a RLB-Gruppe (RLB-group) under a leader aided by 46 full-time staff members.

- For each Regierungsbezirk, there was a RLB-Bezirksgruppe (regional group).

- The basic organization was the RLB-Revier, one for each police precinct in the cities, or the RLB-Gemeinde-Gruppe, one for each urban or rural municipality for the rest of the country. In the case of a city with several precincts, the citywide organization was called an RLB-Ortsgruppe (local group). Several municipal groups formed an RLB-Ortskreisgruppe, one for each Landkreis. Each Ortsgruppe and Ortskreisgruppe had a leader and a staff of nine members, of which five where full-time salaried employees.

- The basic organizations had a varied number of Untergruppen (sub-groups) divided into Blocke (blocks) under Blockwarte (block wardens) which controlled and liaised with a number of Luftschutzgemeinschafte (air raid protection communities) under Luftschutzwarte (air raid wardens). Each community consisted of an apartment building or several smaller buildings, although a large apartment complex could have several communities. In addition to the warden, the community should have an assistant warden, house fire fighters, helpers and messengers as a first intervention squad. Duty in these squads were compulsory (Notdienstpflicht) for the civilian population.