Item Description
Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a lovely early 1st Model Luftwaffe Dagger, made by the desirable maker Solinger Metalwaren-Fabrik Stöcker & Co. GmbH, of Solingen, Germany. It was made in the mid to late 1930s, before 1938 when the change was made to use aluminum fittings. It has plated mounts throughout all being nickel alloy plated with silver, probably with a copper flash coat. These were probably all originally oxide coated on the silver to give them a lovely blue color, however cleaning and use have worn away most of that, and the copper flash coat is even exposed in some areas.
The rim of the pommel shows some usage but there are no major damage, just a few small dents. The vaulted pommel shows the original "Broken Sun Cross" swas medallions, which are probably the type that is inserted, and the brass on the emblems has oxidized to a lovely mustard colored patina. The grip is a carved wood base covered in blue Moroccan leather, which is very well preserved, showing just a bit of wear through the finish layer. It is triple wrapped with silver wire, with the center example being twisted. It looks it was clear lacquer coated at some point to protect it.
The blade of this piece is a high quality nickel-plated example, which is in excellent condition, still bright and shiny. There is no damage to the tip or edges save for a tiny dent on one edge, and there is just a bit of runner wear, which has worn through the plating in one tiny area just above the maker marking. There is also a small area of plating loss on that same side, which shows a tiny bit of oxidation. Really a great blade!
The SMF trademark logo on the blade ricasso features an etched king holding an upward pointing sword, and is known as the "Seated King". The king is sitting on the firm initials SMF and is positioned above an arch shaped town location SOLINGEN. Solinger Metalwaren-Fabrik Stöcker & Co. GmbH, also known as SMF, were one of the major suppliers of edged weapons to the Luftwaffe during WWII. As the name implies, they were located in Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. For more information, please see J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS.
The scabbard is straight throughout with no major dents, and this is a very interesting example, as the body actually is made from leather, not the usual steel or other metal that we see. This was then wrapped with Blue Moroccan leather matching the grip, which is in fantastic condition, showing no tears or loss of finish. The mounts on this scabbard are all solid nickel alloy, originally silver and oxide plated, but now they show mostly just the nickel, with some of the plating remaining in areas. They are retained by oval staples on the inner side, not the usual screws, as they would be useless on a leather body.
The attached nickel alloy chain has nine ringlets making up the upper chain and fourteen on the lower. These two chains are attached to a nickel alloy snap clip, which is not marked. The chain and clip have a lovely mellow patina from light oxidation.
A great example of an early pattern 1st model Luftwaffe dagger by a very desirable Solingen maker, ready to display!
Specifications:
Blade Length: 12"
Overall length: 17 1/2"
Crossguard: 4 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 13 1/4”
- This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
- Due to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon