Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a very nice 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. It comes complete with an original scabbard, which is fitted with silver and oxide plated steel, with a nickel hanger chain.

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. We did note that the pommel is somewhat tilted to one side, but spinning it does no change this, so the tang itself is a bit bent. The grip is a carved wood base covered in blue Moroccan leather, which is well preserved, showing wear through the finish layer. It is triple wrapped with silver wire, with the center example being twisted, which is just a bit loose in places.

The blade of this piece is a high quality nickel-plated example, which is in very good service used condition, still mostly bright and shiny. There is scuffing to the plating from use and cleaning, as well as some wear through from runner wear. The very tip is broken off, and there is some oxidation on the surface where the plating has flaked away, giving the blade a great "been there" look.

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. Below the trademark is a small partial Weimar style Waffenamt Eagle / 5, the standard acceptance mark for edged weapons in the Luftwaffe.

The steel scabbard shell is straight throughout with no major dents or bends in the steel body. The Moroccan leather covering the scabbard nicely matches the grip and is in good condition, showing some tears and other damage from long service and age. The mounts on the scabbard body are plated and oxide coated steel, which still retain some of the original oxide coating in areas. There is some oxidation of the steel present, particularly on the chape fitting, which shows a lot of bubbling on the rear. All five flush-mount securing screws are still present on the fittings, though they show oxidation.

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 lovely matured 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”