Original Item: Only One Available. After the end of WWII, USGI's brought home a multitude of German WWII items, including all types of knives, daggers, and other memorabilia. With occupying forces stationed there, many German companies turned to producing collector's items. The company owned by Fritz Reuss and A. Spiess, Bolte & Anschutz (B&A), had produced items during the war, including small arms, often contracting out to various locations in and outside of Germany, such as Belgium. At the end of WWII however, their business was shuttered, as were many that had profited massively from the NSDAP war machine.

Seeing an opportunity, the B&A name was brought back, and they began contacting the makers of the very popular German daggers, and bought up remaining parts that they had on hand. This included blades, handles, crossguards, etc. About the only parts they could not get were scabbards, which also had been scarce towards the end of the war.  B&A then began to finish, assemble, and sell these daggers, usually in leather scabbards, to USGIs and other people working in post War Germany. However, production then ceased in 1946, as the NSDAP party and all of its symbols were banned in Germany.

These daggers are fairly easy to recognize, as they all had blades marked Solingen 1939 over the B&A "Cross" logo. The reverse of the dagger would be stamped with GERMANY. This is a textbook example of a B&A post war assembled 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger. Most likely most or all of the parts are original, but they would have come from a variety of different manufacturers.

The grip of this dagger is a nice ivory color, which has not faded to orange or brown like so many do. It has a nice slightly tapered shape, and is tightly wrapped with twisted wire. There is no cracking we can see, just some scuffs and stains. The hilt mounts are the usual late war aluminum, though the fit and finish is not quite as nice as it would have been during the WWII period. An "Air Age" material, it was considered fitting and desirable for the eagle-shaped guard to be made of this material. The ferrule looks to be plated steel, which we have tested with a magnet.

The blade is in very good condition, and bright, with just a bit of staining and oxidation. Unfortunately these were all resurfaced during assembly, most likely so that the supplier would not be able to be traced. They may also have been sent unmarked blades.

A great example of a Post War B&A assembled 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Overall length: 15 1/4”
Crossguard: 3 1/4”