Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used example of a mid-war production 2nd Model Luftwaffe dagger. It is a fine Solingen-Produced example made by the Solingen-based firm of ALCOSO - Alexander Coppel & Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik. The celluloid covered wooden grip of this dagger is a nice light ivory white color, and has not faded to orange as they so often do. It remains in very good condition throughout, showing some light staining and dirt. It has a nice slightly tapered shape, and is tightly wrapped with twisted wires, which show oxidation from use.

The hilt mounts are in similar condition with a lovely patina of age. The pommel is very good and still shows most of the original detail. The "mobile" swass on both sides are clear and the oak leaves around them are raised out and heavily hand enhanced. The pommel appears to be solid aluminum, and was probably originally plated, though now most of that is missing, with the remainder oxidized, showing some tarnishing in areas.

The cross guard is also made of plated Aluminum, which was an "Air Age" material, used to make most airplanes. It was considered fitting and desirable for the eagle-shaped guard to be made of this material. The front side is an eagle with a breast and talon area that is vaulted out much more so than the cross guards seen on other types of daggers. This guard shows little wear and has great feathering on the eagle. The bird, of course, flies to the left and grasps a mobile swas in his talons. The reverse panel is decorated with small pebbling, which is still clear. The plating is still somewhat apparent on the grip side of the cross guard, but for the most part it is worn away. The ferrule looks to be plated steel, and is in very good condition, with a nice dark patina, having lost the original plating.

The blade on this example is not nickel plated, which is common for later produced blades. The reverse ricasso is etched with the trademark Alcoso used from 1936-1939. It depicts the scales with the firm's initials, ACS interspersed. To the right is the firm's name in in script, Alcoso, and below the town of business, SOLINGEN, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany.

Alcoso is a trade name of Alexander Coppel & Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik, located in Solingen, the legendary German "City of Blades." Per J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS, the company was a major manufacturer of edged weapons and tools from the end of the 19th century up until the WWII period. Unfortunately, as NSDAP-control increased, brothers Carl Gustav and Dr. Alexander Coppel, the Jewish owners of the firm, were forced out. In 1936 the firm had been "Aryanized", and started using the name ALCOSO to hide the Jewish family name. By the end of 1936 the brothers were ejected from their Solingen offices, and by 1940 the brand trademark initials ACS were changed to AWS to reflect the change in ownership and name: Alexander Coppel Solingen to Alcoso-Werk Solingen. Carl Gustav Coppel committed suicide in Solingen in 1941, and Dr. Alexander Coppel was arrested in 1942 and sent to Theresienstadt Prison camp, where he died August 5th 1942. The factory itself was destroyed by Allied bombers in November 1944.

The blade is in good condition, and does look to have seen real use during the war, which is a rarity, as these were intended for dress use. It shows sharpening to both edges, and there is evidence of past oxidation and cleaning on the surface. There is however still visible factory cross grain on the blade in areas near the ricasso. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The original leather blade buffer is in place within the deep recesses of the guard, though it has shrunk a bit.

The scabbard is a typical Alcoso type, having the distinctive rounded shape to the shell. It looks to originally had the airplane gray finish, however that has now worn away for the most part, and it shows a lovely oxidized patina. It still retains the finely pebbled panels on both sides, however there are some small dents on the sides of the scabbard. The hanging bands are zinc, and have a lovely dark patina. The throat is held in placed by two "cheesehead" screws on the narrow sides of the scabbard, and show no signs of turning.

This really is a very nice 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger, offered in very good service used condition, from a maker with a somber back story.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Overall length: 15 1/2”
Crossguard: 3 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 11 3/4”