Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice 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 grip of this dagger is a nice light caramel color, having faded from the original ivory white, and remains in good condition throughout. It has a nice slightly tapered shape, and is tightly wrapped with twisted wires. There is some cracking on the pommel end where the wrapping goes under the fittings, as the celluloid becomes brittle over time

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 not plated, with some oxide antiquing in the recesses. It does have a bit of wear around the edges.

The crossguard is also made of Aluminum, which was an "Air Age" material, which was 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 crossguards 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 ferrule looks to be zinc, and it is still in very good condition. Tied around this is an original portepee, which is in good condition, and tied in the Luftwaffe style. There is definitely some light fraying and loss of bullion in areas, but it still presents very well.

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 very good condition, and bright, though it has been polished and cleaned over the years, making the cross grain faint in many areas. There is some runner wear and just a bit of light staining. The tip is as straight as any we have ever seen, and the edge is still in the correct factory unsharpened state. The original leather blade buffer is in place within the deep recesses of the guard. It looks to possibly have been glued in place at some point.

The scabbard is a typical Alcoso type, having the distinctive rounded shape to the shell. It has the airplane gray finish throughout and good, fine pebbled surfaces. It has some signs of wear and frost, but the overall condition is good. On one side of the top of the scabbard, it shows some tarnish, which is probably corrosion or a chemical reaction between leather and metal. The aluminum carrying bands contrast with the color of the scabbard she

This really is a very nice 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger with portepee, offered in very good condition, ready to display!

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