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 desirable maker Tigerwerk Lauterjung & Co.. The celluloid grip of this dagger is a nice caramel orange color color, and remains in very good condition throughout. It has a nice slightly tapered shape, and is tightly wrapped with twisted silver bullion wire. It is slightly lighter in color on one side, indicating it was stored on one side for a long time. The handle is also somewhat loose overall, as it has shrunk over time.

The hilt mounts are similarly great on this dagger. The pommel is crisp and excellent. The swass on both sides are clear, and the oak leaves around it is raised out and heavily hand enhanced. The pommel appears to be solid aluminum, and not plated, so it would not have the blackening seen on plated examples. It does have a bit of wear around the edges, with a nice patina.

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 some wear and has nice 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 is in great shape, and still bright, having been protected by the portepee, which is in very good condition, and tied in the Luftwaffe style.

This scabbard is a fine, straight example, having a good deal of the original plated finish, with a lovely patina. There is a dent on the reverse, about an inch below the lower band, but this not interfere with sheathing the dagger. The bands appear to be made of zinc alloy, with some plating loss, and have hand enhanced oak leaves tipped at a 45 degree angle. The throat is the thinner type, retained by flush screws on the opposite sides of the scabbard, though one is missing. Both hanger rings are present, and in great shape.

The blade on this example is not nickel plated, which is common for later produced blades. The carbon steel blade is in excellent condition, with only a few small specks of staining. It still has almost all of the original factory final polish crossgrain, with the expected runner wear. The tip is not bent, and the edge is nick free, and has never been sharpened. The original leather blade buffer is in place within the deep recesses of the guard. The reverse ricasso is marked with the "Left Facing Tiger" trademark of the Lauterjung & Co. firm, and to the right of the trademark is:

Lauterjung & Co., Tiger Stahlwaren- und Waffenfabrik is a famous manufacturer in Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. Their trademark was a Tiger, and their factory was thus often referred to as Tigerwerk (Tiger Works). The firm was founded in 1873 to make knives, scissors, and other steel ware, and survived until after the war. There were several different branches of the Lauterjung family involved in edged weapons, operating under different trade names to avoid confusion.

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