Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a mid-war production 2nd Model Luftwaffe dagger, which was captured and modified by a USGI before being carried as a fighting knife. It is a fine Solingen-Produced example made by the legendary firm of Carl Eickhorn. The modifications to the dagger mainly were the removal of the Swas symbols on the pommel and crossguard by being ground and polished off. This is the standard way that NSDAP items were "sanitized". It was then fit to a very nice leather belt scabbard, much in the style of most U.S. Issued knives. Aside from the modifications, it still is quite attractive, and in great shape.

The celluloid grip of this dagger is a nice pumpkin orange 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 chipping on the pommel near 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" swas on both sides were removed, and overall the pommel was then polished, removing a lot of the original plating and patination.

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 has had most of mobile swas in his talons removed. The reverse panel is decorated with small pebbling, which is still clear. The ferrule looks to be plated steel, and it is still in very good condition.

The blade on this example is not nickel plated, which is common for later produced blades. The ricasso is etched with the 1935-41 Eickhorn trademark: a seated squirrel holding a sword, with the word ORIGINAL above and the firm's name and location, Eickhorn / SOLINGEN below. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany.

According to  J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this company was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn, and is arguably the most famous of all Solingen makers. Not only could the family trace their history back 500 years, but they could also demonstrate involvement in the hardening and grinding industries for the same period. Truly the nobility of Solingen Edged weapon dynasties. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers. The original leather blade buffer is in place within the deep recesses of the guard. 

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 some flecks of staining on the surface. The tip is as straight as any we have ever seen, and the edge is still in the correct factory unsharpened state.

The leather scabbard is in very nice condition, with a lovely aged brown color. The top staples have pulled out a bit, but the stitching is still good, and the leather supple.

A very nice German WWII Luftwaffe dagger, converted to a fighting knife by a USGI during WWII. Ready to display!

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