Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dagger, by Stöcker & Co.

(Luftwaffe Offiziersdolch). A well-preserved Luftwaffe Officer’s dagger, measuring 42.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. The blade bears double-sided, acid-etched designs, with the obverse displaying a central Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika and flanked by arabesques, while the reverse shows simple arabesques throughout. Visible on the reverse ricasso is a maker’s mark of “SMF” for the firm of Stöcker & Co., Solingen, topped by the company’s seated king logo. The blade sits securely within a silvered metal alloy crossguard, with the obverse bearing a raised and finely-detailed Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, and with the seam covered by an intact black leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed brown bakelite, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire cord. It completes with a silvered alloy pommel which features a double sided wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic metal shaft. The tip bears double-sided oak leaf designs, while the upper third has two integral oak leaf bands, each retaining loops for the accommodation of a hanger. A spring clip set into the throat firmly holds the dagger in place during storage, and is secured together with dual side rivets. Issues consisting of with and wear are evident, and include some loss of finish to the metal fixtures and scabbard, with surface oxidation throughout the latter. It remains in a very fine condition.