Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dagger, Second Pattern, by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie

(Luftwaffe Offiziersdolch). A well-preserved Luftwaffe Officer’s dagger, measuring 430 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 260 mm-long magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and semi-sharpened edges. The blade presents plain with the exception of a maker’s mark near the reverse ricasso of “WKC, SOLINGEN” for the firm of Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie, Solingen, topped by their knight’s helmet logo. The blade sits securely within the silvered zink alloy upper crossguard, with the seam covered by an intact brown leather buffer pad. The crossguard itself bears a finely-detailed Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika on the obverse, and features a plain pebbled reverse. The handle grip is composed of ribbed white celluloid, wrapped with a non-ferrous metal replacement cord. It completes with a rounded pommel, bearing a central raised mobile swastika within an oak leaf wreath on both sides, which securely maintains it structure. The dagger is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic metal shaft. The low quarter of the scabbard bears a double-sided oak leaf design, while the upper third features dual integral bands, each with oak leaf designs, retaining metal loops for the accommodation of a dagger hanger. The throat retains a functional spring catch, securely holding the dagger in place during storage, and is itself secured together with dual side rivets. While well-preserved, the dagger demonstrates issues consistent with age and use, including oxidation and pitting of the blade, as well as the zink features, in addition to the replaced handle cord. It is in an overall very fine condition.