Czechoslovakia, First Republic. A Rare Air Force Pilot’s dress Dagger, by Wlaszovits, c. 1935

A rare and very well-preserved Czechoslovakian Air Force pilot’s dagger, measuring 39.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 22.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. The obverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “WLASZOVITS” for the famous Štós-based blade manufacturer, while the reverse bearing a code of “ZI 35” flanking a Czechoslovak national lion. It sits securely within a matte brass upper crossguard with a ribbed outer circumference, which features double-sided diamond-shaped medallions overlaid by raised Czechoslovak national lions. The handle grip is composed of a matte brass frame with double-sided white celluloid inserts. It completes with a square pommel which screws in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Accompanying the dagger is its period original scabbard, constructed of a matte brass shaft with brown suede liners set into place at the mid-section and throat. The upper third of the shaft features dual integral loops for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat retains a functional spring catch to firmly hold the dagger in place during storage. Minor tarnishing is visible to the blade and brass elements, with minor chipping visible to the handle inserts, but this scarce dagger remains in an overall near extremely fine condition.