Germany, Luftwaffe. A First Pattern Officer’s Dress Dagger, by F. & A. Helbig

(Luftwaffe Offiziers-Dolch). A well-preserved first pattern Luftwaffe Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 48 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 31 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. The blade is plain with the exception of a maker’s mark on the reverse ricasso reading “F. & A. HELBIG, STEINBACH KR. M.”, circumscribing the firm’s “GAEGLER” trade name. It sits securely within an aluminum crossguard which takes the form of a pair of stylized wings, bearing double-sided central sunwheel-style mobile swastikas. The handle grip is composed of a wooden core with a ribbed dark blue Moroccan leather grip, with the ribbing retaining a period original silver aluminum wire cord. It completes with a rounded pommel featuring double-sided sunwheel-style mobile swastikas, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a magnetic metal core with a dark blue Moroccan leather exterior liner. Aluminum fittings are secured to the tip, mid-section, and throat. The latter two have integral loops retaining two multi-link chains which culminate in the middle with a functional spring clip for uniform suspension. The clip is maker marked on the reverse with the logo of Overhoff & Cie, Lüdenscheid. The throat retains a functional spring catch to firmly hold the dagger in place during storage. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some tarnishing and running marks to the blade, loss of gilt finish to hilt’s swastika insignia, and loss of one of the scabbard’s throat fixture rivets. It remains in an extremely fine condition.