A very fine and rare set of Royal Hungarian Air Force daggers, the lot obtained obtained from the pilot's estate, comprising one personalised dagger with Pilots initials "FF"; and his second very rare (private purchase) dagger, listing a fellow pilots from his Class, circa 1936. The dagger listing all pilots in the class are extremely rare, this being the only one offered by emedals in the last 20+ years !! The dagger engraved "FF" offers a lot of research opportunities !!
Two Royal Hungarian Air Force Officer's Dress Daggers:
(i) first dagger with a polished nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with semi-sharp edges and a very sharp tip, engraved with twenty-three names in a column on the upper portion of the blade, twelve on the obverse reading "BIKFALVI ANDRÁS / HUDRA LÁSZLÓ / TIBORC SÁNDOR / GYARMATI BÉLA / V. SZILVÁSI GEBGELY / D. TABJÁN IMBE / ZACHARIÁ MÁBTOH / FÁBIÁN TIBOR / MINACH MARIO / VERDEBBER KORNÉL / VÉRTESSY KORNÉL / FÁTH JAKAB", eleven on the reverse reading "ABT ISTVÁN / D. OZOBAI ZOLTÁN / VÁRADY GÁBOR / BEZSŐ BÉLA / ENYEDI FERENC / HORVÁTH MÁTYÁS / dr. UJFALUSI LÁSZLŐ / JANCSO SÁNDÓR / SZABÓ ISTVÁN / HARDAY GUSZTÁV / SÁSI GYÖRGY", the blade exhibiting surface wear near the tip on both sides, along with contact marks overall, measuring 202 mm in length. The hardware on the handle is in bronze gilt, the crossguard fronting the ferrule designed with a large intricately-detailed spread-winged eagle, with each wing supported by a large swirl, the reverse of the ferrule housing a raised push release button for the scabbard, the grip in black bakelite, the pommel in the form of an eagle's head, however, the head is right-facing which is the wrong direction (should be left-facing), along with exhibiting surface wear on the back of the eagle's head, the dagger measuring 330 mm in length. The accompanying scabbard is in bronze gilt, bearing the Hungarian coat-of-arms on the obverse of the locket, with ornate designs on both sides, finished with a snub-nosed design on the finial, complemented by two rings on the right side for the dagger hangers, the scabbard measuring 243 mm in length and exhibiting contact marks and surface wear overall.
(ii) second dagger with a polished nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with semi-sharp edges and tip, engraved with the interlocking initials "FF" on the obverse ricasso, the blade exhibiting nicks on both edges, along with scattered surface wear, measuring 202 mm in length. The hardware on the handle is in bronze gilt, the crossguard fronting the ferrule designed with a large intricately-detailed spread-winged eagle, with each wing supported by a large swirl, the reverse of the ferrule housing a recessed push release button for the scabbard, the grip in black bakelite, the pommel in the form of an eagle's head, correctly facing to the right, the dagger measuring 327 mm in length. The accompanying scabbard is in bronze gilt, bearing the Hungarian coat-of-arms on the obverse of the locket, the reverse of the locket bearing the engraved interlocking initials "FF", with ornate designs on both sides, finished with a snub-nosed design on the finial, complemented by two rings on the right side for the dagger hangers, the scabbard measuring 245 mm in length and exhibiting contact marks and surface wear overall.
1. Signum Laudis Medal, III Class Bronze Grade (Magyar koronás érmek): two-piece construction, in bronze gilt, marked "BRONZ" (bronze) on the edge, measuring 32 mm (w) x 51.3 mm (h) inclusive of its crown suspension, crossed swords on its original triangular wartime ribbon with hook and eye.
2. Fire Cross (AKA Frontline Combat Cross) (A. Tuzkereszt): two-piece construction, in silvered zinc with black painted borders, dated "1942" on the arm at 6 o'clock, measuring 36 mm (w) x 39.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, original triangular ribbon with hook and eye.
3. Upper Hungary Medal 1938 (Felvidéki Emlékérem): in bronze, measuring 34 mm (w) x 38.8 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, original triangular ribbon with hook and eye.
4. Commemorative Medal for the Liberation of Transylvania 1940 (Erdély Felszabadításáért Emlékérem): in zinc, measuring 36 mm (w) x 40.3 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, original triangular ribbon with hook and eye.
5. Commemorative Medal for the Liberation of South Hungary 1941 (Délvidéki Emlékérem): in zinc, engraver marked "BERAN. L." on the obverse, measuring 35.7 mm (w) x 40 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, original triangular ribbon with hook and eye.
6. Austrian War Commemorative Medal 1914-1918: in bronze gilt, measuring 36 mm (w) x 40.7 mm (h) inclusive of its integral suspension, original triangular ribbon with hook and eye.
7. three 6th Debracen (Debreceni) Mixed Brigade Competition Medals: in bronze, engraved in running script "D. - 1935. Kibőlű puska 8." (Shotgun 8), "Udd.- 1935. Hadipuska 5." (Military Rifle 5) and "D. - 1935. Hadipuska 7." (Military Rifle 7) on their respective reverses, measuring 41 mm (w) x 44.3 mm (h) each.
8. three Shooting Medals (each of which illustrates a rifleman backed by the Lady of Hungary as a winged crown-bearing woman):
(i) Rapid Fire, First Place Medal: in silvered bronze, engraved "GYORS LŐVÉS I." (Rapid Fire, First Place), measuring 42 mm (w) x 44.8 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring;
(ii) Military Rifle Group, First Place Medal: in silvered bronze, engraved "HADI PU. CS. I." (Military Rifle Group, First Place), measuring 32 mm (w) x 35.3 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring;
(iii) Small Rifle, 5th Place Medal: in bronze, engraved "KIS. PU. V." (Small Rifle, 5th Place), measuring 41.5 mm (w) x 44.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, on an original triangular ribbon with hook and eye.
9. Royal Hungarian Air Force Bullion Eagle without Crown: in fine gold-coloured and silvered bullion wire, in various textures, interlaced with eighteen gold-coloured sequins, touches of red embroidery representing the eagle's eye and mouth, on a black wool base, white cotton backer, measuring 74 mm (w) x 26 mm (h), the crown having possibly been trimmed off previously.
10. twenty-two Royal Hungarian Air Force Buttons: in bronze or brass, twenty with matching cores, two with metal cores, 5 large measuring 26.3 mm in diameter each, intact loops; 2 medium measuring 22.2 mm in diameter each, intact loops; 15 small measuring 15.3 mm in diameter, 12 with intact loops, 2 with intact dual prongs, 1 with an intact post.
11. two full-length Waist Belts: both with the upper in black cloth and exhibiting a unique pattern, both with a black rayon backer, each housing a 54 mm (w) x 56.5 mm (h) officer's belt buckle in bronze gilt that illustrates a spread-winged eagle framed within an open-ended wreath composed of branches of oak leaves and laurel leaves, the wreath bearing the inscription "ISTENNEL HAZÁÉRT" (For Country With God) and surmounted by the Royal Hungarian crown, the buckle backed by a circular bronze plate, the belts measuring 40 mm (w) x aprroximately 900 mm in length.
12. a Set of Dagger Hangers: in black cloth, the attached buckles and clips in bronze gilt. Very fine.