Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, with Hanger, by F.W. Höller

(Luftwaffe Offiziersdolch). An extremely well-preserved Luftwaffe Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 43 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26 mm-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.W. HÖLLER, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic thermometer logo. It sits firmly within an aluminum alloy upper crossguard, the obverse of which features a finely-detailed Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, with the seam covered by an intact black leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed light brown celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. It completes with a rounded pommel featuring a double-sided wreathed mobile swastika, securely screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the handle grip is a period original portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acord suspended from a strap of identical construction. It is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a plated and pebbled magnetic metal shaft, with double-sided oak leaf designs near the tip. The upper third of the shaft features dual integral oak leaf bands retaining integral loops for the accommodation of a hanger. Dual side rivets flanked the throat secure in place a functional spring catch to firmly hold the dagger in place during storage. It is accompanied by a matching hanger, consisting of a functional silvered zink alloy spring clip retaining dual field-grey doeskin wool straps, each topped by silvered aluminum wire tresses and adjusted with functional zink buckles. Each strap culminates in a functional spring clip to lock onto the scabbard’s loops. The uniform clip bears a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logo flanked by a code of “U.E. 10” for Uniform Effekten 10 (corresponding to code M5/10) for Wilhelm Deus, Solingen. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some tarnishing to the blade, a consistent patina to the scabbard, and some material fatigue of the portepee and hanger. The dagger remains in an overall near extremely fine condition.