WWII NAZI GERMAN 1ST MOD. LUFTWAFFE DAGGER HORSTER

1st Model (1934/35) Luftwaffe dagger and hanger with aluminum crossguard, pommel, and scabbard fittings. Blade marked E F Horster Solingen with their logo. Leather grip has minor wear with all wire wrap tight. Blade has never been sharpened but does have spotting and graying with a few tiny scuff marks. Hanger clip marked ges gesch with "OLC" in a diamond. Scabbard intact with some scuffing. very good - excellent.In March 1933 the Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports League), was established by incorporating all civilian flying clubs into the one organization. The DLV was utilized as a camouflage civilian organization to train personnel for the future Luftwaffe. As a civilian organization it was able to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the Versailles Treaty, which prohibited a German military air service. In February and April 1934 respectively the DLV introduced a dagger for Officer’s and a knife for all ranks. Later in 1934 members of the Fliegerschaft, the secret military branch of the DLV, adopted both sidearms for wear. Shortly after the unveiling of the Luftwaffe in March 1935 a modified version of the DLV’s Officer’s dagger was adopted for wear by Luftwaffe Officer’s and EM/NCO’s personnel who held a valid pilots license. Originally the early daggers were produced utilizing nickel/silver fittings until 1936 when the early fittings were replaced with polished natural aluminum fittings. Of Note: On July 15TH 1937 a second pattern Luftwaffe dagger was introduced was introduced for wear by Officers, Senior Officer Candidates and Officials with the equivalent Officers ranks and the first pattern dagger was discontinued.