WWII NAZI GERMAN LUFTWAFFE MINIATURE DAGGER WW2

This example of a beautiful 2nd model Luftwaffe dagger with portepee measures 10 inches overall. The pommel and crossguard are extremely well done being identical to the large counterpart. The grip is also a fine example being made of orange celluloid and having ribs properly running downward from left to right. The grip is perfect with no chips or cracks. The realistic scabbard has an excellent silvered finish showing only modest age. It has the fine pebbled pattern of the full size example together with finely detailed carrying bands. The blade is also in excellent condition. The ricasso is not marked. There is a small washer in place within the crossguard recess. 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 licence. On July 15TH 1937 a second pattern Luftwaffe dagger was introduced for wear by Officers, Senior Officer Candidates and Officials with the equivalent Officers ranks and the first pattern dagger was discontinued. Additional regulations of March and August 1940 extended wear of the second pattern dagger to senior NCO’s, senior reserve NCO’s and Officials with the equivalent NCO’s ranks. Blade side arm portepees and troddels were originally introduced in the Prussian army in 1808, and continued to be worn with the Dress uniform, as a tradition and identifying item through WWI, the Weimar Republic and on into the Third Reich, with minor modifications. The Luftwaffe version of the portepee was officially introduced on March 1ST 1935 and the design was based on the earlier army officers portepee.