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German WWII Knife

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:21 pm
by JoeT88
My uncle returned from Europe with this knife and gave it to my father many years ago. We always wondered the history of this blade.

Clink on the link below to see pictures.

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post ... ?id=685100

Any information anyone could provide would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:15 am
by Mobile Infantry
This dagger looks like a so called Borddolch or Fliegerdolch M.1935 a dagger for German Air Force.
It´s an early model because from 1940 on another dagger type was issued.

http://www.militaria-lexikon.de/katalog ... dolch.html

http://www.german-militaria.de/details/d27636.html

http://www.bcx-iii.com/swords.htm
http://www.bcx-iii.com/S232.html

Best regards

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:18 am
by JoeT88
MI,
Thanks for the information. I appreciate.
Have a good day.

Joe

Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:53 pm
by Rich Yankowski
You have a very nice example of what is commonly called a 1st model Luft dagger.It was patterned after the DLV pattern dagger(German Air Sports Leader Pattern Dirk).The 1st Luft was adopted in 1935 and was only issued to Luftwaffe personal having flying status,and not just for officers.
The maker of yours appears to be E&F Horster.This company was started in 1850 and was still in business as of 2002 under the name of Kattenbergerstr.Horster also made other daggers:NSKK,Army Officer's,Bahnschutz,Forestry Cutlasses,Hitler Youth,Hitler Youth Leader,Hunting Association,Land Customs,Luft 2nd model,Navy(1st and 2nd models),NPEA,Rad,RLB(1st and 2nd models),Water Customs,Military Dress bayonets,Fire Fighter's Dress bayonets,and Police bayonets.
I can't tell for sure,but yours appears to have aluminum fittings.Earlier ones had nickel/silver fittings.Not all 1st Lufts have the sunwheel swastika with as much gilting as yours,a most pleasing feature in my opinion.The blue leather on the grip and scabbard is called Moroccan leather.And not that you would want to sell it,but a 1st Luft in this great condition would bring around $750 at one of the top dealer's sites(of course if you were selling it to them,they might only give you half that!).
All in all,you have a nice piece of history that is the real deal!