Personalized Gebr. Heller 1st Model Luftwaffe Dagger

German WWII > Edged Weapons > Luftwaffe, DLV & NSFK Daggers > 1st Model Luftwaffe Daggers

Here's a nice Jeweler personalized example to a Luftwaffe School, "Fl. Sch. Hildesheim". This is engraved on both the upper scabbard fitting and under the crossguard. The fitting and blade are also numbered, "72". So IMHO, this was a School owned piece that was lent out for dress occasions. Keep in mind guys, these things were private purchase and the responsibility of the Officer to purchase. Many of the guys at flight schools would be new Officers and times were tight so they could well be short of funds for such a purchase. The plated blade on this piece looks good, rating Exc+. It has a perfect tip, perfect fit and a nicely executed "Gebr. Heller Marienthal b.Schweina/thr.", balloon man marker mark. There is some age throughout. The scabbard leather is pretty good there are the normal small hits and scrapes but no bare areas showing the steel base. The solid nickel scabbard fittings show wear and patina matching the hilt. The aluminum chain 9 lower and 9 upper rings terminating at a solid nickel clip. All of the screws remain intact. The grip looks good with nice leather coverage, just a few scuffs. The triple brass wire wrap remains. The early inserted pommel and crossguard swastikas look good retaining most of the factory silver between the swas's legs. Finishing this nicely is a period portepee with a few frays but matching the whole piece in wear and age. A nice early piece that tells a story!