Lufwaffe Dagger real?

[Sal Williams]

Hello Gents, I got this luft dagger a while back and considering that everything else Ive got has tuned out to be fake I thought Id run this puppy by you guys. Wouldnt want to break a perfect score. Thanks for your time, Sal Eagle Front Handle (back)Hanger (back) Hanger Buckle (back) Hanger Buckle (front)Hanger Clip (back) Hanger Clip (front)Hanger Top (back) Hanger Top (Front) Hilt (back) Dagger Back Dagger Front

[Larry Lipps]

Sal, the dagger looks like it's probably okay. The scabbard looks to be os SMF manufacture. I didn't see a photo of the makers mark, but it should be stamped SMF on the blade.

Did Just find the maker's mark, but it's not one I've seen before so I just don't know.

[Skipper Greenwade]

Sal,

I agree with Snigley- looks like you now have at least one real piece in your collection! Just to be sure, hold the complete dagger by the top scabbard suspension ring. If it hangs properly (i.e., the tip of the scabbard hangs lower than the pommel), I would think the piece is okay.

The rationale behind that little test is that the pommel seems to be the part that the people assembling post-war parts daggers ran out of first. They began using reproduction pommels, but many were much heavier than the originals and caused the dagger to hang in an awkward, pommel-down fashion when suspended from a set of hangers or - as is the case with the test - held by the top scabbard ring.

From looking at the photo's, though, all indications are that you have a winner

Enjoy!
Skip

[Sal Williams]

Skip and Snigley, thanks for your time. Wow is that a relief! I did the hang test and it definetly aint heavy on the pommel end. Do you guys know who that maker is? Snigley mentioned that the scabbard loked to be of SMF (which I dont know what that stands for) but the blade was marked with an unfamiliar maker mark. Does that mean the scabbard and blade did not originally live together? Also if you guys get a chance check out this wierd "peenemunda key" I ve got up on the equipment forum. It seems like a strange item to fake but frank raises some valid doubts. Thnks again, Sal

[Tiger 1]

The picture is blurred a bit but the stamped maker mark looks to be for WMW Waffen.

[Larry Lipps]

Sal, SMF was a major manufacturer of Luft daggers. Their scabbard were identified by the arrangement of the two aluminum bands. It was not unusual for small makers to purchase parts from the larger manufacturers. It is possible that this happened in your case.

[Sal Williams]

Hello Snigley, thanks for the info. Do you know WMW waffen? Is that a known small maker? What does the WMW stand for? Thanks again, Sal

[Larry Lipps]

Sal,
WMW stands for Waffenfabrik Max Weyersberg. They are considered one of te smaller manufacturers.

[Sal Williams]

Thanks again Snigley, Is there some way to find out if WMW purchased scabbards from SMF? What does smf stand for? Thanks a lot for your interest. Sal

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Sal, I cannot tell you if WMW purchased scabbards from SMF? But I can tell you that "SMF" stands for "Solinger Metalwaffenfabrik".
Cheers, Ade.

[Warren O]

Hi Sal,
Production of your crossguard appears to be the generic variety seen on many of the small producers as well as some larger ones. I have a Holler marked Luft dagger that has the same crossguard.
SMF stands for Solinger Metallwaren-Fabrik, I would recommend buying Thomas Wittmanns excellent book Exploring The Dress Daggers of the German Luftwaffe if your intrested in Luft daggers. It won't make you an expert but it does help!
Warren