Klaas Etched 2nd Luft - from SOS

[Serge M.]

As the old saying goes; 'You can't judge a book by it's cover'. The same goes for some daggers.
When a friend of mine picked this up from a 'walk-in', it looked like nothing much until ....I pulled out the blade.

Although I noticed there was some moisture damage to the plated blade I couldn't get over the sharpness and high-relief of the etch. Then there was the frosting...and then there was 'that moment' when you instantly know you want to acquire it. -Boom !
Before you can say 'Jumpin-Jack-Flash' my buddy flipped it on me - and right.
Right place, right time and right friend.

Made the SOS for me.

-wagner-

[Serge M.]

[Serge M.]

[Serge M.]

There is a odd feature on the top of crossguard, the usual oak design etch on the quillon arms is missing. I know...never seen that before right?

Klaas made some very unusual variants,. So is this one just very late war issue that the customer ordered an etched blade? Grip is celluloid over wood core.

Something a little different. Hope you guys like it.

-wagner-

[Colorado]

Serge, I don't recall ever seeing that feature before either. What 2nd Luft parts did Klaas make in house?

Nice blade by the way.

[Wim Vangossum]

I really love that blade!


Regards, Wim


Freedom is not for Free

[Billy G]

I love the whole thing, blade quality, unusual features & the overal oddity factor. Really "one-ups" a typical Voos etched Luft, doesn't it?

[Nolan]

I thought the only blades with that etch were either Voos or unmarked???

[JohnZ]

Nolan:

I have seen the Voos-style etch on other makers. I have an example of such an etch on a CJ Krebs marked blade.

This Klaas blade etch is correct, in my opinion.

Beautiful find, Serge. It would hold pride of place in my collection if it were on my wall.

Congratulations,

John

[rbminis]

A beautiful piece wags!
If only I were so lucky to have friends like that.
I really like Klaas products and have a number of post war pieces produced by them in my "other" collection.
Congrats,
Ralph.

[Ron Weinand]

Variants

Someone should write a book on Klaas daggers and bayonets. If you study them, there are different fittings and shapes to Klaas products. You can distinguish the fittings and bayonet hilts from other manufacturers, so I believe they used their own fittings.
I have a 2nd Luft with engraved blade by Herder, so John Z is correct that there are more producers of the engraved blade models.

[lakesidetrader]

Oh my, very unique.
That my friend is something special, I'm happy for you.

[WW2-Collector]

Serge what a wonderful find no doubt a customer special ordered this from Klaas.

[Craig H]

Very nice Serge . Good score .

[Serge M.]

Serge, I don't recall ever seeing that feature before either. What 2nd Luft parts did Klaas make in house?

Nice blade by the way.

Jeff, I don't know. So far nobody I know, except one, has seen this feature on another example. I send him this link if he cares to post.


Billy,
I never understood it quite like I do now, as I see why collectors prefer Klaas etches.


Thanks for the Congrats John. I guess this is a hard etch to find. First one I've come across.


Thanks also for the kind words Ralph, Paul H., Tom, Ron, Craig H. and Wim Van.


Anyone have a theory of why so few of these scarce etch makers such as CJ Krebs, Herder and Klaas are so rarely seen compared to Voos ?


-wagner-