I need some help from you 'dagger' guys. A buddy of mine from work, Sgt. Art Mueller, brought by a Luftwaffe Second Model Dagger for me to look at and he related the following story:
One of his relatives (now deceased) named Rolf served in the German Army during WW II. In the 60's Rolf presented Art's dad with this dagger. Apparently Rolf made a big presentation (Art described it akin to 'the mantle being handed down') to his dad. Since that time the dagger has been locked up in a safe and Art was never allowed to touch it. Art's dad recently died and Art's mom gave Art the dagger, along with a couple of WW I pistols.
My focus is not on daggers, however, I've done a bit of research and everything but the blade appears correct: lightweight crossguard, grip wire is correct and runs from high left to lower right, blade is marked E.P.&S. with a girl in a short skirt with raised arms, one piece scabbard, etc.
The big question is the blade itself: on one side is an early drop tail LW eagle and on the other is "für langjährige treue Dienste der Generalstab". I know about the Goering presentation dagger and I looked at the fantasy dagger Gary just posted. The etching does not match the one Gary posted.
Art does not know how Rolf came into possession of the dagger, only that Rolf was in the German Army as an enlisted man. In attempting to help me with research Art did talk to another relative who remembers seeing the dagger in Rolf's possession in the 50's.
My thought is that the dagger itself is good and the blade is either a reproduction or replacement.
So now that you've heard the story, any ideas on this?
One of his relatives (now deceased) named Rolf served in the German Army during WW II. In the 60's Rolf presented Art's dad with this dagger. Apparently Rolf made a big presentation (Art described it akin to 'the mantle being handed down') to his dad. Since that time the dagger has been locked up in a safe and Art was never allowed to touch it. Art's dad recently died and Art's mom gave Art the dagger, along with a couple of WW I pistols.
My focus is not on daggers, however, I've done a bit of research and everything but the blade appears correct: lightweight crossguard, grip wire is correct and runs from high left to lower right, blade is marked E.P.&S. with a girl in a short skirt with raised arms, one piece scabbard, etc.
The big question is the blade itself: on one side is an early drop tail LW eagle and on the other is "für langjährige treue Dienste der Generalstab". I know about the Goering presentation dagger and I looked at the fantasy dagger Gary just posted. The etching does not match the one Gary posted.
Art does not know how Rolf came into possession of the dagger, only that Rolf was in the German Army as an enlisted man. In attempting to help me with research Art did talk to another relative who remembers seeing the dagger in Rolf's possession in the 50's.
My thought is that the dagger itself is good and the blade is either a reproduction or replacement.
So now that you've heard the story, any ideas on this?
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