Wehrmacht Officer's dagger...
 

A female friend of mine has asked me to find a buyer for this dagger. It is an Eickhorn, and in really good condition. The question I have is there is some rust on the blade. Would it be a good idea to have the rust removed, or would the risk of further scratching the blade make it not worth it? The rust is not terrible, and the only other problem I see is that the handle is somewhat loose. Other wise it is in really good condition. Also is there anything else I can do to increase its value. My gut feeling is to leave it the way it is. Here are some pics.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k.../1-9-11009.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k.../1-9-11008.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k.../1-9-11010.jpg

What's the history on it?

All I know is that the lady's grandfather brought it back from WWII. She's had it in her "sock drawer" for 40 years. Personally I would keep it, because of the sentimental value alone. However, she doesn't think the same way. And she isn't interested in the historical value either. If I could afford it, I would, but I since I can't, I'll help her find someone that can.

PM sent claemore, gonna point you in the right direction where to sell it.

The fastest way to ruin the value of any old knife is to start working on it.

Do not touch it.

Thanks guys. I thought so about working on it, just needed the professional advice I knew I could find here.

Basic Luftwaffe dagger
 

Looks like a basic Luftwaffe dagger in fair condition, no idea of the worth. Without some family history I can imagine it means nothing to the woman and the sentimental is probably pretty thin. In tough times may be better to sell it.

MVP

MVP is right. Looks like the basic Luftwaffe dagger. Some have the swastika in gold, with the portepee (hanger) they go for around US$1000 over here.

It's a basic Heer Officer's dagger.

http://www.germandressdaggers.com/Army%20Dagger.htm

According to the marking (squirrel hidden by the wreath containing the swastika) your friend's dagger is a 1935-1941 manufactured model (scroll down to M7/66).

http://www.germandressdaggers.com/Maker%20marks.htm

LW Officers' dagger (1st and 2nd models).

http://www.germandressdaggers.com/Luft%201htm.htm

http://www.germandressdaggers.com/Luft2%20Dagger.htm

Original condition is better.

This is a good web-site for such militaria.

http://www.germandressdaggers.com/

Richard :munchin

Thanks Richard. That site does have a lot of good info on it.:lifter

my $0.02
 

Ask your friend if she would donate the dagger to a miltary museum?

Maybe in trade she could take a tax deduction for a price equal to market value without having to wait for a buyer.

Good Catch
 

Good Catch Richard,

I honestly never had any interest in the "thin blades", just the SS and SA models :<)

Don't see many here (CONUS) but Boker is offering a "Swiss Dagger" for those that think they need one of that pattern.

http://www.irawoods.com/Boker-121550-Boker-Swiss-Dagger

M.

That's a good idea Wet Dog. I'll talk to her about it.

MVP,

the dagger is cheaper in the US than it is over here...

http://www.boker.de/fahrtenmesser/bo...er/121550.html

Nice blade, but not my taste either.

Mike

Another original pattern
 

I have always liked these and the WWII pattern. Someday when I have some money that simply must be spent I will buy one.

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...tml?s=BO121918

MVP

MVP,

yes, the Grabendolch is very nice. Böker wants EUR 139.00 over here... Maybe one turns up in eGun one day. ;)

Mike

I have a Luftwaffe 2nd. My father got it from a 10th SFG guy in Europe. Dad was a crew chief on C-130's at the time in the 7th SOS out of Ramstein....interesting side note...he crew'd a Fulton extraction once. Anyhows, I couldn't part with it just for the sentimental reasons.

"...7th SOS out of Ramstein..."

7th SOS (MC-130E) was at Rhein-Main when I was in Europe - 17th AF (RC-130/MH-53/A-10)was at Sembach and USAFE was at Ramstein.

Richard :munchin

Without getting threads crossed, i.e. my "bump" story...I don't remember all locations and units. I would have to dig out his DD 214. But I know we were in Ramstein from 67-72 and during that time he was in the 7th SOS. That much I know from his old pictures and certificates.

Just discovered the 7th's website with pics from that time frame.
http://www.7thsos.org/inside/

The 7th Special Operations Squadron was originally constituted as the 7th Air Commando Squadron, Composite, and activated, on 14 May 1964 under United States Air Forces in Europe, and organized on 1 July 1964 at Sembach AB, Germany. It operated the C–47 (1964–1973); C–123 (1964–c. 1973) and U–10 (1964–1968) aircraft and was tasked with Special operations training. It was reassigned to Seventeenth Air Force, on 1 May 1967.

Redesignated as the 7th Special Operations Squadron on 15 July 1968, it relocated to Ramstein AB, Germany, on 15 August 1968. The 7th began operating the C–130 that year, until c. 1977 and the UH–1 in 1971 until 1973. The 7th was later reassigned to the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, on 17 November 1972; the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, on 31 January 1973.

Upon its reassignment to the 322nd Tactical Airlift Wing, on 15 March 1973, the squadron relocated to Rhein-Main AB, Germany, on 15 Mar 1973 (but deployed at Incirlik AB, Turkey, from 13 January–18 March 1991 and 6 April–14 May 1991).

It was reassigned to Seventeenth Air Force, on 30 June 1975; to the 601st Tactical Control Wing, on 15 October 1975; to the 7575th Operations Group, on 1 July 1977; and to 2nd Air Division, on 1 March 1983.

The 7th SOS began operating the MC-130 in 1977.

The consolidated 7th SOS was then reassigned to the 39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery (later, 39th Special Operations) Wing, on 1 February 1987 (attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force, from 13 January–18 March 1991 and from 6 April–14 May 1991); and to the 352d Special Operations Group, on 1 December 1992 (though attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force, from 22 February–22 March 1993), relocating in the process to RAF Alconbury, England (though it deployed at Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 22 February–22 March 1993).

The 7th SOS supported Coalition forces in Southwest Asia from January–March 1991 and later resupplied Kurds in Northern Iraq.

It relocated to RAF Mildenhall on 12 January 1995 where the 352nd SOG had consolidated all its assigned units

7th has been all over the place.

Richard :munchin

Yes it has. My Dad always said that was his best assignment in the USAF.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

Back on topic. I also have one of the dress daggers. Been in my family now for more than 40 years. I'll be giving it to my son. It's been in a framed case for about 15 years now.

I had a chance to pick up a chained SS officer dagger many years ago, but I was young and poor at the time and passed.

In retrospect, it would probably have been a much better purchase than most of the other investments I made.

TR

1stindoor,

Where was your Dad trained and by whom?..........:)

Big Teddy :munchin

My German grandfather had a Luftwaffe dagger too, I asked my grandmother yesterday (she'll be 92 in April). She doesn't know what happend to it, but I have all of his uniform insigna plus Wehrmacht dogtags in my possession.

Back in the early '80s one could still find much of the Third Reich militaria at the local flea markets and second hand stores in many German cities. In the '90s after the 50th anniversary of WWII and after some of the movies came out the prices went through the roof. I had a nice collection of stuff that I picked up over there but sold it all some years ago when I was short of money. I couldn't even touch the items now for what I originally payed for them. Helmets, insignia, bayonets, etc.

Fossil Man
 

We had a guy on my team at Tolz circa 86 that collected fossils and was promptly code-named "Fossil Man". Once in Germany he developed an interest in NS stuff. He put the word out with the locals in a few gasthaus's and soon people starting bringing all kinds of stuff. One of the keys to getting people to bring things was that he bought everything. Jokingly he called himself "Nazi's are Us". Even trained his dog "Rudi" to respond with the proper salute on command "Heil Hxxxxx"

MVP

She is going to give it to me, and I am probably going to give it to a museum. Any in Denver you had in mind?