What would you guys consider to be the better buy? I have a choice between 2 on my next buy, One is a later model type 2 luftwaffe eickhorn with a nice deep red burnt almond handle, a gold swastika pomel (all the guilding still on it), and the original portepe. The other is an early wkc army officer dagger with a nice deep patina (only slight wear) and a classic orange handle. There both about the same price, all original, I would post pics but there no longer available, but its from a good source so I know their legit. I got a later epack luft 2 but I gotta say that eickhorn is VERY nice for a late dagger, and thats the one that would probably jump out at you! Any suggestions?

My advice is to go for condition, other things being equal.

And, I like Eick!

John

LW daggers seem to bring a bit more interest among collectors and are usually priced a little more than army examples. Both are common in their standard forms. But, as John notes, condition is highly important, second only to authenticity. There are several possible factors here, depending on your collecting interests and where you want to go with them. If you have no preference for either dagger for what they are, go with the one in the better condition.

Yea really right now im just kind of going with the flow. I havent found my nitch and just collect decent examples that are within my price range. After looking them over again I gotta say the eickhorn luftwaffe is the better buy. Its frip is actually really deep pumkin orange, the first photos didnt have enough lighting, but for 30 more dollars this one is near mint, having 100 percent of the gold guild on the swastika pommel and the original portepe, where as the army dagger has some light blemishes to the blade and some period wear to the crossguard. I find many luft 2s to be kind of ugly, the bird looks like a turkey vulture and it almost looks like the right leg is chipped by design near the swastika. I must say tho that eickhorn is easy on the eyes and I prefer blades that were actually worn anyways. Thanks for the imput as always guys, this hobby would be impossible to do flying solo nowdays.

So I got some pics of the eickhorn, I emailed myself pics so I should be able to post them later today. The dagger has very little wear at all to the pommel, portepe, crossguard, or the blade and the scabbard is in good shspe as well. Its a later model dagger so the blade is plated I do believe, sholdered tang, but still nice. The gripwire is still nice and tight, not really messed with except taken apart and reassembled once or twice whoch isn't a disaster waiting to strike like say an SA or diplomatic dagger taken apart with vice grips and random screw drivers.