Gentlemen,

After more than 2 years my search has finally come to an end.
I always wanted to have a Luft Damascus with the Tiger trademark but as we all know, they are very hard to find and a bit of luck is always needed.
Of course, the beauty of the "beast" is in its blade and in my opinion, this has to be one of the highest form of artistic crafmanship.

I have spend the last few hours just staring at that blade.

The tang is also properly marked "P+D" for Paul Dinger, one of the only 6 known Damast craftman during the Third Reich era.

I now have both the Army and Luft from the same craftman and maker marked.

Thanks for watching all.

2

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5

The Luft blade is known as the "Large Rosebud" damascus pattern as the one from the Army, is the "Small Rosebud".

Last picture.

ABSOLUTELY JAW DROPPING!!!

What a wonderful dagger!
Congratulations Pat!
Johnny

Great Score Pat! Finally!
And what a beauty.

Seeing those two Tigers side by side like that is just awe inspiring.

A world class grouping of wonderful Luft items in Mint condition. Love it! _CONGRATULATIONS!

But now I want to know the makers of the GCG and Pilots badge.

Best Regards,
-serge-

Oh my sweet Jesus, what a fantastic dagger Pat! Congrat my dear friend!

Sam,

Congrats Pat, really great stuff as always! we migh just have to come visit your museum some day!

Hey!!!! Is that my old army dagger?????? Nice find the 2nd luft I also sold with the army 19+ years ago was also large rose..

Very nice Pat.
Congrats a lot with that stunner
Wow" what a nice blade.
...now you have to sell the Gravity to me

Pat:

Those are amazing daggers. You have had the army for a while, but to be able to pair it with its Luft2 brother is simply astounding. I know that you have been looking for such a dagger for a long time. Congratulations on finding this and on building such a fantastic pairing.

I know that if it makes it and stays in the Patrice household, then it is in the top .01% of condition in the world.

I am very happy for you (and very jealous for myself ).

This couldn't happen to a better guy, my friend,

John

Congrats, absolutely beautiful. You can hold your head up high!

Pat I have to tell you ,you have some pair to show them in public Everyone is envious of your daggers and with good reason.Congratulations on the find.

Pat what can I say that hasnt already been said: the best of the best and couldnt happen to a nicer guy-well done my friend
Paul

Nice Tigers u got there Pat,just wonderful

Thank you all for your kind words and appreciation.
I'm so happy that I've decided to invite my wife to the restaurant......but she's paying the bill though.

BTW, I also decided to change my avatar once more.

Very sophisticated and refined. I wonder how many large rose damascus 2nd Luft are in existence today? My guess is only one. Congratulations!

At least 5 so far. Regards:James

Looks like Pat's holding aces high!

Pat, I never cease to be amazed at what you add to your colection. Beautiful pieces like that are just so rare & something which most of us could only ever dream of having. Beautiful to behold & you can justifiably be proud of what is a truly outstanding collection which would be impossible to equal. Thank you for showing us it is truly inspirational!

Lovely sight indeed...

Pat-What a lovely item! I can't think of anybody else I'd rather see own such a blade(other than me that is!)...Well done!....PS Mongobongo, I just love that cat!!

Thank you Howard, Landser and others for your nice comments, much appreciated !

Pat,
Now that is a pair to draw to! How on earth will you ever top that?

I DO NOT HAVE ANY WORDS that cover my thoughts

Mike, so good to see you posting!!!
It's certainly hard to be mute seeing these!!
Great daggers and great to see you here!

Very special top of the line daggers but NAKED. I just don't understand collectors who have no interest in having a complete piece. IMO these would look MUCH better with a couple of mint knots and hangers.

You're 100% correct Houston and it did come with its proper portepee and hangers.

I will dress it up later !

Well done Pat. Tigers are nice, but I prefer the Fredericus ones myself.
Ron Weinand

quote:

Originally posted by Ronald Weinand:
Well done Pat.
Ron Weinand

Thank you Ron.

Just for my own curiousity, what are the differences between a Fredericus and Tiger Damascus blade, that makes you say that Fredericus are better ?

I have never seen a Fredericus Luft Damascus and didn't realised that there were some "quality" differences.

In any case, I still love my Tiger. ;

Pat,
Good eye. And just breath taking. Nothing better thant a damascos blade imo.

Pat I think there was a mischievious tone to Ron's comment

Pat you `ll be a proud man.
I never saw beutiful daggers like these.

Mikee, A J and Janjan, thank you for the compliments.

As most of you know, english isn't my first language and I often don't fully comprehend the tone of certain phrases.
I had to look in the dictionnary for the definition of the word mischievious and it says, "malicious, injurious or causing annoyance" and these are words that I do understand.

I certainly hope that this was not the intend as I didn't want to sound to pretentious or cocky when I presented my daggers.

Of course, I'm extremelly proud to show my "babies" but in no way do I want to show off.

I gave up being surprised at Pats acquisitions ages ago.
Pat, when are we gonna see pics of this SS degen?

Nolan

Hi Nolan !

I will try and take some pics tonite when I get home.

Great pair of Tigers you got there, Pat!

Top pieces all the way!

Thanks a lot for sharing these rare and valuable blades here!

Best greetings,

Herman

Hold your head high Pat few people in the world have put together such a rare collection of 2!!!
I'm very happy for you.
tr�s beau mon ami!!

quote:

Originally posted by Ronald Weinand:
Tigers are nice, but I prefer the Fredericus ones myself.
Ron Weinand

In all honesty, I don't know how could someone prefer a Fridericus ( not Fredericus) over a Tiger, when both damascus blades were being produced by the same master damascus smith Paul Dinger.
Both Tiger and Frediricus were also fitted with the same generic parts ( Army or Luft ).
Therefore, if both maker marked were fitted with the same generic parts and with the same damascus blades produced by Paul Dinger.........how in the world could one be better than the other ???????????????? Both were nearly identical !

Terra Incognita !

I think you will find that Frediricus is the most desired of all the Damascus TMs on Army and 2nd Lufts of all the marks.
I am not saying they are better, just more desired by the collecting community.
I have more requests for damascus daggers with this marking than any other.
Ron Weinand

Pat, I dont think anyone here would think anything of you showing your fine daggers other than being a fellow collector whos kind enough to post them for us to see. End of story! As far as which kind of damascus is more desirable..who cares! Nice to know, but not the purpose of the thread. Both are just super pieces, and to see them together is a real treat, and I'm looking forward to some more of your pics!

quote:

Originally posted by lar:
Pat, I dont think anyone here would think anything of you showing your fine daggers...............

Thank you Sir !