UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Army, Navy, and Luftwaffe Forum Another uncommon find

Pvon had this one I had to have. The scabbard is early stapled.

Mark

So That's where that dagger went....

Can anyone tell me why the nickel-silver 1st Lufts are more desirable than the aluminum 1st Lufts? Is it because they are earlier or rarer? It seems to me that the aluminum ones have the better gilding on the Swaz.

Brian- There are a few reasons that I think the earlier "silver" lufts are more saught after than the aluminum versions.
1) Better quality materials. The earlier versions are "heavier in the hand" and over time create a fine dark patina on the fittings which is highly saught after for many collectors.
2) Construction quality. There is simply more hand work and skilled labor that went into the early models as opposed to the later aluminums.
3) There are fewer NICE quality early lufts as opposed to aluminums. Yes, you are right, there are more "minty" aluminum lufts. than "silver" lufts, but this is because aluminum lufts were only in "circulation for a very short time before the switch was made to the 2nd model luft. Thus a nice aluminum is "more common" and therefore "less collectable" than a nice early "silver" dagger. Rarity plays a roll in this hobby!
I think that pretty well sums up the reasons. Although I think that reason #1 is the most relavant reaon in this discussion.
Having said all of this, the 1st Luft. pictured in the beginning of this theread is one of the VERY few and RARE daggers which had the "stapled" scabbard. This maked the dagger shown VERY rare and VERY desirable. Congrats to the owner.
Hope this helped.
Johnny

Brian, I don't know that the nickle silver are more desireable to all collectors or even generally speaking. Aluminum, in WWII, was a new 'space age' type metal and fit with the Luftwaffe mission...lighten up the plane and get more range or carry more ammo. I think it's a matter of personal preference. I have both nickle silver and they are much heavier in hand than the aluminum. Mentally, I like them both one simply because it's heavier and more substantial in hand and the other for exactly the opposite reason. Make any sense? It's purely my own opinion. I can also see Johnny's point of view though as well. He made some great points.

Mark

Let me make one correstion on what I stated above in #3.
I stated that a nice early (silver) luft was rarer than a nice aluminum luft.
I am not saying that there were more aluminum lufts than early silver lufts (I am not sure what the numbers were) but I am saying that there are more NICE (IE: Minty) aluminum lufts than there are NICE (Minty) early silver Lufts.
I think that is correct....

Thanks guys - your points were just about what I assumed. I think I'd like one of each - that gilt Swaz on both 1st and 2nd model Lufts are what make them foe me.

Here are some shots!

2

This beauty came from Joe Pankowski
and the alum Puma you got Mark!

You got nice peices Mark!

PVON

Too bad you missed that luft sword I had
Mark!

Nothing wrong with going after the nice stuff!



PVON

What really makes that DLV a standout is the gorgeous condition of the leather body, no humping to the leather or stiffness due to drying out. Just in case some didn't realize these are the type that have no metal scabbard shell. I have had a few of these in the past but not like this in a while. In fact all three lufts you got from "P" have the Eddy seal of approval.

Gorgeous piece and one that I would be proud to own.
Well done Mark, you deserve it !

Geez Paul, I looked at the pictures and thought you had more! I was about to call you when I realized it was the one I got.

Yeah, I would have loved to get that Luft sword. I think they are the 'cat's butt'!

(Patrice...that means I really like them (in American slang)

Mark

Thanks for the translation Mark, I was worried that I wouldn't find the meaning of that "expression" in my Webster dictionary.

Pat is the picture out of one of TW books. That's the way TW describes portapee's

Patrice! You got the hang of this American slang down pretty good! That was a great posting. Brenda got me one of those sticker sets as I always use that saying on anything I think is 'top shelf'. "Man, that's the cat's butt"! I really wonder how and who invented that saying to describe nice stuff? We are a sick bunch down here.

It was 70 degrees in Nashville yesterday and 60 right now at 5:11 am. Global warming!

Mark