UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Army, Navy, and Luftwaffe Forum ADVICE NEEDED ON MY NEW DAGGER

Hi
Just purchased this dagger , not sure what it is ,sadly no scabbard , should i clean or not? many thanks

It's a first model luftwaffe (air force) dagger. It looks like the wire wrap on the grip, which should be twisted, has been replaced with a piece of straight wire. It wouldn't hurt to clean the blade with a mild metal cleaner. There isn't much you can do about the pitting, etc., short of grinding it out, which you don't want to do. The unit marking under the cross guard is nice and adds collector interest. If the dagger were in better condition and had a scabbard, it would be a highly desirable piece.

Thanks for the info, the dagger seems shoter than other 1st lufts i have seen though having never owned 1 before it just seems so, the wire is twisted but i rushed the pics so not good.The blade has no actual pitting just very dirty and blued.

I believe the inscription has to do with Fleiger Ersatz Abteilung, a flight replacement group.