UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Army, Navy, and Luftwaffe Forum LATE WAR 2nd LUFT QUESTIONS

Guys is this acceptable for a late war luft and also is gilt a common feature on them? Thanks all, sorry bout the cruddy picture.

In these late days (I think starting 41, but even more 42, 43) a lot of things were possible.
I am aware of no-springy-wire wrapped 2nd lufts. See e.g. my ZEITLER below.
So if your dagger in question has no other red flag I would not concern about your tripple braided grip wire. As ever in these cases it also might be a period replacement (not on my ZEITLER, they were produced exactly this way) after the springy wire was broken by any accident.
I do not understand what you do mean with your question about gilt. But these differing wires also did sometomes come (or have turned to ) in a gilt look.
Regards,

Hi Wotan, I was curious why a maker would gilt the swaz but no burnishing? Also this dag only has 2 pieces of aluminum wrapped around each other. I guess I am just being paranoid as I want to buy this as a late war example mint and dont want to get burned.Its a no maker marked dagger but the fittings look WKC. T

tiep, any better and more pictures would help. It is absolutely necessary to see what kind of gilting is on the swaz´.
What I can see in the pic, imo it is still typical tripple wire braiding.
Regards,

Hi Wotan, yeh I think your right on that 3 wires wrap, the link to the right looks even more 3 wrap to me . Here is a photo of the swaz gilt.Like I said earlier , I found it weird that theres no burnish but gilt. Does this look ok. I would show all I want but I would be showing a bit more than the dealer wants I think, if ya no wat I mean. Thanks again T

tiep, there are several possibilities a period gilded swaz´does look. This special kind is hard to tell simply from a photograph (I have hoped that it would be one of the kinds which are easier to tell ). This kind of gilding as also the very distinct orange gilding EICKHORNs do sometimes have does not burnish. It shows some very small imperfections within the swaz´s legs I also have seen on doubtless period gilding. Generally the gilding looks ok and slightly worn (but not scratched) and does NOT seem to be some of the gold laquer these swaz´sometimes are touched up (the certain wearing normally would distingly scratch such gold laquer).
But a final statement only can be made in hands and with the very carefully done acetone or nail-laque-remover.
I would not have any concerns about the no burnish look of the pommel itself (I do not know if you did mean this or the swaz´burnish). Due to the pic you show I think there is legit light steel-gray burnish there, not the pure aluminium finish without any burnishing (and also not the very dark grey burnishing which sometimes occurs).
Regards,

Hi Wotan and all...here are some pics sent to me finally..I really want this dag but was worried about the fact that maybe it wasnt correct , even for a late war 2nd Luft- no maker . The fittings look like WKC .Whats your thoughts? Thanks again all, Tiep

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

I sit me or does the eagles beak look like a Kiwi? hope I'm wrong

Check out witmans book P227 thats it, if you look at P226 that eagle looks like a deformed mess. So... T

Due to your new pics I stand corrected, it looks now like a single strand double twisted grip wire.
As you can see in TTW´s book some manufacturers did use this silver single strand double twisted wire.
Concerning the eagle, this certain one I think is pictured on pg 227 of TTW and is a WKC.
Scabbard of this piece shown here also does look WKC.
So far it looks ok, but if you feel insecure simply wait until another one without any questions does come around. Fortunately there are still a lot of nice 2nd lufts around !
Regards,

Hi all, Lakeside has a nice luft with the silver wire same as this. I guess I'll sleep on this one, it is a clean one.