RARE DLV LEADER'S DAGGER

Our latest JRB&M Featured item is an impressive Third Reich model dress dagger that few collectors can claim to have in their edged weapon collections. Not only is it a rare model dagger, but very few DLV Leader's daggers were manufactured by the small Carl Heidelberg, Solingen (two side-by-side beer bottles logo) firm. Since the extended DLV daggers wre manufactured without a scabbard liner/shell, most bear breaks or creases in the long scabbard body. The one that we are offering does not exhibit any of those defects. This dagger would be an excellent addition to a sophisticated German dagger collection.

RARE Carl Heidelberg, Solingen, stamped, two side-by-side bottles above C.H. within double-oval TM. This RARE DLV Leader's example, measuring 48.7cm in overall in-scabbard length, appears to be a transitional, factory shortened example similar to the Adolf Braun, Berlin daggers. These daggers were no doubt produced to more closely conform to the 1st Model Luftwaffe Dagger, and to be less cumbersome to wear with the uniform than the unwieldy 55cm DLV dress dagger.

The solid nickel-silver hilt fittings show minor surface wear/age patina to the circular, flat-sided pommel with inlaid brass swastikas, upper and lower ferrules, and early crossguard with down swept wings and circular, flat-sided quillon block with inlaid brass swastikas. Blue leather grip, without grip wire, shows only light surface wear with minor loss of color to raised ridges, but no rips or tears to leather.

Plated blade grades EX+/EX++ showing light surface wear/runner marks, uniform light gray shadowing on obverse/reverse blade, but no pitting or nicks to cutting edges, and is complete with blue leather buffer pad. Blue leather scabbard without inner liner/shell shows minor surface wear with no rips, tears, nor creases, and matches the color of the grip leather. Nickel-silver upper, center, and lower fittings show light surface wear/age patina with one small depression to the reverse upper fitting, but no damage to the center or lower fitting and no depressions to the lower ball. All fittings are complete with small, wire retaining staples. The solid nickel-silver chain hanger, with 9 upper and 14 lower rings, shows only light surface wear/age patina and is complete with early, un-marked nickel-silver clip. RARE DLV Leader's dagger recently obtained in Europe. EX+/EX++ (26233) $5,700.

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