Product Details
CARL JULIUS KREBS, SOLINGEN,
A SCARCE GERMAN AIR SPORTS FORMATION (DLV) 'FLYERS KNIFE' DRESS DAGGER,
circa 1934, with 7in. double-edged blade, cross-guard with drooping quillions and enamelled swastika centre, blue morocco leather covered grip and cast, turned pommel, TOGETHER WITH its original blue leather scabbard with un-marked plated fittings and retaining its original black leather belt hanger and clip (small patch of tarnish to blade)
Provenance: The German Air Sports Formation incorporated all German civilian aero clubs in March 1933, under the aegis of its newly appointed head, Bruno Loerzer. Its original role was to attract "air minded" Germans into the NSDAP and to emphasize the importance of modern aviation. Three principle groups made up the initial DLV organisation, these being flyers of motor-driven aircraft, flyers of gliders and balloonists. It acted as a training organisation for the Luftwaffe and swallowed up all the air clubs and airfields across Germany. When the Luftwaffe was officially inaugurated as part of the Wehrmacht in 1935 the DLV's function was fulfilled, and it was dissolved in July 1936. However, the role of the DLV was partially resurrected in 1937 when the NSFK (Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps) came into being as the "state flying club" and took over some of the civilian functions of the DLV (training in flying, maintenance of powered air vehicles etc.). The DLV 'Flyers Knife' was introduced at the same time as the DLV Flyers Dagger, for non-officer ranks in 1934. It was much smaller than the dagger being only 13 3/8in. long. The wooden grip and scabbard were covered in dark blue leather with all fittings in nickel silver with silver plating on early examples. Later examples can be found with a blue painted grip and aluminium fittings and blue painted scabbard. The throat of the scabbard was usually stamped with the DLV emblem (winged swastika & propeller) which indicated that it had passed the DLV inspection and could be issued to wear although privately purchased examples such as the one offered here exist with no markings. The DLV knifes were recalled upon its dissolution in July 1936. Subsequently many were re-issued as the NSFK 'Flieger-messer', but marked as such.
Estimate £300-500