ONE OF THE RARER THIRD REICH DAGGERS - A 1st Pattn. RLB OFFICERS DAGGER.

The Air Raid Protection Force or (Reichsluftschutzbund) was formed in 1935 and designed to organise air raid protection throughout Germany. The first daggers issued had the original RLB members badge which was the starburst insignia with blue enamel RLB letters and a small swastika underneath. This badge was redesigned in around 1938 and at the same time a different version of the officers dagger was introduced. This is the rare 1st Pattern. Quite a long dagger with the very Art Deco hilt and crossguard design. Very dark blue leather covered grip and scabbard.Scabbard leather is in near perfect condition. Grip leather is also near perfect with a small old area of ‘building’ at the rear edge. The grip badge was of course the first type. 99% of these daggers were made by Weyersberg, as this one is.
The initial daggers had a single scabbard ring, and a single short leather hanging strap with nickel snap clip. This was virtually identical to the arrangement used on the smaller DLV Flyers daggers. The strap was permanently attached to the scabbard ring.
The later 1938 officers dagger dropped this single strap design in favour of a double ring suspension system and a pair of leather hangers. It seems MANY RLB officers just upgraded their 1st Pattn daggers by purchasing a new scabbard and straps, and swapping the grip badge. This fact, combined with quite a few early RLB officers has made an in-altered and complete 1st Pattn RLB a rare item!
This dagger has a near mint blade by Weyersberg with most of the crossgrain present. The scabbard throat is marked with a tiny Waffenampt stamp with a 98 number. The end of one crossguard arm is also stamped but lightly and indistinct. A very nice textbook example.

Code: 4834