I just received this miniature dagger today and would like to ask for your opinion on it.

The dagger is pretty heavy, it has what looks like a painted scabbard on a very finely pebbled surface.

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And the maker mark, a late war over shoulder squirrel. Is this pre or post war, do you think?

John

I would say the TM is OK but the color of the scabbard looks a bit too light-possible repaint-also the buffer pad is missing.

Houston:

It looks like the paint is wearing off.. there are lighter and darker spots that the pictures don't sow properly.

The question I have is whether it would be correct to have a post 41 TM on a Luft1, even if it is a mini?

John

I believe 1st lufts were made up to '42 so I think yes.
Now I say that but I've never seen an over the shoulder 1st luft. If I ever did you would know it.

Paul:

Wouldn't it be simply amazing if such an item turned up?

Or maybe it already has and was discounted as a post war parts dagger?

John

Never say never

re the trademark and ist patt mini , i cant see any probs at all with this , mini`s werent official pieces , not all were trade samples and most would be sold as desk ornaments , so whatever was popular early would be continued to be sold later .
a lot of luft officers must have liked the 1st pattern , and lets not forget the dlv (staples on scabbord fittings as on the mini) a lot of officers carrying official 2nd patt luft daggers would have originally worn dlv pattern before the luft was established and then 1st pattern so if its for on your desk or a present & no regulations apply ....why not ? ,supply and demand ....if people liked them ...manufacturers would carry on making and selling them.(as they do today !!).
as for scabbard paint ... maybe a repaint ( i doubt ) but the flash photography can recolour a lot of stuff on pics , so can cleaning with the wrong stuff somewhere in the items history .