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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:14:42 PM EDT
I found these a couple years ago when my Grandfather died.
He was 12th Armored Div. "Hellcats" in WWII I think the first one is a paratrooper knife. You flip the switch and flick your wrist and the blade comes out. It has SMF SOLINGEN ROSTFREI on the blade, no nazi symbols. It also has a long spike that flips out one side. The second one looks like some sort of dress dagger. Has a swatstika on it near the handle no other marks. Can anyone tell me anything about these. 
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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:17:03 PM EDT
[#1]
The First is a German Paratrooper gravity knife
pics herehttp://www.101airborneww2.com/souvenirs.htmle The second one is German Officer Dress Dagger |
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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:18:22 PM EDT
[#2]
First one is a Luftwaffe Paratrooper Gravity Knife and is worth a bundle, give or take $700. Second one is interesting and is probably also worth a bundle. Nice edged weapons
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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:22:00 PM EDT
[#3]
My uncle was in the Heltracks division of the Hellcats. I have his unit book with history and photos.
It was an major contributor to Germanys defeat. |
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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:25:00 PM EDT
[#4]
Nice knives.
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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:42:29 PM EDT
[#5]
The second one is a Red Cross officers dress dagger and quite rare.
One just sold for $1150 http://www.millermilitaria.com/dagger1.htm |
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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:43:54 PM EDT
[#6]
Cool stabby pieces.
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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:53:35 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
The second one is a Red Cross officers dress dagger and quite rare. One just sold for $1150 http://www.millermilitaria.com/dagger1.htm WOW, thanks. Had no idea it was rare. I thought it was just a common dress dagger. I kinda thought the paratrooper knife might be worth something but not the dagger. You can find out about anything here. |
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Posted: 1/28/2011 3:57:37 PM EDT
[#8]
The only ones worth more are SS and Postal dress daggers. Think of how few Red Cross officers there were though. Your gravity knife looks to be in excellent condition and fallschirmjager stuff is always in big demand.
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Posted: 1/28/2011 5:41:51 PM EDT
[#9]
Cool toys.
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Posted: 1/28/2011 5:54:51 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Quoted:
The second one is a Red Cross officers dress dagger and quite rare. One just sold for $1150 http://www.millermilitaria.com/dagger1.htm WOW, thanks. Had no idea it was rare. I thought it was just a common dress dagger. I kinda thought the paratrooper knife might be worth something but not the dagger. You can find out about anything here. Yeah that Red Cross dagger is pretty rare. I have never even seen one (I collect WW2 German uniform stuff). Don't sell that cheap. If you want an appraisal, send it to Tom Wittmann - he's the leading expert on German edged weapons of World War II. Having the original portapee (embroidered knot) adds value too. |
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Posted: 1/28/2011 6:02:47 PM EDT
[#11]
That's a first model AirCrew Kappmesser, issued to all flying personnel not just paratroopers.
First model has bright blade, non-take down. They aren't easily repaired so they are somewhat rarer. 2nd model usually has a blued blade other metal. There is a push button to allow the hilt to be removed for cleaning or maint of the knife. That example looks rather nice, I would think $500 easy if it hasn't been messed with, no polishing, replaced grip scales or ground blade or reground blade tip. |
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Posted: 1/28/2011 6:10:51 PM EDT
[#12]
Please whatever you do, leave them as is, maybe a little oil to prevent rusting, but don't try to polish them!
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Posted: 1/28/2011 6:15:12 PM EDT
[#13]
Well, that Red Cross dagger also has the hanger and portepee, thats going to add some $$ to it's value.
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Posted: 1/28/2011 6:17:56 PM EDT
[#14]
Very nice knives!
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Posted: 1/28/2011 6:52:45 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
That's a first model AirCrew Kappmesser, issued to all flying personnel not just paratroopers. First model has bright blade, non-take down. They aren't easily repaired so they are somewhat rarer. 2nd model usually has a blued blade other metal. There is a push button to allow the hilt to be removed for cleaning or maint of the knife. That example looks rather nice, I would think $500 easy if it hasn't been messed with, no polishing, replaced grip scales or ground blade or reground blade tip. The blade is slightly bent. Looks like some one my have used to open a can or something. You can also tell its been re sharpened several times. The grips appear to be original. I was bummed out that my uncle got Granddads P38 he brought back. But these have turned out to be more special than I thought. Thanks for all the info. They will remain in my gun safe, where they've been for the past 3 years. |
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Posted: 2/2/2011 11:02:51 AM EDT
[#16]
UPDATE
Thanks to Omega62 I was able to get in touch with Mr. Tom Whittman who gave me information on the dress dagger. The dress dagger is not a Red Cross Officers dagger. It is a Social Welfare Officers Dagger. The daggers look the same the diference is the scabbards. The Red Cross one had rectangular holes in the scabbard and the Social Welfare has the round holes in the scabbard for the hanger. I have recieved a very respectable offer for it. I'm really on the fence about selling it. On one hand my Grandfather brought it back from WWII. On the other hand its just gonna sit in my gun safe doing nothing. I have other things from my Grandfather that mean a lot more to me than this dagger. |
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Posted: 2/2/2011 11:14:58 AM EDT
[#17]
With respect to selling the dagger, it will be doing something in your safe, appreciating in value. What was the offer? If I were you I'd keep it, money in the bank and all that stuff. Oh and they don't ever go down in value like other investments.
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Posted: 2/2/2011 11:46:35 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
With respect to selling the dagger, it will be doing something in your safe, appreciating in value. What was the offer? If I were you I'd keep it, money in the bank and all that stuff. Oh and they don't ever go down in value like other investments. I understand it will appreciate while just sitting in my safe. However, it's not something that is easy to sale. It's not everyday that I come across a nazi dagger collector willing to spend just a little over a grand for a dagger. 
But I'll probably end up keeping it because it's family. |
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Posted: 2/2/2011 11:55:03 AM EDT
[#19]
I would say keep the dagger, but if you dont keep the dagger and sell it. I would say purchase something you will use forever and pass down through the generations as a "tribute" to your gramps. A good hunting rifle if you hunt or maybe a great replacement knife that will last lifetimes.
What i would personally do is keep the knives and make a shadow box with your gramps patches, medals and other Army stuff associated with his unit and their achievements and proudly display it 
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