What Is a Luftwaffe Dagger Worth?

Updated: August 2026

The rarer 1st Model from 1935, with a blue leather grip and chain hanger, achieves a guide value of roughly 400 to 900 euros, with well-preserved and unit-marked examples going above that too. Special-order pieces with an etched blade sit in a league of their own, running to several thousand euros.

Source: wormserauktionshaus.de (68. Militaria-Auktion 05.03.2022, Ergebnisse 300–500 €); weitze.com (Händlerpreis 900 €, WKC komplett); 345auction.hibid.com (1. Modell SMF, 850 USD); bonhams.com (£336 inkl. Aufgeld); lakesidetrader.com (geätzte Klinge Julius Krebs, 3.499,95 USD), retrieved 2026-08-20

Whether your piece sits at the lower or upper end comes down to detail: original grip winding, a matching sword knot and hanger, maker's mark and the condition of the blade. Send us photos via WhatsApp to +34 665 164 779 — you'll get a free, no-obligation valuation within 24 hours. We buy for our own collection — with no dealer's mark-up.

Guide Values by Model and Condition

Auction results (some including buyer's premium) and documented dealer prices, 2022 to 2026. Foreign currencies at the prevailing exchange rate — the ranges are guide values.

Individual parts also carry collector value: sword knot and hanger alone have achieved 85 to 100 euros at auction. Don't separate a complete ensemble regardless — together it is worth more than the sum of its parts.

Source: wormser-auktionshaus-archiv.de (Los 8001, 85 €); wormserauktionshaus.de (Los 94116, 100 €), retrieved 2026-08-20

Telling the 1st Model and 2nd Model Apart

The two models are easy to tell apart:

1st Model (introduced 1935): a shortened development of the DLV flyer's dagger. Grip and scabbard are covered in blue leather, worn on a nickel-silver chain hanger. Its production run was short — so it turns up more rarely in estates.

2nd Model (M37, introduced July 1937): the shape most people know. A cross-shaped design with a metal scabbard, the grip made of celluloid over a wooden core in white, yellow, orange or ivory tone — the colour was a personal choice, not a rank marking. Early examples have nickel-plated or brass fittings, late wartime production aluminium or zinc. Towards the end of the war, wearing it was officially banned.

Source: weitze.com (Modellgeschichte); fecha exacta de la prohibición sin consenso en las fuentes (DG.de: Dez. 1943; otras obras: finales de 1944) — formulación sin año hasta verificar contra Angolia, 2026-08-20

What Matters for Condition

• Grip winding: the double wire winding must be present and original. Damaged winding noticeably lowers the price — the auction results show this clearly.
• Celluloid grip: fine stress cracks below the pommel are common with age and not a disqualifying factor; larger chips are.
• Blade: is the maker's mark (WKC, Eickhorn, Alcoso, SMF, among others) clearly legible? Stains from old gun oil are normal, grinding marks are not.
• Scabbard: dent-free scabbards with the surface intact are the exception — and are paid for accordingly.
• Completeness: sword knot and hanger belong with it. If both are missing, the value drops by a three-figure amount.

Fakes are less of an issue with the Luftwaffe dagger than with, say, the SS-Dolch, but pieces assembled from original and reproduction parts do occur. Anyone who has inherited one should get a professional assessment before selling — ours costs nothing.

On the legal position: trading in original Wehrmacht (German armed forces) daggers is legal. The fittings on the 2nd Model sometimes carry symbolism whose public display § 86a StGB governs — which is why we treat such photos discreetly and document the pieces privately rather than on open platforms.

How to Sell Us Your Luftwaffe Dagger

1. Photograph it: full view, blade with maker's mark, grip, scabbard, hanger.
2. Send via WhatsApp to +34 665 164 779 — reachable from Germany just as normal. Reply with a concrete valuation within 24 hours, free of charge.
3. Get paid: we pay in cash as soon as we've agreed on a price. We view larger collections in person, anywhere in Germany.

We are a Spanish collectors' house from Madrid and buy historical militaria. We buy for our own collection — the pieces are documented and stay together. That's why we can pay prices above what the middleman's buying rate offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Luftwaffe dagger is worth more — the 1st or 2nd Model?

Neither, as a blanket rule. The 1st Model is rarer, but the 2nd Model in good condition from a notable maker is often just as sought after. What decides it is the condition and completeness of the individual piece, not the model number.

What does the etched blade on some daggers mean?

Etched blades with oak-leaf and eagle motifs were private special orders by wealthy officers. They are considerably rarer than standard blades and fetch a multiple of the price — documented dealer prices of around 3.500 US dollars exist. Precisely because of this, etchings are also faked after the fact: get it checked.

The grip winding is missing. Is it still worth selling?

Yes. The dagger loses value as a result but remains sellable — the auction history shows results around 300 euros even for pieces with defects. Important: don't repair or rewind it yourself, that only makes it worse.

Is selling a Luftwaffe dagger legal?

Yes. Original edged weapons up to 1945 may be sold privately in Germany. Only the public display of unconstitutional symbols is restricted — with a discreet transaction via WhatsApp, that plays no role for you.

How quickly do I get my money?

Immediately after agreement: cash in hand on personal handover, or by bank transfer immediately after inspection if sent by post.

Sell Luftwaffe dagger

More guide values: SS dagger · SA dagger · Bayonet · Sabre · Hitler Youth knife