DLV (German Air Sports Association) & NSFK (National Socialist Flying Corps) Daggers

Construction & Types

DLV Airman’s Knife (early, nickel-silver)

• Total length ~34 cm; fittings in nickel silver
• Blue saffian leather to grip & steel scabbard; wing-shaped crossguard
• Enamel HK medallions (period insignia) inset on both sides
• Polished double-edged blade without motto; maker logo, no RZM

NSFK Knife, 1st Variant (nickel-silver)

• Structurally identical to DLV; identified by NSFK Icarus stamp
• Also seen with DLV + NSFK double stamping

NSFK Knife, 2nd Variant (aluminium, ~1938/39)

• All fittings in aluminium; one-piece crossguard
• Integral black-painted HKs (not inset); blue-painted grip & scabbard with faux-leather texture
• Slightly longer overall; exclusive maker: F. A. Helbig, Steinbach

DLV 55 cm & Transitional to the Luftwaffe Borddolch

• DLV 55 cm dagger (often miscalled “balloon leader dagger”): rare; limited eligibility
• Shortened 55 cm examples to ~48 cm for continued wear post-introduction of the Borddolch
• “Transistorial” transitional model (c. 1934–36): silvered nickel fittings with staple-fixed mounts; chains ~9/13 or 9/14 links

Stamps & Makers

• No RZM on DLV/NSFK/Luftwaffe edged weapons; instead, maker logos
• Occasional Luftwaffe acceptance eagles over numbers (e.g., 3/5/8)
• NSFK aluminium (2nd var.): F. A. Helbig, Steinbach; NSFK honor dagger (rare): SMF
• Early DLV 55 cm seen by Eickhorn, Paul Weyersberg, J. A. Henckels, Adolf Braun (Berlin)