Original German WWII 2nd Model Enlisted Man’s RLB Dagger by W.K.C. Waffenfabrik of Solingen with Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This RLB EM Dagger is in very good condition throughout. The hilt mounts are the nickel-plated pot metal type. The plating does show some wear and flaking in areas, particularly on the pommel fitting, which shows some corrosion. There is also some patination on the cross guard left side.

The pommel is in the characteristic derby shape with an equatorial band. The crossguard features a stubby-winged Art Deco-style eagle clutching a smooth wreath and swas. The quillons are decorated with cut lines and the ends are cut at 45 angles, presumably to impart a look of motion. The hilt is just a bit loose on the blade due to the wood shrinking over time.

The grip is a fine ebony example. It retains much of the original sheen finish and is in very good condition, showing some light denting. The insignia is the style with an enamel swas (hook cross) over a background sunburst. it has lost all of the original plating, now showing the copper base metal beneath. There is also a bit of chipping on the enamel.

The blade of this dagger is beautiful and bright, retaining almost all of the original factory crossgrain. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. There is some speckled light oxidation staining in places, as well as the usual light runner wear, but this is still really a great example of a WWII German blade.

This great example was made by W.K.C. Waffenfabrik GmbH of Solingen, the legendary “City of Blades” in western Germany. The reverse ricasso is etched with the trademark “Knights-Head” (Ritter-helm) logo of legendary maker Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen, over the firms initials of W.K.C. / WAFFENFABRIK / SOLINGEN. This company is a famous manufacturer of military swords and cutlery in Solingen, Germany – a city famous since the middle ages for its metal-working and craftsmanship in sword making. Per J. Anthony Carter’s fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS, the traditional manufacturing of swords at WKC dates back to the year 1774 when the Weyersberg first registered the ”Kings head” as their trademark. Later in 1883 the company merged with the Kirschbaums and the company Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie was formed, which continued into the Weimar Period. It then rebranded as W.K.C. Waffenfabrik GmbH, and produced many edged weapons during the NSDAP Period. The company is still in operation today.

The scabbard is in very good condition, showing no major denting or bends in the steel body. The original black enamel paint is well retained at about 90%, showing crazing and checking due to age. There are a few areas of oxidation present where the paint has chipped away. The plated steel mounts are in good shape, with a bit of speckled patination. Attached to the scabbard is the triangular hanger retainer wire, which still has the end fitting for the hanger strap riveted in place. Unfortunately the leather deteriorated, and the hanger broke off at the fitting.

A very nice W.K.C. Waffenfabrik example of the RLB dagger, always hard to find in such nice condition!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8 3/4″
Blade Style: Double Edged Spear Point
Overall length: 13 3/4“
Crossguard: 3 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 9 1/4″

The Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB) (National Air Raid Protection League) was an organization in NSDAP Germany in charge of air raid precautions in residential areas and among smaller businesses. The RLB was organized by Hermann Göring in 1933 as a voluntary association. Existing volunteer air raid precaution associations were forced to merge with RLB. In 1939 the RLB became a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization), while in 1944 it became an affiliated organization of the NSDAP Party. RLB was dissolved by the Allied Powers after the end of World War II. Its successor in the Federal Republic of Germany was the Bundesverband für den Selbstschutz.

The RLB was in charge of educating and training ordinary German men and women in civil defence procedures necessary for the basic level of local self-help of the civil population against air raids. The local level was formed around air raid wardens and operated in small first intervention squads. The training include fire fighting, protection against chemical weapons, communication procedures and preparation of houses and apartments against air raids.

In 1939 the RLB had about 15 million members, 820 000 volunteer functionaries (of which 280,000 women) and 75,000 local units. The membership was trained at 3,800 civil defense schools with 28,000 instructors.

– RLB was led by a Präsidium, whose president, and vice president and chief of staff, were active duty general officers of the Luftwaffe. The presidium was in itself a department immediately subordinated to the Ministry of Aviation.

– Coterminous with each Luftgaukommando (air district command) was a RLB-Gruppe (RLB-group) under a leader aided by 46 full-time staff members.

– For each Regierungsbezirk, there was a RLB-Bezirksgruppe (regional group).

– The basic organization was the RLB-Revier, one for each police precinct in the cities, or the RLB-Gemeinde-Gruppe, one for each urban or rural municipality for the rest of the country. In the case of a city with several precincts, the citywide organization was called an RLB-Ortsgruppe (local group). Several municipal groups formed an RLB-Ortskreisgruppe, one for each Landkreis. Each Ortsgruppe and Ortskreisgruppe had a leader and a staff of nine members, of which five where full-time salaried employees.

– The basic organizations had a varied number of Untergruppen (sub-groups) divided into Blocke (blocks) under Blockwarte (block wardens) which controlled and liaised with a number of Luftschutzgemeinschafte (air raid protection communities) under Luftschutzwarte (air raid wardens). Each community consisted of an apartment building or several smaller buildings, although a large apartment complex could have several communities. In addition to the warden, the community should have an assistant warden, house fire fighters, helpers and messengers as a first intervention squad. Duty in these squads were compulsory (Notdienstpflicht) for the civilian population.