This vintage 1938 pre-WW2 Mario Pozzati "All Roads Lead to Rome" Italian tourist poster board, created by Mario Pozzati (1888-1947) and printed by the Italian Tourist Board in Milan, promotes Rome as a central destination. The poster’s design conveys that all roads lead through Rome, symbolizing that people from various countries could still travel to Italy despite the growing tensions before World War II started two years later. Applied onto pressboard and glued, this rare and collectible piece remains in very good condition with some losses on the edges, colors are vibrant, offering a unique glimpse into pre-WW2 Italian art and tourism marketing.

The German Police, like many German organizations of WW2, were paramilitary in nature. Their duties mainly consisted of establishing security and maintaining order, and their purview extended from bustling cities to vast countryside in both Germany and occupied areas. They checked wehrpasses, soldbuchs, and individual civilian documents, verifying the identity of anyone traveling on German waterways, railways, highways, city streets, and country roads, and some German Field Police units were also deployed in combat. German policemen wore elegant long dress bayonets as a mark of rank and status, as well as a last line of personal defense. These featured elegant genuine stag handle scales badged with a small German Police insignia in inverted fashion at the right side, a beautiful “eagle head” embellished pommel, and an “oak leaves” embellished guard. Some were slotted with a mortise and “locking lug” attachment and could actually fit onto a rifle, while others were only meant to be worn as a side arm knife. These bayonets were highly prized war souvenirs among US Army troops in the ETO. This German WW2 WKC Berlin Municipal Police Stag Handle Long Dress Bayonet is in Very Good Condition, with a few small chips in the upper blade edge, a few more small chips in the middle blade edge, some scattered finish abrading and spot patina at each side of the blade, the organizational/regimental markings having been purposely, neatly ground away from the left side of the guard, a deep crack in the upper left handle scale, another deep crack in the lower right handle scale, some loosening to the German Police insignia on the middle right handle scale, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 13” bright chrome plated full length fullered spearpoint blade, sports beautiful stag handle scales with elegant natural stippling secured by two nickel silver pins and with the classic small German Police insignia affixed in inverted fashion at the right side, and is stamped vertically at the ricasso with its maker, the famous “WEYERSBERG / KIRSCHBAUM & CIE / SOLINGEN”, along with their iconic “knight’s head” logo marked at the reverse ricasso. The bayonet carries a sunburst over the letter “K” marked at the lower blade spine, denoting a cutdown Prussian long bayonet, and thus distinguishing it as an early Nazi piece, as well as the alphanumeric series “B38” stamped at the lower blade spine, with the “B” almost certainly standing for Berlin. It boasts the traditional bright nickel plated “eagle head” embellished pommel, “oak leaves” embellished quillon with downturned end, and solid tang without a mortise, and is complete with the original German WW2 Berlin Municipal Police Brown Leather Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with some scratching and flaking to the throat, a spot dent in the lower back end tip, some light scratching, darkening, and overall downward bending to the leather body, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it bears the original, matching bright nickel plated throat with frog stud and “ball” end tip, exhibits “S.B. 10015.” stamped at the back throat, with the acronym standing for Schutzpolizei (Municipal Police) Berlin, and the set is a fine example of a very rare, original German WW2 WKC Berlin Municipal Police Stag Handle Long Dress Bayonet.

In 1935, Hitler abrogated the Treaty of Versailles, and revealed the newly formed German Wehrmacht. This included the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, which had surreptitiously been rebuilt with new gliders, bombers, and fighters, as well as a cadre of young officers. The Luftwaffe cut its teeth in the Spanish Civil War, wreaking havoc against cities such as Guernica in 1937, and infamously laid waste to London during the “Blitz” from September 1940-May 1941. In 1937, the Luftwaffe introduced the 2nd model dress dagger for officers, which was a smaller design more in the Army style than the 1st model. It was produced by some of Germany’s finest cutlers. This German WW2 WKC Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Dagger is in Excellent Condition, with some light spot patina at each side of the ricasso, some light patina to the guard and pommel, some light scratching and spot darkening to the handle, some light fraying to the portepee, and with some light scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a crisp 10" bright double edge dagger blade with a pronounced central spine, sports the classic spread wing eagle Luftwaffe guard, oak leaves and acorns decorated ferrule, and matching oak leaves and acorns decorated pommel, the last in a “globe” like shape with a swastika molded into each middle side, and boasts an elegant light yellow swirl ridged celluloid grip with “twisted” silver metal wire wrapping. It's etched at the reverse ricasso with the iconic “knight’s head” logo of its maker, the famous “WKC / SOLINGEN”, carries the original brown leather "bumper pad" at the blade/guard join, and even retains the original silver bullion portepee still neatly wrapped and knotted around the upper handle. The dagger is complete with the original German WW2 Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with some patina around the lower front and back body, some light missing seam stitching from the bottom edge of the lower hanger strap, some light scattered spot fraying to the bullion of the hangers, missing the back rivet from the lower hanger strap sizing hole, and with some light overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it bears the traditional oak leaves and acorns embellished pebbled body, screwed-in throat piece, and both of the original oak leaves embossed mounted steel hanging rings at the upper left side, and is complete with the original “D.R.G.M.” marked and velvet lined silver bullion dress hangers. The set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 WKC Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Dagger.

The world had never seen an army like the German army of WW2; as Winston Churchill once said, "If it is to live in peace, it must never see another". At its apogee, Germany's conquests extended from the French channel ports in the West to Stalingrad in the East. Heer officers of WW2 carried the M-1935 dress dagger as a mark of rank and status. These daggers were produced by some of Germany's finest cutlers, and were prized war souvenirs among US Army troops in the ETO. This German Army WW2 WKC Heer Officer M-1935 Dress Dagger is in Very Good Condition, with a bit of scratching and scabbard wear at each side of the blade, moderate loosening to the handle and ferrule, some scattered tarnishing to the guard and pommel, a spot of heavy fraying to one band of the lower portepee, a spot of moderate fraying to the other band on the lower portepee, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a gleaming 10" bright double edge dagger blade with a pronounced central spine and some elegant cross-graining, sports the classic silver plated spread wing eagle Heer guard, acorn decorated ferrule, and matching acorn decorated pommel, and boasts a gorgeous, mellow orangish yellow swirl ridged "trylon" (hard plastic) grip. The dagger exhibits “Dr. M.” engraved in inverted fashion at the right side of the guard, making it a scarce personalized example from a medical doctor in the German army during WW2. It's etched at the reverse ricasso with the iconic “knight’s head” logo of its maker, the famous "WKC / SOLINGEN" (Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Company), carries the original brown leather "bumper pad" at the blade/guard join, and retains the original silver bullion portepee still neatly wrapped and knotted around the lower handle. It's complete with the original German Army WW2 Heer Officer M-1935 Dress Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with a fairly deep vertical tear in the velvet lining at the underside of the top hanger strap, a sizable chip in the middle front of the belt attachment at the top of the hangers, and with some scattered finish abrading, patina, and age wear evident. Most interestingly, it bears a great amount of the original silver plating throughout, exhibits a pebbled body, the original screwed-in throat piece, and both of the original acorn embossed mounted steel hanging rings at the upper left side, and is complete with the original “D.R.G.M.” marked and velvet lined silver bullion dress hangers. The set is a fine example of a rare, original German Army WW2 WKC Heer Officer M-1935 Dress Dagger.

The elite German paratroopers, known as Fallschirmjägers, shocked the world in 1940 with their success in Norway, and then overwhelmed Belgian and Dutch resistance in a series of swift blitzkrieg air assaults. During WW2, the German Luftwaffe built up a division-sized unit of three Fallschirmjäger regiments who went on to fight in Crete, Italy, and Normandy. On D-Day, the German 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment met the US 101st Airborne Division in the field at Normandy in a titanic “paratrooper vs. paratrooper” clash, and the “Lions of Carentan” of FJR 6 gave as good as they got before withdrawing after a few days of intense close quarters combat. The parachute harness used by Fallschirmjägers in WW2 was different from Allied models, forcing German paratroopers to throw themselves forward out of the plane. They were in a face-down position when the chute opened, and landing on knees and elbows reduced the amount of equipment a trooper could carry. As a result, they jumped with only a pistol, gravity knife, and compass. German heavyweight boxing champion Max Schmeling, who was 1-1 against Joe Louis with a TKO victory in the 1930s, served as a Fallschirmjäger during the war. This German WW2 SMF Fallschirmjäger Paratrooper Airborne Gravity Knife is in Good Condition, with some up and down loosening to the blade when in the open and locked position, some side to side loosening to the blade when in the same position, some rounding to the blade tip, moderate sharpening and some chipping to the blade edge, moderate scratching at each side of the blade, moderate nicking to the guard, the locking latch blued as opposed to the rest of the hardware being bright, possibly indicating period replacement, moderate loosening and some patina to the locking latch at the upper tang, the handle scales near the locking latch at that upper tang having been carved in with some of the wood material removed, moderate scattered darkening, scratching, and some chipping to the handle scales, a deep hairline crack in the bottom edge of the right handle scale, a hairline surface crack in the bottom edge of the left handle scale, and with some overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 4” bright drop point gravity blade, sports the original, rugged walnut handle scales secured by 4 metal pins, and is etched at the ricasso with the iconic “seated king” logo of its maker, the famous “SMF / SOLINGEN / ROSTFREI”. It boasts a fully functional thumb lever opening, locking, and closing mechanism, with the thumb lever twice marked with the number “3”, exhibits the original folding secondary spike blade along the front tang, which still closes with a great “snap” and shows an “eagle 5” proof mark at its base, and is complete with a beautiful original German WW2 khaki canvas long lanyard/utility strap with a “Patent / Ritter” gray finished metal snap clip attached to the steel hanging bale riveted at bottom. A fine example of a very rare, original German WW2 SMF Fallschirmjäger Paratrooper Airborne Gravity Knife.

In 1935, Hitler abrogated the Treaty of Versailles, and revealed the newly formed German Wehrmacht. This included the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, which had surreptitiously been rebuilt with new gliders, bombers, and fighters, as well as a cadre of young officers. The Luftwaffe cut its teeth in the Spanish Civil War, wreaking havoc against cities such as Guernica in 1937, and infamously laid waste to London during the “Blitz” from September 1940-May 1941. Beginning in 1935, Luftwaffe officers wore the distinctive 1st model dress dagger, distinguished by the “pinwheel” style swastika at the guard and pommel. These 1st model daggers were quickly replaced by a smaller, Army style design in 1937, making any surviving examples scarce today. This German WW2 Paul Weyersberg Luftwaffe Officer 1st Model Dress Dagger is in Good Condition, with some scratching and scattered spot patina at each side of the blade, some cracking and loosening to the back half of the leather “bumper” pad, some tarnishing to the gold finish on the swastikas on the guard, heavy loosening to the brass wire wrapping on the grip, some scattered surface tearing to the leather covering of the grip, all of the gold finish having worn away from the swastikas on the pommel, and with some overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 12" bright double edge dagger blade with a pronounced central spine, sports the classic “pinwheel” swastika insignia crafted in the wide flaring metal guard and disc shaped metal pommel, and is etched at the ricasso with the logo of its maker, the famous “PAUL WEYERSBERG & CO / SOLINGEN”. It boasts the traditional dark blue leather over wood “cigar” shaped grip with several rows of brass wire wrapping, with the outer rows being straight, and the middle rows being elegantly “twisted”, retains the original, matching dark blue leather “bumper” pad at the blade/guard join, and is complete with the original German WW2 Luftwaffe Officer 1st Model Dress Scabbard in Fair Condition, with all of the leather covering from the lower body having torn away long ago, moderate cracking and tearing to the leather covering at the upper front body, heavy cracking and tearing to the leather covering at the upper back body, heavy patina to the exposed metal on the body, some tarnishing to the metal fittings throughout, and with moderate overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it bears remnants of the original dark blue leather covering on the upper body, carries the original metal throat piece with left side hanging ring, central fitting with left side hanging ring, and “ball” end tip, and exhibits the original circular looped metal “chain” hanger with a fully functional metal snap clip. It’s stamped “31 / FL. 19” at the back throat, undoubtedly a German Luftwaffe organizational marking, and the set is a fine example of a very rare, original German WW2 Paul Weyersberg Luftwaffe Officer 1st Model Dress Dagger.

This German WW2 WKC Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Dagger is a fine example of wartime craftsmanship. Manufactured by WKC (Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co.), it features a nickel-plated steel blade with the maker’s mark, a finely detailed aluminum crossguard with the Luftwaffe eagle clutching a swastika, and an ornate pommel. The grip is wrapped in tightly wound wire over a deep-toned celluloid yellow-colored handle. Included is the original metal scabbard with intricate oak leaf designs and the correct hanger set, featuring aluminum fittings and fabric straps. This dagger represents the elegance and prestige of Luftwaffe officers during the Second World War and remains a highly collectible piece of military history.

The German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, DRK) was organized by the NSDAP in 1938. They worked closely with the local populace to handle air raids and gas attacks, and coordinated first aid efforts with police and fire brigades. As with most German organizations during WW2, they were paramilitary in nature, and DRK enlisted men wore military style uniforms and carried impressive "hewers" as a mark of rank and status. The hewer was more than just ceremonial, it had a practical purpose for preparing splints, casts, bandages, and litters. It featured a cutting edge, a heavy sawback spine, and a blunt tip to adhere to the Geneva Convention, which outlawed medical staff from carrying combat weapons. The DRK EM hewer ceased being made in 1940, and its impressive size and overt Germanic design made it a favorite war souvenir among US Army troops in the ETO. This German WW2 Deutsche Rotes Kreuz DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Dagger is in very good condition, with some scattered cleaning, scratching, pitting, spot patina, and scabbard wear at each side of the blade, some scattered finish abrading, pitting, and spot patina to the guard and pommel, some finish abrading and patina to the handle scale screws, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the dagger is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features a bright 10 1/2" square tipped fullered blade with a heavy sawback spine, sports the classic spread wing eagle and red cross insignia embossed in a roundel at the elegantly figured guard, and is simply stamped "GES. / GESCHUTZT" at the ricasso, which translates to a patented item. The maker's mark on these daggers is usually found on the tang under the handle scales; we have not removed the scales to look for that stamp, it may or may not have an additional maker's mark. The dagger boasts striking black plastic handle scales secured by two metal screws, with the right scale being crisply checkered, carries an elegant silver plated metal full guard and flared pommel, and exhibits the original "pebbled" black leather "bumper pad" at the blade/guard join. It's complete with the original German WW2 DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Scabbard in very good condition, with a small spot dent in the middle front body, some crazing, finish abrading, and patina to the black painted body, some scattered spot patina to the throat and end tip, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with absolutely no cracking or other damage. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 75% of the original black painted finish on the body, exhibits the original screwed-in silver plated metal throat piece and end tip, and shows the original frog stud at the upper front body. The set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 Deutsche Rotes Kreuz DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Dagger.

The German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, DRK) was organized by the NSDAP in 1938. They worked closely with the local populace to handle air raids and gas attacks, and coordinated first aid efforts with police and fire brigades. As with most German organizations during WW2, they were paramilitary in nature, and DRK enlisted men wore military style uniforms and carried impressive "hewers" as a mark of rank and status. The hewer was more than just ceremonial, it had a practical purpose for preparing splints, casts, bandages, and litters. It featured a cutting edge, a heavy sawback spine, and a blunt tip to adhere to the Geneva Convention, which outlawed medical staff from carrying combat weapons. The DRK EM hewer ceased being made in 1940, and its impressive size and overt Germanic design made it a favorite war souvenir among US Army troops in the ETO. This German WW2 Deutsche Rotes Kreuz DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Dagger is in Very Good Condition, with some light spot patina to the blade, guard, and pommel, some patina to the handle scale screws, and with some light overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 10 1/2" bright square tipped fullered blade with a heavy sawback spine, sports the classic spread wing eagle and red cross insignia embossed in a roundel in inverted fashion at the elegantly figured guard, and is simply stamped "GES. / GESCHUTZT" at the ricasso, which translates to a patented item. The maker's mark on these daggers is usually found on the tang under the handle scales; we have not removed the scales to look for that stamp, and it may or may not have an additional maker's mark. The dagger boasts the original black plastic handle scales secured by two metal screws, with the left scale being smooth and the right scale being checkered, exhibits an elegant nickel silver full guard, tang, and flared pommel, and carries the original "pebbled" brown leather "bumper pad" at the blade/guard join. It's complete with the original German WW2 DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with some light spot patina to the throat and end tip, some light scratching to the body, moderate drying, flaking, and crazing to the frog, a 1/2” slit tear in the bottom right front edge of the frog, some surface cracking along the top fold of the frog, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 90% of the original glossy black painted finish on the body, bears the original screwed-in nickel silver throat and end tip, and mounts the original black leather frog at top, with the letter “K” stamped at its upper back. The set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 Deutsche Rotes Kreuz DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Dagger.

The elite German paratroopers, known as Fallschirmjägers, shocked the world in 1940 with their success in Norway, and then overwhelmed Belgian and Dutch resistance in a series of swift blitzkrieg air assaults. During WW2, the German Luftwaffe built up a division-sized unit of three Fallschirmjäger regiments who went on to fight in Crete, Italy, and Normandy. On D-Day, the German 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment met the US 101st Airborne Division in the field at Normandy in a titanic “paratrooper vs. paratrooper” clash, and the “Lions of Carentan” of FJR 6 gave as good as they got before withdrawing after a few days of intense close quarters combat. The parachute harness used by Fallschirmjägers in WW2 was different from Allied models, forcing German paratroopers to throw themselves forward out of the plane. They were in a face-down position when the chute opened, and landing on knees and elbows reduced the amount of equipment a trooper could carry. As a result, they jumped with only a pistol, gravity knife, and compass. German heavyweight boxing champion Max Schmeling, who was 1-1 against Joe Louis with a TKO victory in the 1930s, served as a Fallschirmjäger during the war. This German WW2 F&A Helbig Fallschirmjäger Paratrooper Airborne Gravity Knife is in Good Condition, with moderate front to back loosening to the blade when in the open and locked position, some side to side loosening to the blade when in the same position, the blade tip able to extend a bit when it’s supposed to be fully retracted and locked, some light rounding to the blade tip, some sharpening to the blade edge, some scratching at each side of the blade, some scratching to the guard, some loosening to the locking latch at the upper tang, some scattered nicking, scratching, and darkening to the handle scales, and with some overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 4” bright drop point gravity blade, sports the original, rugged walnut handle scales secured by 4 metal pins, and is etched at the ricasso with its scarcely encountered maker, “F&A HELBIG / Gaefler / STEINBACH K.R.M.”, one of the rarest makers of the gravity knife. It boasts a fully functional thumb lever opening, locking, and closing mechanism, exhibits the original folding secondary spike blade along the front tang, which still closes with a great “snap” and shows an “eagle 5” proof mark at its base, and carries the original steel hanging bale riveted at bottom. A fine example of a very rare, original German WW2 F&A Helbig Fallschirmjäger Paratrooper Airborne Gravity Knife.

The “Sturmabteilung” (SA), formed in 1921, was the original paramilitary branch of the NSDAP. Composed of Great War veterans and Freikorps members, the “brown shirts” of the SA were the brawling party thugs of the Nazi Party, frequently clashing with Communists in the streets during the hectic years of Weimar Germany. With the Nazis gaining power in 1933, a dress dagger heavily steeped in Ancient Roman design was introduced for SA members to wear with their iconic “brown shirt” uniform. The SA was a massive organization, with an eventual strength of close to 3 million men, and the demand for those daggers was equally intense. They were produced by 123 different makers, from the finest cutlers of Solingen to small, cottage-industry workshops. Those SA daggers produced before 1935 were marked with the maker’s name, while those afterward were marked with “RZM” maker’s codes to obfuscate the manufacturer and their location. This German WW2 F. Herder Early Pre-RZM SA Dress Dagger is in Very Good Condition, with some light front to back loosening to the blade, some slight scattered nicking to the blade edges, some light scratching and scabbard wear at each side of the blade, some light scratching to the handle, and with some light overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a gleaming 8 3/4” bright double edge dagger blade with the classic SA motto “Alles für Deutschland” (translating to “All for Germany”) crisply etched along the left side, boasts the classic early nickel silver guard, pommel, and pommel nut, the first of which is stamped “Om” for SA-Gruppe Ostmark, and is etched at the reverse ricasso with the “crossed keys” logo of its maker, the famous “F. HERDER A.S. / SOLINGEN”. The presence of the maker’s name and lack of an RZM mark denotes manufacture from ca. 1933-1935. It sports a beautiful dark walnut handle with the traditional German national eagle inset in inverted fashion at the middle left side and the familiar SA enameled roundel inset in inverted fashion at the lower left side, and is complete with the original German WW2 SA Early Brown Anodized Steel Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with a small spot dent in the back left end tip, moderate scratching, finish abrading, and spot patina to the body, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 35% of the original brown anodized finish on the body, exhibits the original nickel silver throat and end tip, the former with a hanging ring at the left side, and the set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 F. Herder Early Pre-RZM SA Dress Dagger.

In 1935, Hitler abrogated the Treaty of Versailles, and revealed the newly formed German Wehrmacht. This included the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, which had surreptitiously been rebuilt with new gliders, bombers, and fighters, as well as a cadre of young officers. The Luftwaffe cut its teeth in the Spanish Civil War, wreaking havoc against cities such as Guernica in 1937, and infamously laid waste to London during the “Blitz” from September 1940-May 1941. In 1937, the Luftwaffe introduced the 2nd model dress dagger for officers, which was a smaller design more in the Army style than the 1st model. It was produced by some of Germany’s finest cutlers. This German WW2 E&F Horster Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Dagger is in Very Good Condition, with some scratching at each side of the blade, some light darkening to the grip, some light loosening to the middle handle wrapping, some light spot fraying to the upper strands of the portepee, some loosening to the top layers of the knot portion of the portepee, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 10" bright double edge dagger blade with a pronounced central spine, sports the classic spread wing eagle Luftwaffe guard, oak leaves and acorns decorated ferrule, and matching oak leaves and acorns decorated pommel, the last in a “globe” like shape with a swastika molded into each middle side, and boasts an elegant off-white swirl ridged celluloid grip with “twisted” brass wire wrapping. It's etched at the reverse ricasso with the logo of its maker, the famous “E.&F. HORSTER / SOLINGEN”, carries the original brown leather "bumper pad" at the blade/guard join, and even retains the original silver bullion portepee still neatly wrapped and knotted around the upper handle. The dagger is complete with the original German WW2 Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with heavy fraying to the cheesecloth backing of the top hanger, heavy scattered fraying to that top hanger, some scattered fraying to the bottom hanger, missing the securing prong from the top hanger buckle, missing the entire cheesecloth backing from the bottom hanger, missing the belt clip from the tops of the hangers, which also would connect the two, and with some scattered finish abrading, spot patina, and age wear evident. Most interestingly, it bears the traditional oak leaves and acorns embellished pebbled body, screwed-in throat piece, and both of the original oak leaves embossed mounted steel hanging rings at the upper left side, retains the original blue rayon and silver bullion dress hangers, and the set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 E&F Horster Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Dagger.

The German Police, like many German organizations of WW2, were paramilitary in nature. Their duties mainly consisted of establishing security and maintaining order, and their purview extended from bustling cities to vast countryside in both Germany and occupied areas. They checked wehrpasses, soldbuchs, and individual civilian documents, verifying the identity of anyone traveling on German waterways, railways, highways, city streets, and country roads, and some German Field Police units were also deployed in combat. German policemen wore a variety of elegant dress bayonets as a mark of rank and status, as well as a last line of personal defense. These featured elegant genuine stag handle scales badged with a small German Police insignia in inverted fashion at the right side. This German WW2 E. Pack & Söhne Police Badged Stag Handle K-98 Mauser Short Dress Bayonet is in Very Good Condition, with some light cleaning, scratching, pitting, and spot patina at each side of the blade, some scattered patina to the guard, tang, pommel, and handle scale screws, the handle scales remaining “shy” of the tang in some areas and “proud” of the tang in others, and with some light overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 9 1/2” bright fullered spearpoint blade, sports gorgeous genuine stag handle scales with deep, dark, and elegant natural stippling with the classic small German Police insignia affixed in inverted fashion at the right side, and is stamped at the ricasso with the iconic logo of its maker, the famous “E. PACKE & SOHNE / SOLINGEN”. It boasts the traditional bright nickel plated “bird’s head” pommel, guard with downturned end, and slotted tang with a mortise and fully functional “locking lug” attachment, and is complete with the original German WW2 K-98 Short Dress Metal Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with some scattered spots of finish abrading to the body, some indenting to the middle right front frog, moderate drying, crazing, and surface cracking to the frog, about 5 missing stitches from the edge sewing of the upper right front and back frog, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 85% of the original glossy black painted finish on the body, bears the original frog stud at the front throat and “ball” end tip, and carries the original brown leather belt frog still attached. The set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 E. Pack & Söhne Police Badged Stag Handle K-98 Mauser Short Dress Bayonet.

The “Sturmabteilung” (SA), formed in 1921, was the original paramilitary branch of the NSDAP. Composed of Great War veterans and Freikorps members, the “brown shirts” of the SA were the brawling party thugs of the Nazi Party, frequently clashing with Communists in the streets during the hectic years of Weimar Germany. With the Nazis gaining power in 1933, a dress dagger heavily steeped in Ancient Roman design was introduced for SA members to wear with their iconic “brown shirt” uniform. The SA was a massive organization, with an eventual strength of close to 3 million men, and the demand for those daggers was equally intense. They were produced by 123 different makers, from the finest cutlers of Solingen to small, cottage-industry workshops. This German WW2 Carl Eickhorn RZM M7/66 1941 SA Dress Dagger is in Excellent Condition, with some light scratching and scabbard wear at each side of the blade, a bit of nicking to the lower blade edges, some light scratching, flaking, and spot patina to the guard and pommel, some light scattered darkening to the handle, some light scattered nicking to the right side of the handle, and with some light scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features an 8 3/4” bright double edge dagger blade with the classic SA motto “Alles für Deutschland” (translating to “All for Germany”) crisply etched along the left side, boasts the classic bright nickel plated guard, pommel, and pommel nut, and is etched at the reverse ricasso with the circular “RZM” mark, along with the maker’s code “M7/66”, denoting manufacture by the famous Carl Eickhorn, and the date, “1941”. It sports a beautiful walnut handle with the traditional German national eagle inset in inverted fashion at the middle left side and the familiar SA enameled roundel inset in inverted fashion at the lower left side, and is complete with the original German WW2 SA Brown Painted Steel Scabbard in Excellent Condition, with only some light scattered scratching and age wear evident. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 95% of the original brown painted finish on the body, exhibits the original bright nickel plated throat and end tip, and carries the original brown leather hanging strap with bright plated nickel hardware attached to the hanging ring at the left side of the throat. The belt clip of that strap is “RZM” stamped, along with the maker’s code “M5/8”, denoting manufacture by the famous F. W. Assmann & Söhne, and the set is a beautiful example of a rare, original German WW2 Carl Eickhorn RZM M7/66 1941 SA Dress Dagger.

In 1935, Hitler abrogated the Treaty of Versailles, and revealed the newly formed German Wehrmacht. This included the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, which had surreptitiously been rebuilt with new gliders, bombers, and fighters, as well as a cadre of young officers. The Luftwaffe cut its teeth in the Spanish Civil War, wreaking havoc against cities such as Guernica in 1937, and infamously laid waste to London during the “Blitz” from September 1940-May 1941. In 1937, the Luftwaffe introduced the 2nd model dress dagger for officers, which was a smaller design more in the Army style than the 1st model. It was produced by some of Germany’s finest cutlers. This German WW2 Carl Eickhorn Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Dagger is in Good Condition, with some rounding to the blade tip, some pitting and patina at each side of the blade, heavy loosening to the guard, heavy dark crazing and surface cracking to the handle, missing the ferrule, missing the leather “bumper” pad from the blade/guard join, and with some overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 9 5/8" fairly bright double edge dagger blade with a pronounced central spine, sports the classic spread wing eagle Luftwaffe guard and oak leaves and acorns decorated pommel, the latter in a “globe” like shape with a swastika molded into each middle side, and boasts an elegant off white swirl ridged celluloid grip with “twisted” brass wire wrapping. It's etched in inverted fashion at the ricasso with the iconic “squirrel” logo of its maker, the famous “ORIGINAL / Eickhorn / SOLINGEN”, and is complete with the original German WW2 Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with some overall patina, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it bears the traditional oak leaves and acorns embellished pebbled body, screwed-in throat piece, and both of the original oak leaves embossed mounted steel hanging rings at the upper left side, and the set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 Carl Eickhorn Luftwaffe Officer 2nd Model Dress Dagger.

The “Sturmabteilung” (SA), formed in 1921, was the original paramilitary branch of the NSDAP. Composed of Great War veterans and Freikorps members, the “brown shirts” of the SA were the brawling party thugs of the Nazi Party, frequently clashing with Communists in the streets during the hectic years of Weimar Germany. With the Nazis gaining power in 1933, a dress dagger heavily steeped in Ancient Roman design was introduced for SA members to wear with their iconic “brown shirt” uniform. The SA was a massive organization, with an eventual strength of close to 3 million men, and the demand for those daggers was equally intense. They were produced by 123 different makers, from the finest cutlers of Solingen to small, cottage-industry workshops. Those SA daggers produced before 1935 were marked with the maker’s name, while those afterward were marked with “RZM” maker’s codes to obfuscate the manufacturer and their location. This German WW2 C. Linder Early Pre-RZM SA Dress Dagger is in Very Good Condition, with some light sharpening to the blade edges, some light cleaning, scratching, pitting, and scabbard wear at each side of the blade, some light scratching to the guard and pommel, some light nicking to the handle, and with some light overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features an 8 3/4” bright double edge dagger blade with the classic SA motto “Alles für Deutschland” (translating to “All for Germany”) etched along the left side, boasts the classic early nickel silver guard, pommel, and pommel nut, the first of which is stamped “Wm” for SA-Gruppe Westmark, and is etched at the reverse ricasso with the seldom seen maker’s mark of “C. LINDER / SOLINGEN / MERSCHEID”, one of the scarcer makers of SA daggers. The presence of the maker’s name and lack of an RZM mark denotes manufacture from ca. 1933-1935. It sports a beautiful walnut handle with the traditional German national eagle inset in inverted fashion at the middle left side and the familiar SA enameled roundel inset in inverted fashion at the lower left side, and is complete with the original German WW2 SA Early Brown Anodized Steel Scabbard in Good Condition, with a sizable dent and crack in the bottom right “ball” portion of the end tip, some scattered spot denting to the throat, body, and end tip, some scratching and finish abrading to the body, and with some overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 65% of the original brown anodized finish on the body, exhibits the original nickel silver throat and end tip, and carries a period but not SA issue black leather hanging strap with belt clip attached to the hanging ring at the left side of the throat. The set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 C. Linder Early Pre-RZM SA Dress Dagger.

The legendary Afrika Korps was the German expeditionary force operating in Libya and Tunisia during the North African campaign of WW2. The fighting reputation of the Afrika Korps became almost mythical, as did that of its commander, the "Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel, as they drove the British back in the Western Desert nearly to Cairo, and threatened the Suez Canal itself. During WW2, the Germans were notorious for pressing an incredible amount of foreign arms and equipment into service, from Polish Radom pistols to British/South African pith helmets. This German Army WW2 DAK Afrika Korps Captured British South African “Polo” Style Khaki Pith Helmet is in Good Condition, with a deep tear in the top front crown and a resulting 3” glue repair on the interior top front crown, a 1” tear and crack in the cotton and felt at the upper back left crown, a small hole in the cotton covering at the back left brim, a small split in the khaki edge trim at the middle right brim, a khaki finished metal ventilator cap having been drilled into the top crown, brass chinstrap hooks having been riveted to the sides of the interior brim, some mothing to the felt around the inside, missing the leather sweatband, and with some overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it's the classic ca. 1942 made British/South African “polo” style khaki cotton covered green pressed felt pith helmet, which was captured by the Germans in North Africa, and pressed into Afrika Korps service with the classic aluminum Heer “eagle” shield affixed to the left side and aluminum National “tricolors” shield affixed to the right side. It features the traditional khaki multi-fold puggaree hatband, bears 4 khaki finished metal ventilation grommets at each side of the crown, and if fitted with a sweatband, would be a fairly large size. A fine example of a rare, original German Army WW2 DAK Afrika Korps Captured British South African “Polo” Style Khaki Pith Helmet.

Hitler struck East in Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941, breaking the Non-Aggression Pact and invading Russia. Early on, the German Wehrmacht racked up victories and captured vast amounts of Soviet territory, but the advance ground to a halt in the winter of 1941. Just 20km short of Moscow, the German army bogged down, and was subjected to a brutal winter even by Soviet Russian standards. German tanks and vehicles froze, and the men were unprepared for that bitter cold, having not been issued suitable winter clothing. The Germans vowed never to be so poorly prepared for another winter campaign, and began producing large amounts of winter clothing that was issued on the Eastern Front. That winter gear was worn from before the German high water mark at Stalingrad, and through the retreat all the way back to Berlin. This German Army WW2 Eastern Front Rabbit Fur Winter Cap is in Excellent Condition, with only a small tear in the skin and some light bare patching in the fur evident at the edge of the front left ear flap. Most interestingly, it’s crafted of crisp grayish green feldgrau wool with a clean brown cotton lining, sports thick, warm rabbit fur trim around the front bill and fold down ear/neck flaps, and is dated "43" in the fully legible maker’s stamping inside. It's marked a Size "55" (US Size 6 7/8), features the original, fully intact gray HBT cotton tie tapes on the ear flaps, which also carry a gray plastic button and cord loop closure, and is a beautiful example of a rare, original German Army WW2 Eastern Front Rabbit Fur Winter Cap.

These are original Waist: 34” Inseam: 28” German World War II-era leather riding breeches, issued primarily to Luftwaffe pilots, motorcycle dispatch riders, and armored vehicle crewmen. Constructed from heavy, high-quality black leather, these breeches were built to withstand the rigors of cold weather, open-air riding, and combat conditions. The thick leather offered a level of protection and insulation ideal for high-altitude flight or fast motorbike travel, making them a staple for German forces engaged in dynamic, fast-moving warfare. Condition is very good for age, showing supple leather with expected creases and light surface wear from use. Stitching remains intact, and there are no tears or major damage. This is a fantastic piece for collectors of WWII German militaria, re-enactors, or film costume departments seeking authentic period gear.

In addition to unleashing punishing bombing campaigns against Poland, France, and Britain, the Luftwaffe also deployed gliders, paratroopers, and field units. Luftwaffe flak regiments provided both anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery, utilizing the legendary 88 for both roles, and Luftwaffe ground troops fought from Stalingrad in the East to North Africa and Italy in the Mediterranean. This German WW2 Luftwaffe Single Decal M-42 Stahlhelm Steel Combat Helmet is in Good Condition, with most of the decal at the left crown having chipped away long ago, though portions of the eagle’s wings, talons, and the swastika remain visible, a bit of loosening to the front split rivets, moderate finish abrading and patina around the exterior and the inside, heavy tearing to the left side of the leather liner lappets, with the ends of those lappets still remaining tied to the cotton connecting lace at middle, moderate tearing to the top edge of the leather liner at the front crown, some scattered small tears around the rest of the top edge of that leather liner, moderate drying, crazing, and darkening to the leather liner, the left chinstrap having torn away long ago, moderate surface cracking to the middle of the right chinstrap, and with some overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it boasts approximately 60% of the original bluish gray finish around the exterior and the inside, sports a bit of the original Luftwaffe single decal at the left crown, and features the classic M-42 stamped air vents and raw, flanged edge rim. It’s stamped with the maker and size code "ET64" at the interior left ear, carries the German soldier's name "R.R. Gordes" hand marked in black at the left side of the leather liner, and bears the lot number “1782” stamped at the interior back skirt. It exhibits all three of the original split rivets, the original aluminum liner band with rounded chinstrap bales, most of the original brown leather lappet liner with a browned cotton connecting lace, and the original black finished leather right chinstrap, and is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 Luftwaffe Single Decal M-42 Stahlhelm Steel Combat Helmet.

The world had never seen an army like the German army of WW2; as Winston Churchill once said, "If it is to live in peace, it must never see another". At its apogee, Germany's conquests extended from the French channel ports in the West to Stalingrad in the East. In 1935, Hitler abrogated the Treaty of Versailles, and Germany began rebuilding its armed forces. As the Germans developed and issued the M-35 stahlhelm, the Wehrmacht also scoured its warehouses for old Great War helmets, which were refurbished with new paint jobs, decals, and liners, and reissued to soldaten of the new and ever expanding German Heer. This program was made even easier with the "Anschluss" German annexation of Austria in March 1938, yet another step towards "peace for our time". This German Army WW2 Heer Single Decal Austrian Reissue M-17 Stahlhelm Steel Combat Helmet is in fair condition, with a deep dent in the top front crown, moderate denting at the right crown, moderate loosening to the ventilation bolt at the right crown, at least three heavy coats of reissue dark feldgrau repaint around the exterior, almost being a dark gray or black color, heavy scattered surface chipping to those finishes, some flaking to the Heer decal at the left crown, the national tri-color decal having been removed from the right crown, the maker and size code as well as the lot number having been obscured from the interior skirt with those coats of reissue repaint, some scattered dark patina around the interior crown, missing the split rivets, missing the liner, missing the chinstraps, and with moderate overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the helmet is in fair shape, with no other damage to the tough steel construction, which retains approximately 60% of the reissue multi-coat dark feldgrau period repainted exterior finish. Most interestingly, it boasts the original Heer single decal at the left crown, which shows some great "spider crazing", sports the classic Austrian M-17 ventilation bolts at each side of the crown, and features the original metal chinstrap bales at each side of the interior. An honest example of a rare, original German Army WW2 Heer Single Decal Austrian Reissue M-17 Stahlhelm Steel Combat Helmet.

The legendary Afrika Korps was the German expeditionary force operating in Libya and Tunisia during the North African campaign of WW2. The fighting reputation of the Afrika Korps became almost mythical, as did that of its commander, the "Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel, as they drove the British back in the Western Desert nearly to Cairo, and threatened the Suez Canal itself. DAK soldaten often wore the classic 1st pattern khaki pith helmet, badged with a Heer “eagle” shield on the left side and a National “tricolors” shield on the right side. This German Army WW2 DAK Afrika Korps 1st Pattern Khaki Pith Helmet is in Very Good Condition, with some verdigris to the tricolors shield at the right side, some verdigris soiling around that shield at the right crown, some scattered darkening, spot soiling, and spot verdigris around the exterior, some scattered drying and crazing to the leather chinstrap and edge trim, and with some light overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it's marked a Size "5" (for 55) inside, making it a US Size 6 7/8, carries the beautiful original Heer “eagle” shield at the left crown and National “tricolors” shield at the right crown, and features the original green finished leather chinstrap with metal hardware and matching green finished leather edge trim. It’s marked at the right side of the brown leather sweatband with the classic triangular “wheat” logo of its maker, the famous ORL, sports a crisp red cotton crown lining, and still remains stout and solid. A beautiful example of a rare, original German Army WW2 DAK Afrika Korps 1st Pattern Khaki Pith Helmet.

The world had never seen an army like the German army of WW2; as Winston Churchill once said, "If it is to live in peace, it must never see another". At its apogee, Germany's conquests extended from the French channel ports in the West to Stalingrad in the East. Nothing symbolized the hard fighting German soldaten of WW2 more than the iconic stahlhelm, with its distinctive, sinister profile. The M-42 was the last iteration of the wartime German steel helmet, with drilled air vents and a raw, flanged edge rim. This German Army WW2 Heer Single Decal M-42 Stahlhelm Steel Combat Helmet is in good condition, with a glossy dark olive green period field repainted exterior finish, moderate scattered scratching, finish abrading, and spot patina around the exterior, heavy tearing to the leather liner, much of which is now missing, the metal adjustment buckle having torn away from the end of the left chinstrap, and remaining connected to the right chinstrap, some scattered finish abrading and spot patina around the inside, some dusting around the interior crown, and with some overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the helmet is in fine shape, with absolutely no dents, cracking, or other damage to the tough steel construction, which retains approximately 70% of the glossy dark olive green period repainted exterior finish. Most interestingly, it boasts the original "gold toned" Heer single decal at the left crown, sports the classic M-42 stamped air vents and raw, flanged edge rim, and is lightly stamped with the maker and size code "NS62" at the interior left ear, denoting it's a Size Small, and was produced by Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, Schwerte. It carries the German soldier's surname "Moser" hand painted in white at the interior middle back skirt, covering the lot number, features all three of the original split rivets, the original aluminum liner band with rounded chinstrap bales, a remnant of the original brown leather lappet liner with brown leather connecting lace, and the original brown leather chinstraps, and is a fine example of a rare, original German Army WW2 Heer Single Decal M-42 Stahlhelm Steel Combat Helmet.

Make: The frame is DWM, some parts are Erfurt

Model: Custom Luger Carbine

Serial Number: 3088a

Year of Manufacture: The frame was made ca. 1914-1919, we do not know when it was assembled to its current configuration.

Caliber: 7.65mm / .30 Luger

Action Type: Striker-Fired, Short-Recoil Toggle-Action Semi-Automatic Fed By Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 8”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a is a serrated blade dovetailed to a base at the muzzle. The rear sight is a fine-tune "V"-notch tangent sight mounted to the barrel, adjustable from 100 to 800 meters. The rear toggle link has had its original fixed rear sight removed.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood. The inside of each panel has "3088" hand-written in pencil. The grips have light handling wear with some scattered nicks and scuffs. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Strawed

Finish Originality: Refinished, numbered parts match or have been force-matched.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with well defined rifling. There is scattered minor erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is scattered finish wear along the sides of the barrel and on the sideplate. There is infrequent other more minor wear. The strawed parts have muted. There are some scattered light nicks and small scratches. There is infrequent very minor surface oxidation. The rear toggle has been touched-up where its rear sight was removed. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. Most markings are clear, an export mark has been nearly completely removed from the right of the barrel extension, the front toggle has no maker's marking. Overall, this handgun rates in Very Good condition as customized.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single wood floorplate magazine, a Luger Navy board-style stock and a 50-round box of Remington Kleanbore .30 Luger ammunition. The magazine shows extensive oxidation on its body. The stock has a 1920 property marking. Please note, the flaps of the ammo box warn against using the ammunition in a Carbine.

Our Assessment: The Luge is one of the most iconic and visually distinctive sidearms in history. It has seen extensive use by military, law enforcement, and remains popular commercially to this very day. This example has been assembled into a pistol-carbine configuration with an 8" barrel, tangent rear sight, and matching or force-matched numbered parts. In Very Good condition as customized, it will make a neat addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!

Make: Waffenfabrik Bern (F+W)

Model: Ordnance Pistol Model 06/29, Luger

Serial#: 67924

Year of Manufacture: August 1943

Caliber: 7.65mm Luger

Action Type: Toggle-Action Semi-Automatic Striker-Fired Pistol fed by a Detachable Magazine with a Grip Safety

Markings: The barrel is marked "67924" and "BP" on the chamber, there is a cross on the bottom. The barrel extension lug is marked "924", the right of the barrel extension is marked "P" and "64". The extractor is marked "GELADEN". The striker and its guide are each marked with a cross. The front toggle is marked with the Swiss nation crest on top, the bottom has "CN", a cross and "S" in a circle. The rear toggle is marked with the serial number "67924" on top, the bottom has "CN" and a cross. The coupling link is marked "CN" and a cross. The lug well on the frame is marked "8.43", the left of the frame is marked "F+" inside a stylized "W", found again on the rear of the frame, the left is also marked "67924". The inside of the side-plate is marked "924". The trigger is marked with a cross. The left side of the frame is marked "S" to indicate the safe position. There is no import mark.

Barrel Length: 4 3/4"

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is blade dovetailed to a banded base at the muzzle. The rear sight is a "U"-notch integral to the rear toggle link.

Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grip panels are two-piece checkered bakelite. The grips have minor handling wear with only a few light scuffs and handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Arsenal refurbished, likely immediately prior to being sold out of service.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is infrequent light wear, mostly on the barrel. There is some minor surface oxidation, mostly in the grip areas. There are a few minor nicks and small scratches. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box Paperwork and Accessories: The pistol comes with a total of two 8-round magazines and Swiss military holster, stamped between the belt loops with "A. VOLKEN / SATTLER / FLUELEN / 40". The inside has what appears to be "LL Eug. Ernst" hand-written. The magazines have correct bakelite floorplates secured with two pins.

Our Assessment: The Parabellum-Pistole, commonly referred to as the Luger, was designed by Georg Johann Luger. Luger eventually secured a contract for his new pistol with the Swiss Army which dubbed it the model 1900, chambered for 7.65mm cartridges and a slightly improved variant was adopted several years later, the Model 1906. These early pistols were manufactured by DWM and imported by the Swiss until 1918 when WWI turned decidedly against Germany, henceforth Waffenfabrik Bern began to domestically fabricate the M1906.

In 1929, Switzerland introduced a domestic variant of the Parabellum Pistole, the Model 1906/29 which superseded the M1906, it featured a number of small improvements. The Swiss Army managed to avoid being drawn into either World War and their Lugers are generally better preserved then the German guns which saw extensive service in both. This gun has some light wear, but it is nicely preserved. The markings are clear with the parts all serial matched. The holster is the correct type, though it was made a few years before the pistol. This is a beautiful handgun that is both ergonomic and mechanically sound. For fans of the Luger and military history, this is the gun for you. Good luck on your bid!