Exquisite Luftwaffe General Officer's 2nd Pattern Degen

Description

8/27/25 - This is more than just a sword; it’s a piece of history. A highly sought-after and extremely rare Luftwaffe General Officer’s 2nd Pattern Degen made by Carl Eickhorn, of Solingen, featuring the Squirrel Holding Squirrel trademark emblem. The sword was commissioned by Reichsmarschall and Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe Hermann Göring and is modeled after the Prussian Sword of Honor. An illustration of the 1938 2nd Pattern Degen appears in the Eickhorn Kundendienst, “Flieger Generalsdegen Nr. 1732”. The blade measures 29½ inches and has traditional Arabic etched designs on both sides. The front and back of the blade feature 13-inch etched panels with raised floral and geometric motifs, framing central blued panels with inscriptions in gilt Gothic letters. The front panel bears the inscription, “In Danbarer Anerkennung” {In Grateful Recognition}. The back panel reads, “Der Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe” {The Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe}, followed by the facsimile signature “Hermann Göring”. The gold-plated brass hilt includes an urn-shaped pommel, a D-shaped knuckle bow, a straight quillion, and a folding clamshell counter guard on the front. The counter guard is decorated with an applied silver Luftwaffe eagle and swastika. The front and back gilded-brass clamshells fold in to reduce the profile when carried. The hilt features a spiral orange grip wrapped with twisted wire. The scabbard consists of a black conditioned leather shell, complete with a gold-plated brass tip and throat. The blade is in fantastic condition with only minor hints of patina, and the handle shows only minor staining on the grip.  The scabbard is also in great condition with very light wear to the leather in a few spots but no major defects.  Since 1945, it has been safely housed with only two private collectors, and as a result, remains in remarkably preserved condition —a testament to its historical significance and the respect it commands.