German Daggers of World War Two

2nd Model Luftwaffe General's Degen w/Portepee & Veteran Documentation.
Carl Eickhorn, etched squirrel holding sword TM. An illustration of this 1938 2nd Pattern Degen appears in the Eickhorn Kundendienst as "Flieger=Generalsdegen Nr. 1732". This particular sword was obtained by US Army 2nd LT Franklin M. Boutilier while serving with the International Security Detachment, Co. "I", 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division at the at the Nürnberg International War Crimes Tribunal in 1945. In a notarized statement dated 28 January 1978 that accompanies the sword, Mr. Boutilier states, "a maid brought me a sword in a blue [black] scabbard. It had the words "Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe" Herman Goering on one side of the blade and the words "In Gratitude for Service" on the other….I had the opportunity to show it to Herman Goering at the trials during a conference with his lawyer in the evening. Through his lawyer, he identified it as a hundred he had made". This sword, which was modeled on the Prussian Honor sword, features gilted brass hilt fittings showing minor surface wear to the highlights with 100% of the gilting and much factory lacquer remaining in the recesses of the ornate, oak leaf embellished, ball-type pommel with raised pommel cap, knuckle-bow with oak leaf and geometric motif, and crossguard with raised floral design. Sword features an obverse folding clamshell featuring a fine grained background with punched scrollwork and raised floral pattern on left and right base surmounted by silver Luftwaffe eagle attached by three retaining pins. Silver eagle shows dark, age patina with factory frosting remaining in recesses. The reverse folding clamshell also features the fine grained background and punched scrollwork with raised floral upper border. Medium orange, solid celluloid grip is perfect with no cracks or chips and is complete with twisted gilt wire wrap. The 2nd pattern, straight, plated, single-fullered, double-etched blued & gilted blade measuring 29 ½" in length grades EX++ showing only faint surface wear/runner marks with three small gray spots on the lower obverse and a small crimp to the tip, but no nicks to cutting edge. Blade is without the felt blade buffer pad. Both obverse and reverse blade feature 13" long etched panels with a raised floral/geometric motif flanking central blued panels with raised inscriptions in gilt gothic letters. The obverse panel is inscribed, "In Danbarer Anerkennung" (In Grateful Recognition) while the reverse panel is inscribed, "Der Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe Hermann Göring" (The Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring with name as facsimile signature). 100% of the gilting remains on the letters with no discoloration to the blued background. Black leather scabbard shows some light surface wear/scuffs with one minor crease to the upper obverse, but no damage to the reverse stitching. Upper and lower gilted brass scabbard fittings show minor surface wear to gilting and factory lacquer with one small depression to the reverse of the upper fitting. Both upper and lower fittings are complete w/undamaged retaining staples. Attached to the sword is the original 23cm aluminum bullion portepee in EX+ condition showing minor age/wear with a bit of fraying to cord where it has rubbed against the obverse clamshell. The obverse ricasso, underside of the crossguard and obverse upper scabbard fitting are lightly, non-professionally etched; "03-12-2877". This number may be some type of identification number applied by the original owner or added after it arrived at Nürnberg, however no mention is made of the number in any of the documentation.