Czechoslovak Aviation Dagger Pattern 1927

Czechoslovak Air Force Dagger Model 1927 was assigned to the armament of the Czechoslovak army by the Ministry of National Defense decree in 1927. It was worn by officers and flight sergeants of the Czechoslovak Air Force. After the dissolution of the Czechoslovak army following the occupation of the republic by the Germans in 1939, the dagger was continued to be worn by the Air Force of the Slovak State after modifying the national emblem.

Key properties of the dagger:

• Handle
  • decorated slightly curved two-armed lower guard; above the ricasso on both front and back sides it features the Czechoslovak state emblem (lion) placed inside a lozenge, which is bordered by a circle
  • the upper larger arm (two-armed) of the guard represents the biplane wings
  • inlaid handle scales of the decorated handle are lined on both sides with horn material
  • terminated with a square upper guard fixed with an oval screw cap (top screw)
  • all metal parts of the handle are plated with antique brass finish
• Note: Mikov 2021 version
  • based on customer request, other surface treatments can be performed, e.g., gilding
  • upon request, the state emblem can be replaced by any other emblem
  • the handle scales are lined with "mother-of-pearl", which is an imitation of ivory
• Blade
  • straight double-edged steel blade with a lozenge-shaped cross-section featuring a longitudinal and slightly raised central ridge
  • the tip of the blade has a gradual curved edge
  • the original blade ricasso is stamped with a small lion and the two-digit number 27, indicating the year of dagger manufacture, 1927
  • between the lion and the two-digit number is the manufacturer’s mark of the Wlaszlovits Štos company stylized into a lenticular shape
  • on the other side of the blade ricasso, the inventory number is stamped
• Note: Mikov 2021 version
  • blade ricasso bears the Mikov manufacturer mark
  • on the other side of the blade ricasso is the serial number of the limited edition; each piece is unique
  • the blade is made of high-quality stainless steel hardened to 56 HRc hardness
• Sheath
  • consists of decorated upper, middle, and lower fittings
  • the upper and lower fittings form triangular-shaped hooks for attaching the dagger suspension loops
  • the space between the guards is filled with glued suede or smooth leather in variations of brown or blue color
  • all metal parts of the sheath are plated
• Suspender
  • made of brown suede or smooth leather
  • composed of two rectangular slides with adjustment screws allowing setting according to personal needs, e.g., pilot’s height
  • ends with a spring carabiner
  • all metal parts are plated

Note: There exists a Czechoslovak Air Force Dagger Model 1927, the so-called 2nd variant, differing from the first variant:

• handle scales are lined with an imitation of ivory in white to cream color
• the blade ricasso is stamped in one row from the lower guard with the letter Z1, a small lion, and the two-digit number 35 or 36 (indicating the year 1935 or 1936 when the daggers were adopted into the Czechoslovak army armament)
• on the other side of the blade ricasso, the Wlaszlovits Štos manufacturer mark is stamped vertically in plain text