This sublime and deeply personalized Hungarian WWII Air Force Parade Dagger is a named, 1943-dated example made by Mesz ros Lajos of Budapest. The dagger features a richly detailed silver-plated hilt in the form of a stylized eagle, with its wings forming the crossguard and a vivid eagle-head pommel crowning the longitudinally grooved ebony grip. The silver plating shows mild oxidation consistent with age. The blade itself is a showpiece, etched with radiant sunburst rays surrounding a gilded Hungarian coat of arms on one side, and the inscription: "Bognár Levente hadnagynak 1943" on the reverse, indicating this was presented to Lieutenant Levente Bognar, likely in recognition of exceptional aerial operations or officer's merit.
During WWII, the Royal Hungarian Air Force fought alongside Axis forces on both the Eastern and Balkan fronts, and officer presentation daggers such as this were used in formal dress or awards ceremonies. Meszáros Lajos was one of the foremost cutlers of Budapest, producing daggers, swords, and edged regalia for elite units. The craftsmanship of this example reflects not only the nation's aesthetic sensibilities but its wartime hierarchy and symbolic traditions. Cleaned and oiled in 2022, this rare, named, and highly detailed dagger is both a historical relic and a collector's centerpiece, a direct link to a known officer and Hungary's embattled wartime air force.
Specification:
Material: Steel Blade; Silver-Plated Hilt
Origin: Kingdom of Hungary
Period: WW2
Condition:
Very Good/Fine – Shows light to moderate wear, may have minor imperfections. A very fine example of the collectible. Collector Quality.
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