Jump to content

Luftwaffe aluminum eating utensils


triplecanopy
 Share

Recommended Posts

Dinner anyone? Here is a place setting of a Luftwaffe marked knife, fork and spoon. All are marked on the back with FL.U.V. I am not sure if these qualify as edged weapons, but I did not see another spot to post them. Other markings shown below.

post-185301-0-79667100-1542052420_thumb.jpg

post-185301-0-80682500-1542052438_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had this set for many years. Just thought it was interesting. If anyone can let us know what the markings mean, I would be grateful.

post-185301-0-76644900-1542052706_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 years later...
S.ChrisKelly

 

"FL.U.V." (the "L" is always in lower-case) is a hallmark for Flieger Unterkunft Verwaltung (Flight Barracks Administration).  Luftwaffe cutlery is almost always hallmarked with the last two digits of the date, i.e. "C.H. 37", which is manufacturer "C.H." and made in 1937.

 

Sources:

 

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/art-decor-exotica-third-reich/luftwaffe-butter-knife-opinions-needed-684903/

 

https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=14550

 

https://www.emedals.com/catalog/product/print/id/106854/

 

Below are images of a stainless steel Luftwaffe knife, manufactured in 1939, with an aluminum handle.  The German word for stainless is "Rostfrei" ("rust free"), and surprisingly, the German word for aluminum is "aluminium".

There are copious examples of the letter "J" being used for the letter "i" in type-written documentation.  On this knife, the lower-case "L" is simply stylized.

20230514_043527.jpg

20230514_043543.jpg

20230514_043609.jpg

20230514_043625.jpg

20230514_044018.jpg

Manufacturers in Germany made cutlery for both the government and the private sector.  The Luftwaffe simply stamped their insignia on the same cutlery, as the examples below show.  Both examples are contemporary with each other.

 

Sources:

Images 1 & 2:

https://www.bunkermilitaria.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=43811&Store_Code=BM&Category_Code=

Images 3 & 4:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165765964760?hash=item26986be3d8:g:TWkAAOSwHaFjaXWy&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0HjbVq4X1r00y%2FgGiSNYxaS7D3MgUDY2bTRU4pbFfcFDvQ7yeeK9IohzTQCHLiaXfrYlNZ5xAhoBId69rKGo8C8jhP0MJqCDyyVrqLskT0%2FBXiZtTnq0GX8K6AKzrvWZHePV13DlbmkxOkHGuqS4FHftW5dlSvGPf55tGcC%2FPJ0HTS1NrwEUtvOECb0oUl5%2BQpNslP0ampWzpv3OEUeVCav02%2B%2BQBVGmJ17dkuv6tQkndPJ8ugB7FvdR32SnIbpNqV2JcF4Qnoz%2BJdHCRdofch0%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9jgkZmDYg

 

 

44311_01.jpeg

43811_02.jpeg

loffel(♧).jpg

loffel(♧♧).jpg

One more example, to compare with the last four images.

 

Source:

https://www.warsendshop.com/products/german-aluminum-spoon

 

IMG_20200913_224524_1024x1024.jpg

IMG_20200913_224539_1024x1024.jpg

IMG_20200913_224549_1024x1024.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

S.ChrisKelly

Images 1 & 4 in post#3...

 

Handle shows a "W.J.S.39" hallmark,  which stands for the manufacturer Wilhelm Jordan and was made in Solingen, Germany in 1939 ("Wilhelm Jordan Solingen 1939").

 

Also, the hallmark "FL. U.V." which is "Flieger Unterkunft Verwaltung", in English, "Airman Accomodation Adminstration".

 

Source:

https://www.militarytour.com/1939-german-lufftwaffe-spoon-eagle-and-maker-marked.html

 

 

Post#3...

 

The four-leaf clover is the hallmark of Walter Solbach Metalbau, and as seen in images 6 & 7, it is usually accompanied by the initials of the manufacturer, "W.S.M."  As seen in images 9, 10, 11 & 12, the four-leaf clover is by itself.  All of these spoons, in images 6-12 (inclusive) are made by the same manufacturer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

S.ChrisKelly

Explanation:

 

Various manufacturers produced this die-cast cutlery in aluminum.  Batches made for the Luftwaffe were stamped with the Luftwaffe eagle on the obverse, lower handle, and the appropriate manufacturer's stamp (usually the firm's initials, and occasionally a stylized logo) and the last two digits of the year it was produced, post-production. 

 

Other batches of the same cutlery stamped "Germany" on the reverse of the handle were sent to distributors for commercial sale, including exports.  Most of the time, the metallurgy (i.e., "aluminium", "rostfrei", etc.) was also stamped on the reverse of the handle to comply with both sale and export regulations.

 

A commercial/civilian example of this cutlery stamped "Germany" should not be considered a "fake" or "reproduction".  It is contemporary with the 1933-1939 period, except that it's not "military issue/use".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

S.ChrisKelly

Image 1 & 2 source:

(Reference for different sizes)

https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Military-Artifacts/Knives-Blades/7-Pieces-Luftwaffe-Aluminum-Dinnerware-Flatware/lotinformation/58369062

 

Images 3, 4 & 5:

(Reference for metallurgy hallmark)

http://www.raskantik.com/visprodukt.asp?id=15878&katId=16

 

Images 6, 7, 8 & 9:

(Weight of this solid aluminum teaspoon(?)/dessert spoon (?) is .28oz/7.94g)

 

1649_1.jpg

1649_5.jpg

1 (1).jpg

DSCN5134.jpg

DSCN5135.jpg

20230518_205040.jpg

20230518_205107.jpg

20230518_205141.jpg

20230518_210256.jpg

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Look! A reproduction!

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Description:

"GERMAN LUFTWAFFE GERMAN ALUMINUM DINNER FORK – REPRODUCTION

$12.95

Out of stock

SKU: G-97"

 

Source:

https://www.militarytour.com/luftwaffe-german-aluminum-dinner-fork.html

 

 

1-luftwaffe_german_aluminum_dinner_fork_2.jpg

forks27.jpg

Luftwaffe Fork – Top side Luftwaffe eagle with swastika, bottom stamped “HZM39” and “FLUV”.

 

 

(Maker marked HMZ38 for company: Arbeitsgemeeinschaft Holz des Klingenthaler Bezirks GmbH/Schutzenmine, manufactured 1938)

 

 

Correction:

 

Reproduction is hallmarked HMZ39, and manufacture date is 1939.

Correction:

 

Reproduction is hallmarked HMZ39, not HZM39 or HMZ38, and manufacture date is 1939.

Image below is a genuine HMZ39 hallmarked Luftwaffe fork.

 

Source:

https://www.warsendshop.com/products/luftwaffe-barracks-aluminum-fork-1939

 

WWII_German_Luftwaffe_Barracks_Aluminum_Fork_1939_1024x1024.jpg

QpAeV_XVXb9w6ldAOBAlZ7Le3Mompt6pPdeGbxgluVd96-Fe8bfbXIlpNKNb4soqc4Rl90nW79ereMhybtbW24kwa2-urzxGDVrYxZFj79COqWFxOB-Gip2TZpNAcZN439ucxC2wOhgMJpkKBTnafRd9AtkUv_B8GEUEPvGz4pMdTD3Ibf5p_0qpTT5OfEgK8NhhQg5d_grande.jpg

WWII_German_Luftwaffe_Barracks_Aluminum_Fork_1939_Markings_compact.jpg

MLg46H7dyutE6LjXq1PhH3N80szhxnsWR68YrGSwbJVOs0ZubIMJPIHiMXoUQhtewhSQFcuWEY8cGXwJpFeQFE5Cb6rxWJ-OBWrRHJpH8ay0hbmVYCrOH7Rwa67jh4hHS9n2TvkaixrlZwN4gKkex9Pcq-YloDRDHd4VJs8SaOZihFcGVKNub44-ryedERQeQEDoo8Er_compact.jpg

j1bHoQkCl6owwbu5b6T5fHKNfwlc3g-CFR8Zg9oWsUzVcpK6C42NCdKv_KwoB_M0QhcjrEu6YElBZtV0H0JN0agT_Yg8kc-msoErZwc66aqm0X6CiFl7Vs2jzxkTPToYyePSfwrw_i0SbaP94AgLqgK7wJ5dEA7mt-t04t49-dKoRVMycBkMcRw96AfbSNfkjh8-QtGP_compact.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
S.ChrisKelly

This is a complete set of mess utensils, all from the same manufacturer, "W.J.S.39", Wilhelm Jordan, and made in Solingen, Germany in 1939 ("Wilhelm Jordan Solingen 1939"). The knife (Messer), the fork (Gabel), the tea-spoon (Teelöffel) and the table-spoon (Eßlöffel). Also, the hallmark "FL. U.V." which is "Flieger Unterkunft Verwaltung", in English, "Airman Accomodation Adminstration".

 

This is what would have been available to the other ranks in a Luftwaffe mess hall.  Officers generally used silver (.800) cutlery.

 

 

 

20230613_211713.jpg

20230613_211756.jpg

20230613_212012.jpg

20230613_212035.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...