Luftwaffe aluminum eating utensils

[triplecanopy]

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.

[triplecanopy]

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.

[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.

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

 

 

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

 

Source:

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

 

[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.

[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".

[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)

 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

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

 

 

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

 

[S.ChrisKelly]

This may be of assistance in idenifying hallmarks:

 

https://www.silvercollection.it/GERMANALPHABETICAL.html

 

[triplecanopy]

Wow! Well done and most interesting. Thanks for your detailed remarks.

[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.