Hi Eric,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

WKC stands for Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co., a major and long-established blade manufacturer in Solingen, Germany — the country’s traditional center for military sword and dagger production. They supplied Imperial German military swords (19th–WWI), Third Reich era daggers and sabers (including Luftwaffe patterns), as well as modern ceremonial swords for many countries even today.

The inscriptions on this blade: "In dankbarer Anerkennung (In grateful appreciation / recognition)" and "Der Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe Hermann Göring
(The Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Hermann Göring.)” were not a standard inscription used on issued weapons. Instead, the phrase only appears on: high-level presentation pieces gifted to Luftwaffe personnel for honor or service... or post-war reproduction “souvenir” pieces marketed to WWII collectors. These will have different values, with authentic presentation pieces worth more than reproduction souvenirs.

I've valued this as a souvenir since you don't share any details about how it was acquired but if you have information that would denote this as a Nazi presentation sword please let me know as that will increase the value.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A reproduction Luftwaffe ceremonial sword
made by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co (WKC) in Solingen, Germany, second half 20th Century
With scabbard, the blade inscribed "In dankbarer Anerkennung" and "Der Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe Hermann Göring; the gilded hilt with cord-wrapped handle affixed with the Third Reich (Nazi) eagle and swastika, stamped WKC on the ricasso.
DIMENSIONS
CONDITION: This is in very good nearly-new condition.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$200-300*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia