Original Item: Only One Available. The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf H. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of NSDAP and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.

This is a very good condition German WWII SS Degen (Épée) Dress Sword, complete with the original steel scabbard. It presents very nicely, and does not look to have seen field service, just use on dress occasions, which is how these were usually used. The hilt mounts are all in very good condition with their nickel-plated surfaces showing spots of light wear and oxidation. The pommel cap is the NCO variety, having a flat top with rounded edges. In the center is the ᛋᛋ doppelte Siegrune (Double Sig/Victory Rune) symbol in relief. The symbol is in very good condition and still has the original plating and dark background mostly intact. The "D" guard flows downward through the crossguard area and ends in a tear drop. The leather blade buffer is still present on the blade side of the guard.

The ebony wood grip is totally correct, being one of the types that was later lacquered with black enamel. We see this type of grip on early, unmarked SS Non-Commissioned Officer Degens. Like most, a good amount of the lacquer has worn off from hand wear in center of the grip. Overall it is in really nice shape, with some small dents but no major chips or cracks, as well as a lovely dark brown color.

The upper grip ferrule is a simple ring, and the lower ferrule features the six standing oak leaves. The oak leaves have hand enhancement to the veins as well as the acorn caps. The casting seams are quite interesting as they have had a pebbled surface applied as well as a hand engraved acorn, though this also may have contributed to much of the plating being missing on the ferrule. The grip and ferrule are still tight on the tang, with no wobble.

The blade is a nice 33 inch length, with a lovely shape. It is correctly unsharpened, though there is some scuffing on the edge from what may have been the start of a sharpening attempt. Originally these usually had a matte finish, which is still relatively well retained on this example, and it looks great! The tip is fully intact, and there is just a bit of oxidation near the ricasso and cross guard, which has been cleaned in the past.

The scabbard is nice and straight with only a few small dents, showing only light use. The black enamel paint is retained at about 75%, having had areas chipped and scratched off during service use. There is the correct crazing and checking due to age to what remains. The upper scabbard mount is a beauty featuring the Wotan's Knot. The areas between the loops still retain most of the original blackening. This mount is retained by two dome head screws, one on each of the lower loops of the fitting. The throat is stamped on the top with the SS-Kulturzeichen inspection mark, which is two overlapping ᛋ Siegrune (Sig/Victory Rune) markings inside an octagon. It still has the hanger ring and belt hook loop used to "hitch up" the sword, which has some wear due to use and age.

If you are looking for a great example of an SS NCO'S Degen with an original scabbard, this example will go nicely in any collection. Ready to display!

Specifications:

Blade Length: 33"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 38 1/8“
Guard dimensions: 5 " width x 5” length
Scabbard length: 34”