SS officers sword

SS OFFICER DEGEN

The SS Officers degen exist in three types: early, mid and late type.

The early type, has solid nickel fittings and has under the pommel nut a plate, called a "Step fitting".
It is possible to unscrew, but the D-guard and handle will not come off!
However the scabbard mounts of some early types can be found to be nickel plated, some manufactured of solid nickel silver material!
The hilt and scabbard are SS stamped "SS Sigrunen within an octagon".
The scabbard is painted black and is accented with silver colored upper and lower scabbard mounts, having darkened background areas.
The grip is made of turned ebony wood and is wire wrapped. The grip has thirteen grip segments, each separated by tightly wrapped nickel wire.
The grip button is placed just below the fifth rib segment from the top.

The mid period type, has the nickel plate over steel fittings and also the so called "Step fitting".
On the most of these degens you can see also the SS stampings "SS Sigrunen within an octagon" and this also on the scabbard throught and hilt.
Most of the blades on mid period SS Officers degens are marked.
The scabbard and grip on these mid period examples are usually the same like the early type.

The late type, these degens are the so called "Dachau type"!
They do not have the step fitting.
All the fittings on this late type will be made of stainless steel except the pommel nut. This nut will be unplated steel.
The scabbard will be thiner and the hilts will not be proofed.
Marks on this late type are normally found with "PDM" on it, the "P" backwards marked. Some are found with "Rostfrei" on it.
This late type is also never SS proofed.
The ferrule and scabbard mounts are not darkened and the grip button is placed under the fourth grip segment on this late type!

Maker marks:

SS OFFICER DEGEN
ALCOSO
PET.DAN.KREBS
PMD
NO MAKER

SS OFFICER CANDIDATE DEGEN
CARL EICKHORN
HERMANN RATH
EMIL VOOS
WKC

SS NCO DEGEN
ALCOSO
PET.DAN.KREBS
CARL EICKHORN
WKC
F.W. HÖLLER
CARL JUL.KREBS
NO MAKER

SS NCO CANDIDATE DEGEN
PET.DAN.KREBS
HERMANN RATH

For a more complete and professionel information, we recommend the last Vol IV of the Wittmann series "Exploring the dress daggers and swords of the German SS".