BACKGROUND: The Sword/Sabre is an age old military tradition, that evolved from a functional weapon into an item of uniform dress ornamentation by the start of WWI. This strong tradition continues in many army’s to this day as a symbol of strength and power. After Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 and the reintroduction of conscription in early 1935 a wide variety of new sword and sabre designs were introduced to outfit the rapidly growing Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces). Originally, (circa 1934-36), personnel of the SS-Verfugüngstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), the military arm of the SS, utilized an altered army Officer/NCO’s sword with the army style gold finished components modified to a silver finish. In mid-1936 distinctive swords were designed and produced exclusively for wear by SS-VT, Police and Fire Officer’s and NCO personnel with minor variations depending on branch of service and rank. There were four patterns of the SS swords all with minor variations. The variations were determined by the rank/position of the wearer and consisted of the Officer’s sword, the Senior NCO’s sword, the SS-Officer Senior Candidates sword and the SS-Officer Junior Candidates sword. The SS swords came accompanied with specific Portepees, depending on rank, and specific hangers to suspend the sword from the load carrying waist belt. SS Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and edged weapons and as a result the SS established the SS-Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system in Munich in 1935. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s were allotted a one time clothing allowance from the government with the amount varying depending on the individuals rank. In order to purchase a SS sword the individual was required to have the proper authorizing documentation and submit his request to the SS-WVHA, SS-Wirtschafts und Verwaltungs Hauptamt, (SS-Economic and Administration Department), in his district which forwarded it to the head SS-WVHA, department in Berlin. Of Note: The RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was official founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP as a Reich Hauptamt, (State Central Office), and was based on the earlier SA Quartermaster’s Department. The functions of the RZM were not only to procure and distribute items to Party formations, but also to approve chosen designs and to act as a quality control supervisor to ensure items manufactured for the Party met required specification and were standardized. Starting in late 1934 items manufactured for the SS came under the quality control of the RZM and as a result were marked with the RZM logo when appropriate. In 1943 the Waffen-SS assumed full control over production of their items, including edged weapons and production no longer fell under the authority of the RZM. Bestowal of the SS swords was discontinued by regulations on June 26^TH 1942, and further wearing of the swords was prohibited in August 1943, except for ceremonial occasions to be reinstated at the successful conclusion of the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The roughly, 33" long, nickel/silver plated, drop forged steel construction blade features roughly, 20 3/4" long, shallow fullers to each side. The blade has slightly dulled with age and shows minor surface spotting and scratching. The reverse ricasso is well marked with the stamped manufacturer’s logo, name and location. The logo consists of the likeness of a crab/crayfish within a rounded bottom, shield shaped, border flanked by the manufacturer’s abbreviated name and location, "Pet. Dan Krebs Solingen", (Peter Daniel Krebs). Of Note: The manufacturers logo of the crab/crayfish cleverly mimics the manufacturers last name, "Krebs", (Crab/Crayfish). The white leather washer is intact. The hilt consists of a nickel/silver plated, tooled steel cross guard, ferrule, "D" knuckle bow, pommel and a black dyed, wooden grip with horizontal ribbing. The plain cross guard features a downward curving arm to one end and extends upwards into the "D" knuckle bow, with a raised central spine to the other end. The bottom of cross guard doesn’t have the frequently encountered SS inspection runes. The ferrule is ornamented with a vertically embossed, repeating oak-leaves and acorn design. The oval pommel button is also plain, with a circular recess to the top edge with the embossed SS runes. The cross guard, "D" knuckle bow and pommel and pommel button all retain about 80% of their original nickel/silver plated finish with minor age dulling and numerous small lifting bubbles while the ferrule only retains hints of its nickel/silver plated finish and has mostly reverted to the base steel with moderate surface spotting. The blackened wooden grip appears to have been touched up with black paint. The sword comes with its original, magnetic, sheet metal scabbard with a nickel/silver plated, ornate top fitting and an integral, drag fitting to bottom. The top nickel/silver plated fitting features a Celtic swirl pattern with a recessed blackened background field. The top fitting and the throat are retained by two, small, dome headed screws. The scabbard throat has the correct, faint, stamped, overlapping, angular SS inspection runes within an octagonal border. The scabbard retains about 95% of its black enamel, painted finish but also appears to have been touched up. The scabbard has a plain, scabbard band with a raised, metal bar to the reverse and a suspension ring both intact, near the top edge.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $2,457.00