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 armies 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-VT, SS-Verfugüngstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), the military arm of the SS, Schutz Staffel, (Protection Squad), 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 Officers and NCO personnel with minor variations depending on the branch of service and the particular rank. In all there were four patterns of the SS sword 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. 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. Edged weapon portepees were originally introduced in the Prussian army in 1808, and continued to be worn with the Dress uniform, as a tradition and identifying item through-out WWI, the Weimar Republic, (Circa 1919-1933), and on into the Third Reich, with minor modifications. Originally designed as a functional item to secure the blade sidearm to the holder’s wrist the portepee evolved into a purely decorative accessory. Originally SS personnel utilized army Officer’s style portepees with a black leather strap and slide and a silver/aluminum crown and ball. In 1936 a series of four, distinctive, swords and sword portepees/troddels were introduced exclusively for wear by SS, Police and Fire Police Officer’s, Officer Candidates, Senior NCO’s and enlisted personnel. This example portepee was authorized for wear by Senior NCO’s and Officers with the ranks of SS-Oberscharführer up to and including the Reichsführer-SS inclusively.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The roughly, 36 3/4" long, nickel/silver plated, drop forged steel construction blade features roughly, 19 3/4" long, shallow fullers to each side. The slightly age dulled, blade is in overall very good condition with a few small surface scratches and scuffs and light surface spotting. The blade has no visible manufacturer’s markings. The sword has the correct white leather washer 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, ferrule, "D" knuckle bow, pommel and pommel button all retain about 95% of their original nickel/silver plated finish with minor age dulling. The wooden grip retains about 90% of its black dyed finish with small spots of wear to the base wood. The sword comes complete with a second pattern portepee, as introduced along with the SS swords in mid-1936. The portepee appears to be tied to the sword in the correct manner and consists of strap, slide, stem, crown and ball. The woven, silver/aluminum strap has a repeating waffle pattern flanked by two narrow, parallel black stripes near each outer edge. The strap has an interwoven, three strand, silver/aluminum, slide positioned just above the stem. The woven, silver/aluminum stem features interwoven black SS runes encompassed by a circle to each side. The crown and ball are both constructed of twisted silver/aluminum cord mounted on an internal wooden base. The bottom of the ball has an oval recess with an inset strip of the silver/aluminum strap. The portepee shows areas of moderate chafe wear and age and usage toning and some moderate oxidization spotting. 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 nickel/silver plated top 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, stamped, overlapping, angular SS inspection runes within an octagonal border. The scabbard retains about 95% of its black enamel, painted finish but appears to have been touched up. The scabbard also has a plain, horizontal, scabbard band with a raised, metal suspension bar to the reverse and the hanger suspension ring both intact.