S27352 SS-VT EM'S BAYONET TRODDEL. (Seitengewehr Troddel) 

BACKGROUND: Edged weapon portepees and troddels 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 and on into the Third Reich, with minor modifications. Originally designed as a functional item to secure the blade sidearm to the holders wrist the portepee and troddels evolved into a purely decorative accessory. Allegedly the SS-VT, SS-Verfugüngstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), introduced their first bayonet knots in 1934 with a second pattern based on the army pattern introduced in 1936. For enlisted personnel the main components of, strap, slide, stem, crown, and ball were woven or pleated cotton in different colors representing which unit within a regiment the wearer served. The basic regiment consisted of three Battalions with a Headquarters unit and four Companies each, with two additional Regimental or Headquarters Companies. This resulted in a colorful array of bayonet knots within a regiment with twelve or more assorted color combinations. NCO personnel wore a different type of bayonet knot, that did not show association with a particular unit, but indicated position. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This second pattern SS enlisted personnel’s example consists of the main components of, strap, slide, stem, crown, and ball. The roughly, 12 1/4" long, 3/4" wide, dual laid, white cotton strap has a repeating waffle pattern and two vertical, parallel, interwoven, black stripes near each outside edge. The bottom edge has an interwoven white cotton slide and a red stem in a repeating "V" pattern. The crown is constructed of horizontally laid twisted white cotton braiding while the ball is in vertically laid twisted black and white braiding and both are mounted on an internal wooden base. The ball has a recessed oval dot to the bottom edge with an inset piece of the white strap. The troddel is in overall very good condition with minimal age toning. If the conjecture that the SS troddels followed the army patterns is correct then this particular color combination would indicate service in the 1^ST Company, 3^RD Battalion of an SS-Verfugüngstruppe unit.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $610.00