The gorgets carried by the Standard Bearers of Third Reich organizations are extremely interesting, and good-looking artifacts. They make great additions to a collection of edged weapons. The same organizations that used a unique gorget breast piece to represent the traditions of their service branch also carried a dagger for the same reasons. The two go hand in hand. They also will prove to be great accent pieces with a dagger collection. Hope you enjoy this section.

Gorgets of the Third Reich, by Richard Deeter will greatly educate you on this interesting subject. This book is available in my catalog at the back area under "out-of-print references" section.

GORGETS - 001 - 26493 - VETERAN’S SECOND STYLE GORGET

This Veteran’s gorget can be seen in the Deeter book on Page 158. The gorget has an aluminum style breast plate which measures about 6½ inches in width. It is a crescent shape and has a rolled border throughout. The breast plate has a second style Veteran’s insignia in the center. This consists of a red enamel shield which portrays a black Maltese cross having gold border legs and a gold round field in the center with a black enamel swastika. The enameling is still in perfect shape to this insignia. Going around the insignia is a gold wreath of oak leaves. On either side of the oak leaves are a pair of standartes representing the Imperial period on the left and the Third Reich period on the right. The standartes from the Imperial period show a Prussian crown design with the initials “fr” within a wreath. This, of course, stands for “Frederich Rex. The Third Reich standartes feature Kriegs type flags having mobile swastikas in the center with lines running outward. Even the poles carrying these standartes have proper pole tops, being the Imperial type on the left and the Third Reich type on the right. These designs all have a fine, gilded finish that is mostly all there. There are also two gilded round bosses which retain the neck chain behind. The neck chain is always a crowd pleaser on these pieces, as it alternates links featuring raised, immobile swastikas and raised Iron Crosses. There are a total of 56 links on this neck chain, but I am sure it could vary according to the height of the wearer. On the reverse of the gorget, there is a fitting which retains permanently one side of the chain and on the other side is a tab where the chain is removable. This tab is stamped with the number “1". There is a black felt liner which covers the reverse of this gorget. These gorgets were worn by Veterans during parades. Only the Veterans who were assigned to carry the flag, though, were permitted to wear the gorget. This is a nice example, and, with all of the swastikas on it, it would be quite amazing to the average viewer. Excellent Plus Plus. $795.00

GORGETS - 002 - 26822 - POLITICAL LEADER’S GORGET

This Political Leader’s gorget is a fine example, having all of its original finish. The Political Leader’s gorget is one of the largest types worn during the Third Reich. It is a crescent shape and is about 9½ inches in width. The gorget is finished in a fine, bronze brass look over probably a copper or zinc base. The gorget is bordered with raised out, overlapping oak leaves which run the length. In the center of the breast plate is a great-looking, open-winged Political eagle which looks to the viewer’s right. This eagle is enhanced by factory darkening in all of its recesses. The bird grasps a large wreath in his claws and in the center is a vaulted mobile swastika. Other than a few normal wearing signs on the surfaces of the bronze, this gorget is in choice condition. It comes complete with a neck chain consisting of 31 links. Each one of the links depicts an alternating mobile swastika surrounded by oak leaves and a link featuring a half open-winged Political eagle grasping a swastika. You get a lot of swastikas for your money on these pieces! The chain of this example is stamped on both beginning and end links “RZM/M1/102". The reverse of the breast plate is covered in a green felt. There are a few small moth holes in the felt, but they are nothing and very normal. There are two tabs which retain the chain links. The tab on the right is stamped “RZM M 1/102" which, in this instance, matches that of the neck chain. These always do not match and when they do not, it does not detract. A very fine gorget here.Excellent Plus Plus. $1,295.00

GORGETS - 004 - 26568 - POLITICAL LEADER’S GORGET

This Political Leader’s gorget is in top-notch condition and is identical to the example shown on Page 128 of the Deeter book. The breast plate is made of a lightweight metal and measures a little bit over 9 inches in width. The base metal is coated with an antique looking bronze finish. The finish is 100% throughout this gorget. The edges are bordered with raised out, overlapping oak leaves having outstanding detail. Applied in the center of the breast plate is an open-winged eagle which looks to the viewer’s right. The details to this eagle are extraordinary throughout, and in the recessed areas, they have been factory darkened to give a nice antique look. The bird grasps an oak leaf wreath containing a mobile swastika in his talons. The backgrounds of the wreath have been pebbled to give further relief to the swastika. This fine breast plate is equipped with a matching 31 link neck chain. This neck chain alternates depictions of swastikas with oak leaves and a half open-winged eagle clutching a swastika. You get a lot of swastikas for your money on these pieces! The two ends that attach to the brackets on the gorget are both RZM marked. They are stamped with double open RZM circles containing the code “M1/17". The reverse of the breast plate is covered in a tan felt. This felt has quite a bit of moth tracking which is mostly concentrated on the lower border area. This is commonly seen on gorgets and must have been an irresistible morsel for period moths. The reverse of the gorget has two tabs, both of which are marked with an open RZM circle “M5/8". This number does not match that of the chain, but it is commonly seen with these gorgets where the chain and breast plate do not match. Looking at the chain versus the gorget, though, the color tone and plating color is completely identical. These pieces have always been together. A beautiful gorget here, which would show great in your collecting room.Mint Minus. $1,495.00

GORGETS - 005 - 24831 RAD GORGET

This RAD Gorget is a nickel-plated, heart shaped variety. The nickel plating is nearly perfect, showing only a little bit of age around the rim of the edges. The rest of the nickel faceplate is all there, but does have a couple of minor age stains in the surfaces. This is to be expected, however. The faceplate measures about 5” in height, and about the same in width. The top of the faceplate has the RAD slogan done in an arch shape in Gothic lettering. The lettering is engraved into the gorget and has shading to each letter. It is engraved, “Arbeit adelt”. This Gothic lettering is extremely well done. Applied to the center area is the insignia of the RAD. It consists of a silvered shovel, which has a pebbled background. Raised out of the center is a mobile swastika, which has graining in its surfaces. The shovel rests between two silvered wheat sheafs. This applied insignia is extremely nice. The reverse of the plate is covered in a green whipcord style material. This woolen material has a couple of very minor moth holes, but it still easily remains at 98%. The reverse plate has a clip, which is stamped with the maker, “JMME & Sohn”. Attached to the Gorget is an aluminum finished, steel chain. It is the link-style, wider chain, which we see used on several other types of Gorgets. This Gorget is identical to the one which is shown on page 146 of the Deeter book. These RAD Gorgets are not seen very frequently. Excellent, Plus $1195.00

GORGETS - 006 -26997 Political Leader’s Gorget

This Political Leader’s Gorget is an outstanding example, featuring the shield device that is 9 ½ inches in width. This shield has a fine edge of raised overlapping oak leaves. Positioned in the center, with a 7 inch wing spread, is an outstanding Political eagle. This eagle looks to the viewer’s right and has great detail to his head, breast feathering, wing feathering, wreath, and raised out swastika. There is factory applied darkening in the recesses, to give the bird an antique look. The faceplate of this gorget shows only the most mild of age. Attached to the gorget is a 31-link chain. This chain has both of the lower links marked on the reverse, “RZMM1/102”. The tab on the reverse of the gorget also has this same matching RZM number. These links are composed of half open winged eagles with swastikas, alternating with single swastika links, having four oak leaves around their legs. The reverse of this gorget is covered in a fine green felt. There are two moth holes in this felt. Usually, these are a lot more “mothed”, than this particular example. A very fine piece here, which will display well with your political collection. Near Mint (26997) $1,395.00