The National Political Educational Institute (Nationalpolitische Erziehungsanstalt) was an SS-run organization established for the purpose of training future leaders for the Reich. A number of NPEA schools were set-up throughout Germany and many of its occupied countries, with most leaders and instructors coming from the SS. There were three forms of Political daggers associated with the NPEA. The Student version, the Staff Leader and the Chained Leader. The Student version (produced by Karl Burgsmüller and WMW) had no insignia in the SA style wood grip. The crossguards were solid nickel on early versions and aluminum on later types. The scabbards were an all- steel version painted olive drab. There were no mounts on the scabbard. The blades were etched with the motto of the NPEA, Mehr Sein als Scheinen (Be more than you appear). The Staff Leader versions were produced by Eickhorn, and were identical to the Student, except there was a National eagle design in the grip. The Chained Leader (produced by Burgsmüller, Eickhorn and WMW) was worn by instructors and leaders of the NPEA. The dagger itself had the National eagle in the grip but was otherwise the same as the Student version. The scabbard was olive drab, having three nickel plated mounts. The upper and center scabbard mounts carry a chain hanger.

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1. NPEA #30384C NPEA Chained Leader Dagger – Carl Eickhorn

   This rarely seen NPEA leader’s dagger is identical to the one that is shown in the Weinand NPEA dagger book on Page 12 in color. This textbook example has nickel plated cross guards and tang nut. The plating, although all there, does have some freckling in the surfaces. It is not bad, though, and the guards are still nice and bright. The grip is a fine mahogany type which has vertically running grain. The grip has a pleasing red tone with a sharp constructed center ridge. This grip, of course, is void of any insignia at the top and in the center it features a nickel grip eagle. It is the style eagle with beak which points upward. The eye, beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, wreath and raised swastika are all crisp with little wear. This grip is in near perfect condition, the only flaw being a small crack at the lower left side where the grip meets the cross guard. This same crack appears on the back side slightly further to the left. This grip fits like a glove and is very impressive. The scabbard shell is straight throughout the reverse and on the obverse has a small ding in the form of a “bb” type but it is very negligible and looks as though it was caused by something heavy being placed on top of the scabbard. The scabbard has the original olive drab paint. This paint is in near perfect condition, rating at least at 99%. There is some “orange peel” in the painted surfaces but that is the way you see these things. The scabbard shell is equipped with the three Eickhorn mounts. The mounts, like the cross guards, have just a slight amount of freckling in the surfaces but the plating is still all there. The upper and center mount are nearly free of the freckling, though there is more of it to be seen at the lower mount, particularly on the obverse side. The upper mount is equipped with the thick throat we normally see produced by this maker. The center ramp has the sharp edges we normally see with this Eickhorn part and the eyelet is the same size as the upper eyelet. On Eickhorn examples, we want to see a screw on the opposite side retaining this ramp. If you have a Bergsmuller and there is a screw on the center ramp, you better run for the hills! The lower mount has a perfect, never-dropped ball and the screws are also in place here, never having been turned. Attached to the eyelets is a Luftwaffe style aluminum chain. This chain only has three ringlets at the top and five ringlets at the bottom. Obviously, the original wearer adjusted the chain to his liking. The ringlets are attached to a matching “ges. gesch.” marked snap clip which has the diamond “OLC” stamping on the reverse. The blade of this example is absolutely the best you will see. It is completely mirror bright and has 100% of the original cross graining. Other than the normal runner marks, this blade easily grades in full mint condition. The tip remains needlelike and the motto is nice and crisp, having very dark backgrounds. The motto “Mehr Sein als Scheinen.” means “Be More Than You Appear to Be.” On the Eickhorn version, the capital “S” letters are the gothic style. The blade of this example fits the cross guards fairly well but is not as tight as some. In my opinion, Eickhorn was never known for their close-fitting blades anyhow. The reverse ricasso is matching-etched with the 1935-41 squirrel trademark. This squirrel retains a downward pointing sword and he is sitting on the factory name and location. Above is the word “original” which means the same in German as it does in English. This is your opportunity to acquire one of these rarely seen Eickhorn NPEA leader’s daggers. This example is not in full mint condition, but it is close enough to be the highlight of most collections.

   Excellent Plus, Plus. $9,495.00(#080410)

2. NPEA #28339 NPEA Chained Leader Dagger - Karl Burgsmüller

   This chained NPEA dagger is of later production but still is of the vintage where the cross guards were nickel plated. It is probably circa 1939. These nickel plated cross guards are in pretty good condition throughout, still having all of the plating. There is some freckling, however, evenly spread throughout the surfaces of both the upper and the lower cross guard. The tang nut has a matching nickel plated finish, also with minor freckling. This dagger had never been apart when we received it and since it was missing a felt washer, we did make this installation and found it necessary to disassemble the dagger to do this, but other than this addition, this piece has never been apart. The grip is the standard NPEA type not having any insignia at the upper area. The wood is a medium brown color having mild graining in the finish. There are no chips or breaks anywhere on the grip. There are some “tap-tap” marks at the very top of the reverse of the grip where someone mistook this dagger for a hammer long ago. They are not bad though. The grip eagle is an aluminum type and is the style with “point behind the head” eagle. The bird’s head has wear to it, with no detail remaining, and the breast feathering also shows wear but there is some detail still in the center areas. The open wings still are in good condition as are the legs, wreath and raised out swastika. This grip nicely fits the cross guards. The scabbard of this example has a good straight shell. This shell has the original Burgsmüller color olive drab paint. This paint shows some spidering in the finish and a couple of very minor chips here and there, but overall it is pretty good and still rates at about 98%. This shell is fitted with nickel plated fittings. These fittings show some plating loss and some freckling underneath. The upper fitting is nearly perfect, having just a little bit of a flake at the right obverse surface. The center example is the typical Burgsmüller type with good rolled edges. This fitting shows some plating wear at the obverse and rates at about 50% here and on the reverse it is much better but still has some freckling and a couple of tiny flakes. Both of these mounts are fitted with the special ramps used by Burgsmüller to accept the chain hanger. The lower fitting matches the other fittings nicely. This fitting has never been dropped, having a good ball, but there is freckling in the surfaces and there is some loss of plating on the reverse. This mount has about 85% of the original nickel plating. The original dome head screws are in place on the lower mount as well as the upper mount. They are unbuggered and all there. As is normally the case with Burgsmüller, there is no retaining screw in the center mount. This mount apparently was retained in place by being installed hot on the scabbard shell. When the metal cooled, its shrinkage made for a tight fit. The chain of this example is most unusual and is the first of its type I have seen. The clip is a nickel silver type having good silver plating. It is marked on the reverse “OLC” and has the patent pending marks “Ges. Gesch.”. The links are the round type and they also are nickel. There are six of these ringlets on the top and there are eight of them on the bottom chain. They are unusual in that the connectors are the same size as we normally see with aluminum chains. In this case, though, these connectors are matching nickel having good silver plating. It makes for a very heavy chain and, I must say, a very substantial example. It is well known that you can see almost anything with these NPEA daggers and especially the chained examples. This dagger is the same type as is shown on Page 136 of Johnson’s Volume VI and also on Page 14 of the Weinand NPEA book. The chain itself is probably unique. So far, no books show this type. The chain hanger is also equipped with a belt loop. This belt loop has brown leather in excellent condition and is fitted with a nice nickel plated “d” ring. The blade of this piece is still bright and has most of its original factory cross graining. There are a couple of very mild smudges, most on the ricasso of the front and the back, but that it about it. The motto is nice and crisp and has good dark backgrounds. The letters are very well done and are the best you will see. This blade grades at near mint. The reverse ricasso is etched with the NPEA distributor “Karl Burgsmüller Berlin”. This trademark indicates that the dagger was of later vintage, this being the 2nd style trademark used by this producer. This is in keeping with the aluminum eagle seen in the grip. As stated above, we did install a tan felt buffer made of period material and being exactly the type that would have been with the dagger originally. Other than this, this dagger is in an entirely untouched, as-found condition. This is a great opportunity to acquire a rare chained NPEA leader’s dagger for a somewhat reasonable price.

   Excellent Plus. $6,995.00