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SS AND POLICE DEGEN SECTION

The degens carried by the German Police and the SS were based on a rigid design approved by SS channels in 1936. The degen was composed of a nickeled hilt design with "D" guard shape and black ebony grip. The insignia of the organization was positioned in the center grip - an eagle within a wreath clutching a swastika for Police Degen and a set of SS runes within a round disk on the grip of the SS Officer degen. On the SS NCO degen, the SS runes are contained within the top pommel cap. The scabbards for the degens are the same. They are black with nickel mounts having a weave design. The NCO versions have a built-in drag. The blades are a plain matte-finished variety.

SSPOL - 005 - 24089C - SS OFFICER DEGEN - NO MAKER

This is an early SS Officer Degen, having excellent nickel plated surfaces throughout. The “D” guard, teardrop and pommel cap show some minor age to the nickel plated finish, but it is not bad and would clean up if someone desired to do so. The pommel cap has the usual fluted edges. It still remains mostly crisp. The upper portion of the pommel has a slight hit to the edge ridge. It is not bad, however. The stepped configuration on this hilt is the built-in style. This guard is SS proofed to both the lower hilt portion and the scabbard throat. The lower ferrule has excellent standing oak leaves, which have good detail to the veins. The acorns which separate the six leaves are also well detailed. The ebony grip has the usual thirteen ribs. They are all in good condition throughout. There was some mild chipping to the ribs around the runes button, but we were able to successfully repair this damage and it does not show now. The runes button has matching patination to its nickeled surfaces and the black backgrounds remain at 100%. This grip is tightly wrapped with matching nickel grip wire having the cover strip at the reverse. Wrapped about the lower hilt is a fine original SS portepee. This portepee shows mild age commensurate with the sword, but there is no fraying and the knot is in good condition. The strapping has the textured aluminum bullion surfaces with twin black lines which run its length. The slide is a bullion over-and-under weave, and the stem is the style which has slightly curved surfaces made of silver bullion, and portrays a black circle around SS runes on both sides. The lower knot is an oval shape composed of bullion thread-like material to the lower portion and the cap. The insert is the same material as the strapping of the portepee. A fine portepee here, which is worth quite a bit of money on its own. The scabbard is straight throughout. It has outstanding original black paint, showing only the most nominal of usage. This paint rates at nearly 100% and easily is in near mint condition. The lower mount of the sword is the nickel plated type and the decorative lines have most of the original blackening still in their depths. This fitting is retained by two dome head side screws. The upper fitting has matching patination to the nickel, and looking at the black between the Wotan’s knot, it is nearly at 100%. It is unusual to see an upper scabbard fitting with this much blackening. Very nice indeed! This fitting is retained by the two steel dome head screws on the obverse and reverse. The blade of this sword is still quite nice, being brighter than most of them. It is 31 inches in length and has a few minor smudges in the surfaces, but nothing serious. This blade rates in near full mint condition. The white leather original washer is in place, protecting this example. A good original SS Officer sword here. This sword is in very collectible condition and as most collectors know, these examples have almost disappeared. Excellent Plus Plus. $7,495.00

SSPOL - 006 - 25704C - SS NCO DEGEN - Peter Dan Krebs

This SS NCO Degen is about as nice as you will see. It has an outstanding nickel plated hilt being bright throughout the “D” guard, upper ferrule area and lower quillon teardrop. This nickel finish shows hardly any age at all. The upper pommel cap is the flatter type used for the NCO designation. It has the SS runes at the top which are nicely portrayed in relief. The backgrounds contain nearly all of the blackening. The lower ferrule is slightly darker, having its six standing oak leaves with acorns in between. Each of the oak leaves have been hand-enhanced and they portray the little circles frequently seen on these parts to enhance the veining. The acorns in between, have nicely checkered caps. As is frequently the case, the lower portion of this hilt is not SS proofed, however, the scabbard throat is. The grip of this example is a real beauty. It still contains nearly 100% of its lacquered surfaces. There are only a couple of spots where there is any wearing time noticeable at all. The ribs are nice and crisp throughout and, like all NCO versions, there is no grip wire. A very fine hilt here! The scabbard is also most impressive. It is straight throughout, having outstanding original black paint. This black paint has some normal scratches and wear signs, but it still retains its original factory brightness and it is intact at about 98 or 99%. Only the steel drag shows a little bit of wear on this scabbard. The upper scabbard fitting is also extraordinary, nicely matching the condition of the scabbard shell. It features the nickel Woton knot design and the original blackening in between is nearly 100% - this is rare to see and is a proper gauge as to the overall condition of this sword. This fine fitting is retained by dome head screws on the obverse and reverse at the loop area. The 33 inch blade is just as nice as the outside. It is the standard matte finish design. This blade is in near full mint condition throughout. The reverse ricasso is marked with the second type trademark used by this firm. It is the same as Page 383 in my SS book, right. This trademark features a shield design which encloses a lobster. Around the shield are the block-lettered name of the firm and location, “Pet.Dan.Krebs. Solingen”. A very fine, original white washer is in place protecting the blade. Once again, this is a very fine example and about as nice as you are likely to see anymore.
Mint Minus. $3,395.00

SSPOL - 007 - 25659 - POLICE OFFICER DEGEN - Alcoso

The nickel plating of this Police Officer Degen shows some minor age darkening, but there is no rust or any problems on it, and all plating is still there. The “D” guard, upper ferrule and quillon are nicely detailed. The upper pommel is the style which has the flared out, serrated circumference with a plain, round center. All of the plating is intact throughout this pommel. The ferrule at the lower is the typical style, having the six standing oak leaves with acorns, separating each oak leaf. There does not appear to be much enhancing to the oak leaves or the acorns except in the area where the casting flaw occurred on both the left and right edges. At this point, the leaves and acorns are completely hand engraved. This is quite interesting and well worth the study of collectors. The grip is a fine ebony example, having the usual 13 ribbed sections. The lacquer appears to still be intact throughout this grip and each rib is tightly wrapped with nickel wire. The Police insignia is a copper type, nicely set into the obverse center. This insignia consists of an open-winged eagle which clutches a swastika superimposed over an oval wreath of oak leaves. All of the details still remain to the bird’s head, breast feathering, wing feathering and raised swastika. A nice hilt here! The scabbard is straight throughout on the obverse, having just one small ripple ding on the reverse lower area. The scabbard paint appears as though it may have been redone 10 or 20 years ago. It is a good job, however, and the paint is at 100% and is a matte finish style, which is correct for these swords. The lower drag fitting shows some age and minor lifting here and there. It still, however, is in good condition. This drag is retained by two flathead side screws. The upper scabbard fitting is the usual Alcoso type in that it is silver plated, matching the silver plate of the lower ferrule. There does not appear to be any blackening in the Woton knot, as the patinated silver pretty much would conceal it anyhow. This fitting is unmarked, as is the norm for Alcoso SS Police degens. The fitting is retained by large flatter style head screws at the bottom loop area of the obverse and reverse - only Alcoso used these larger screws. The matte finish blade is a 31.5 inch long example. It shows just the slightest bit of age here and there, but, overall, it is still in near full mint condition. This blade is marked on the reverse with the sideways style trademark. This trademark was the last one used by this firm and it features the scales having the firm’s initials “AWS” interspersed. To the right of the scales, is the firm’s name written in script “Alcoso” over block-lettered city of manufacturer, “Solingen”. The blade is protected by an in-place black leather washer. A good, collectible example. Excellent Plus. $1,195.00


SSPOL - 032 - SS NCO DEGEN - No Maker

This SS NCO example is in choice condition having very fine plating to the hilt. It was cleaned not too long ago and really looks its best. This plating shows only the slightest of age with a tiny bit of freckling near the lower inside of the "D" guard but that is about it. The pommel on top is the flat NCO type and it has good raised out SS runes. These runes have the dark backgrounding which appears to rate at 100%. The ferrule is a good one depicting the six standing oak leaves with acorns separating them. Each oak leaf has had small circles added to bring relief to the veins, and each of the acorn caps has been hand checkered. The casting flaws also have had handwork to cover the areas. The grip is a choice ebony wood example, without wire, as was the style for NCO. This grip has the normal thirteen sections and it is in totally perfect condition. The lacquer which was applied over the wood remains at about 85-90% showing wear but mostly continued to the upper ribs of the obverse grip. A fine hilt here. The blade is a matte finished example which is in full mint condition. This fine blade is fairly long, being 33-inches in length. It is an unmarked example and representative of early construction. The blade has been buffered by a fine white leather washer. This leather has just one little nip out of a small section of the edge, but otherwise, is in perfect condition. The scabbard is straight throughout. It has good original black paint having some normally seen chips and other signs of usage. All in all, though, this paint is still good and rates at about 85-90%. The lower fitting, of course, is built into the scabbard as this is an NCO type. The upper fitting is an outstanding example. The throat is SS proofed and the blackening in the Wotan's knot is nearly 100%. Nice to see this on a fine degen. This fitting is retained by two domehead screws which are applied to the obverse and reverse of the lower loop areas. A very fine NCO showing only modest wear. These unmarked pieces were definitely made the same time as the early Krebs' examples. Very desirable collectible.
Near Mint (22140) $2695.00

SSPOL - 038 - 24164 - SS POLICE OFFICER DEGEN - Alcoso

This is the first SS / Police Officer degen by Alcoso that I have seen. It is the Officer style degen with SS runes on the top pommel. I show an Alcoso NCO type in my SS Book on page 487, but this pommel is the Officer variety. It is interesting to note that it looks a lot like the example on page 488 and 489, but it is also unique. The pommel cap is outstanding never having had a tool applied to it and its fluted edges are still crisp. The center area has SS runes depicted having cut in edges to the lightning bolts and darkened pebbled patterns in between. These runes are longer than the ones shown on page 488, but also more narrow than the ones shown on page 49. They are obviously unique to Alcoso and 100% original to this degen. This statement being said, the hilt of this degen is an outstanding example being typical Alcoso. It has the silver plated ferrule and upper and lower scabbard fittings typical of this producer. They were the only company which did this on their Police swords. The "D" guard and ferrule area with built in step top have good nickel-plated finish. This finish does not look to have been cleaned in some time and really looks great. The all-black ferrule has the oak leaf standing with acorns in between. They do not have much hand accenting typical of this producer, but do show some handwork where the casting flaws occurred on the two edges. The "D" guard ends in a small teardrop just like the one shown on page 487, left. The fine ebony grip has a choice original black color being evenly toned and perfect throughout with no chipping. This grip is tightly wrapped with nickel wire and the center area depicts a copper Police insignia. This insignia depicts a background over wreath with a superimposed, open-winged Police eagle clutching a wreathed swastika. All details are visible on the head, breast and wreath areas indicating this sword had little wear. A very fine hilt here! The scabbard is just as nice as the hilt being straight throughout. This scabbard paint is still perfect having some age spidering, but also still having 100% throughout its surfaces. This paint still has its original luster and is really nice rating near mint. As indicated above the scabbard fittings are the silver plated type. The upper example has fine patination throughout the wotan knot, and as is the case with Alcoso, it has the large head screw which retains the fitting at the center loop. The lower fitting is matching patinated and is in perfect condition. Nice scabbard here. The blade is a 29 ½-inch long example. It has a choice pristine matte finish with needlelike tip. This blade is in full mint condition. It is stamped on the reverse ricasso with the trademark used from 1937-39. It depicts the scales having the firm's initials, "ACS" interspersed. Above the scales is a block lettered firm name, "Alcoso" in arch shape and below the location of, "Solingen". The original brown leather blade buffer is in position. A very rare degen here and in outstanding desirable condition.
Near Mint $2,495.00

SSPOL - 039 - 24591 – SS NCO DEGEN – No Maker

This SS NCO Degen shows a little bit of usage, but still is in good collectible condition. The hilt reflects nickel plating throughout. The ferrule area at the top portion above the grip shows some minor wear to the plating, which probably was caused by the handhold. The plating is still on the obverse however, of this ferrule area. The “D-guard” and quillon area are still in excellent nickel plated condition, and the pommel at the top, reflects perfect condition. This pommel has the SS runes raised out, with choice black background. This background is at least 98%. The ferrule is the darker type which depicts standing oak leaves and alternating acorns. The oak leaves are the style that have little circles engraved into them. The wood grip is in perfect condition. This ebony is the style that did not have wire, as was popular for non-officers. A fine looking hilt here. The long blade is about thirty-four and one-half inches. It is the matte finish type and still is in perfect condition throughout. This blade has crisp fuller and edges, and is easily in near full mint condition. Protecting the blade is the original white leather washer. This washer has turned slightly yellow, but is all there, and is in great condition. The accompanying scabbard is straight throughout. This scabbard has outstanding original black paint, showing only a little bit of carrying time, but still having about 95% - 98% of the original paint. This paint also still has the original factory shine to it. The bottom chape is the built-in style, which is proper for an NCO. The top scabbard fitting has the Wotans knot pattern. The pebbled areas between the weave remarkably have near 100% of the original black. The throat device is retained by two dome head screws which are positioned in the obverse and reverse lower swirl area. The scabbard throat is deeply stamped with the SS proofing. An excellent original NCO degen here and in very collectible condition.
Excellent Plus $1,995.00

SSPOL - 046 - 23125 - SS NCO DEGEN - Peter Dan Krebs

The nickel-plated surfaces of this hilt are in outstanding condition. The plating appears to be 100% throughout. The "D" guard has a fine graceful flow, as does the teardrop quillon end. The NCO pommel cap on the top is also a beauty matching exactly the 100% nickel plating and having choice raised out SS runes. All of the black backgrounding is intact behind these runes. The ferrule is a bright color having never been darkened. It matches exactly the bright color of the upper fitting so apparently it was made this way by the factory. The ferrule features the six standing oak leaves with acorns in between. There is no veining in the leaves, but instead there have been little circles put into them to give relief. The acorns do not reflect much handwork, however the casting flaw spots on the edges have been beautifully hand tooled to camouflage the area. The grip is a fine perfect example having thirteen ribs. It still retains about 60% of the original lacquer showing wear mostly on the obverse areas. The lower hilt is not SS proofed but the upper scabbard fitting is. A fine hilt here! The blade is a 33-inch long example and unfortunately has a spot about 6-inches down from the ricasso. This is a dark age stain about the size of a quarter which appears on both sides. There is also a little smudge around the reverse ricasso area but the obverse is fine. Were it not for these flaws this blade would be in full mint condition as the rest of it is perfect. The reverse ricasso is deeply stamped with the second style trademark used by this company. It consists of a shield containing a lobster. The firm's name and location are block lettered around the shield, "Pet. Dan. Krebs Solingen". The white leather washer is in place. The scabbard is a fine straight example which has outstanding black paint. This paint is about the best you will see and appears original. This paint is 100% and in near mint condition. Overall, a very nice NCO sword and the Krebs maker marked examples are always desirable. Excellent Plus (23125) $2495.00

SSPOL - 048 - 26891 - POLICE OFFICER DEGEN - E & F HÖRSTER

This Police Officer Degen is in an untouched, as-found state and although it has quite a bit of patination across its surfaces, it will clean up substantially. The hilt area features nickel plating throughout. There is some mild freckling in the surfaces and a little overall age, but the plating is still all there. The “d” guard is still in good shape and continues around to a teardrop style quillon. This teardrop has the partially drilled decorative hole on both sides. The pommel cap is the standard type with flat top and umbrella-like fluted lines which come outward from the center. There are signs that the pommel has been out, but there are no marks from the wrong use of tools. The ferrule is a blackened example, having the factory darkening in the backgrounds of the six standing oak leaves with acorns in between. The veining to the oak leaves and the checkering to the acorn caps is quite nicely done. The grip of this example is the ebony type. It is in good condition throughout with no chips or problems. This grip is the type that had a lacquered surface, and in the areas where the lacquer has worn off, the tone of the wood color is more close to brown than black - we see this a lot with ebony wood. The grip is tightly wrapped with nickel wire and, in the center area, there is a recessed copper Police insignia. This insignia is of oval shape, having a laurel wreath border. Superimposed over the wreath is an open-winged eagle which grasps a wreath swastika in a mobile position. The bird still has good detail to his head, breast feathering, wing feathering and also to the crisp swastika. This insignia only has mild wear. The scabbard of this example is straight throughout. It has fairly good original black paint. This paint could use a little compounding and wax and it would probably come up quite nicely. It seems to cover at nearly 100%, showing only mild usage signs. The scabbard shell is equipped with nickel plated mounts. The lower mount has good darkening to the decorative lines and it is retained by two dome head steel side screws. The upper mount shows age but still has about 50% - 60% of the original darkening in the Wotan knot. This fitting is retained by two steel dome head screws in the obverse and reverse area of the lower loop. The throat of this example is stamped with the SS runes. The lower hilt section is also stamped with SS runes. The 33-inch blade is the matte finish type. The blade shows some minor usage signs here and there, but overall, it is still fairly bright and rates at about excellent plus condition. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the double ovals of this company. The ovals trap the firm’s name and location “E.uf.Hörster Solingen”. Inside, there is a large letter “H” and inside of the letter are the smaller letters “h” and “s” with a sword piercing the letters. The original black leather blade washer is in place. A good, basic sword here which should clean up with very little effort.
Excellent Plus. $1,195.00

SSPOL - 049 - 26845 - POLICE OFFICER DEGEN - E & F HÖRSTER

This Police Officer Degen is in fairly nice condition throughout. The hilt section has excellent nickel plating throughout the “d” guard and the quillon area. The pommel at the top does not appear to have been in and out much. The pommel is smooth on the top and has the umbrella-like serrated edges which go outward from the center. The ferrule is a good example, having the six standing oak leaves separated by acorns. The vein areas have been nicely accented to these oak leaves and the acorns have fine hand-accented caps. The lower portion of this hilt is SS proofed. The grip of this piece is a good ebony, being the style which has a coating of lacquer. Where the lacquer has worn, the area beneath is more of a brown color. The ebony is in perfect condition throughout and is wrapped with nickel wire. There is a copper police insignia which is installed flush at the obverse. This insignia consists of an ovaled laurel wreath having an open-winged eagle with swastika superimposed over the wreath. The detail is still exceptional, showing little to no wear to the bird’s head, breast feathering, wing feathering, wreath and mobile swastika. A nice hilt here! The scabbard is straight on the obverse, having a minor ding to about the center reverse. The paint is still original and is nearly 100%. This paint still has good luster to it and would easily clean up to near mint. The scabbard shell is equipped with upper and lower nickel plated mounts. The lower mount has just a tiny ding in the obverse area, but otherwise, the plating is still good and it is retained by two dome head steel screws. The upper mount is also in good condition, having only minor traces of the original blackening in the Wotan knot. The fitting is retained by two dome head steel screws, one each in the lower loop section. The throat of this example is also SS proofed. The blade of this degen is about 29 inches. The surfaces are in the nice matte finish and the original luster is still all there. This blade shows only the most minor of usage signs and is in a near mint state. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the trademark of this producer. It consists of double ovals which contain the firm’s name and location “E.uF Hörster Solingen”. Inside is a large “H” letter which contains a smaller “h” and “s” letters pierced by a sword. The original brown leather blade washer is in place. A nice police degen here, in acceptable condition. Excellent Plus Plus. $1,295.00

SSPOL - 050 - 26990 - NCO POLICE DEGEN - HERMANN RATH

This Police Degen is in excellent condition throughout and is the brand that many collectors really enjoy owning, as it has the SS proofing within a diamond stamped into the blade surface. We will get to this in a minute, though. The hilt of this example is in choice condition. The nickel plated parts, to include the flat pommel top, “d” guard and the two ferrules, are in perfect condition. This nickeling is still nice and bright throughout and remains in a fine, cleaned state, as the collector I bought it from was a fussy sort. The pommel cap is totally perfect with no signs of any ill taking down. The “d” guard is perfectly curved, coming to a fine teardrop quillon end. The lower ferrule features the six standing oak leaves separated by acorns. The oak leaves have good sharp hand enhanced veins and in between is a fine pebbled area over the acorns. The grip is an outstanding gray ebony color. It is totally perfect with no splits, chips or any problems whatsoever. It is the type without wire, as this was the designation for NCOs. At the obverse center is a perfectly mounted aluminum NCO Police insignia. This insignia depicts an open-winged eagle clutching a swastika. The eagle is superimposed over a wreath of oak leaves . There is little wear to this insignia, which is an overall indication of the condition of this fine sword. This hilt is in a mint state. The scabbard is also a beauty. It is nice and straight throughout with the exception of a dinged area just below the U bracket on the reverse. This area appears to have maybe been caught somehow with the original sword hanger, but this is just speculation. It should not be a drawback, as the rest of the scabbard is straight throughout and has outstanding original black paint. This black paint still has its fine original factory luster and other than just a few of the slightest signs of wearing, it is near full mint. The lower drag, of course, is the style that is built-in for the NCO. The upper scabbard fitting is a matching nickel plated type featuring the Wotan knot weave design. The design has nice pebbling in between and appears to not have been painted, but is darkened from time in the weaved center areas. This upper mount is contained with two flush mount headless screws positioned in the lower loop of both sides. The scabbard throat is also impressive, as it nicely overlaps on both sides. The 31.5 inch blade is much nicer than we usually see on Police swords. This blade has a nickel plate finish and it is still quite bright and easily in pristine mint condition. A wonderful sight here on a sword with such a great outside. This mint condition blade is stamped on the reverse with the name “Herm. Rath/Solingen”. It is my thought that Hermann Rath was only a distributor of police swords. I do not believe that they made anything. They did advertise highly, though, in police related materials, as I have seen their ads often in Third Reich magazines. Just below the name is the deep stamping of a diamond having the intertwined SS runes inside. This is the design referred to as the “Kulturzeichen”. This mark meant that the design was excepted for use by the SS. Obviously, the Hermann Rath firm must have had a relationship with Himmler and they chose this unique design to use on the swords acquired by them for sale to the Third Reich Police Departments. The blade has been protected by a perfect conditioned black leather blade buffer. This is one of the best conditioned Police NCO degens you will see and, to boot, it has the very desirable Hermann Rath SS stampings. If I were specializing in collecting SS and Police Degens, I would have to have a fine example of this type.
Mint Minus. $1,795.00