SS Officer’s Degen by Krebs – D999
What many collectors don’t realize, is that just because you were an officer within the SS, it didn’t by any means qualify you automatically to be able to own, and wear the honor degen. There were very specific requirements laid forth by the Reichsfuhrer H. Himmler, that had to be met, in order for an individual to be entitled to wear the SS Ehredegen.
Among those strict requirements were the following:
1. Initially these swords were awarded to battalion commanders and higher ranks, within the SS Verfugungstruppen (SS-VT)
2. Additionally, those SS officers who held the rank of Standartenfuhrer and above within the Allgemenine, prior to April 1936, also qualified an individual as well. This is the date that the “official model 1936 SS degen” was first introduced.
3. The award was further extended to those that were department heads within the SS-Hauptamter or SS Main Office, directly under the Reichsfuhrer.
4. And finally, the newly graduates of the SS Officer Candidates Schools from Bad Tolz & Braunschweig, were also recipients of the SS Ehredegen.
The SS Honor Sword was in of itself a true award. It was presented with a personalized certificate, and was noted next to the recipients name in the SS Dienstaltersliste.
As many collectors are aware of, the handles on these swords were as fragile as those counterparts that we see with both the M33 & M36 SS daggers. Any type of hit to grips usually resulted in a rather unsightly chip, broken rung, or damage around the SS runes emblem itself. On top of that, the factory enamel that these grips were painted with was also quite susceptible to flaking and chipping. As a result the underlying wood gets exposed and you end up with a more brown handle with a little bit of black paint remaining. Well that aside, I have to say that the grip to this degen is truly about as nice as it gets. Not only is the wood nearly perfect, void of any chips, cracks, splits or missing material, the period black painted surface remains strong at 97%. Nicely wrapped and super tight around the circumference of the 13 sections rungs, all of the decorative silver wire is intact. Save for one end of the 7th strand on the reverse side. It looks like it separated under the vertical metal strap. As a degen produced a year after the introduction of these edged weapons in the spring of 1936, the hilt components of this sword are steel composition, with an aluminum SS runes emblem. As shown in the photos, the hand guard, both ferrules, and pommel, have taken on an undisturbed patina over their surfaces. As nothing has been touched nor cleaned on this edged weapon since being returned as a souvenir from WWII. Typical for this time frame of manufacture, the under side of the crossguard is stamped with the SS runes proof mark, exactly like the lip of the scabbard is as well. Completing this beautiful hilt assembly is a fine looking toned SS officer knot in typical fashion tie around the grip and crossguard.
The scabbard to this degen is absolutely as nice as they get. It remains as straight as can be, void of any hits, dings, bends, dog legs, or splits. The factory enamel is outstanding, and rates 99.99%. A little bit of surface dullness being the only evidence of this magnificent paint job was done during the infamous 3rd Reich period. As with the hilt components, both upper and lower fittings have taken on a dark uncleaned patina, totally matching this sword from pommel nut to lower scabbard drag.
And finally the 33” blade. It remains full length, straight, void of any sharpening, tipping, or cutting edge chips. A gorgeous un-polished matte finish graces both sides, from hilt to tip. It has a little bit of surface age where the wood runners trapped some moisture at one time in the riccasso area, and just a few small specks at the tip. That aside, you really couldn’t ask for a much nicer blade on one of these desirable SS officer’s degens than what you are seeing here. Up against the crossguard is the proper off white washer frozen in time. On the reverse is the 2nd trademark that the Peter Dan Krebs edged weapon firm used on their SS officer’s blades. That being of the lobster logo.
I can’t say enough about this beautifully untouched and well preserved SS Ehredegen. SOLD