WWII GERMAN DAGGER - CHAINED SS
The Schutzstaffel(Protective Echelon), abbreviated SS- or (Runic) was a major Nazi organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. The SS grew from a small paramilitary unit to a powerful force that served as the Führer's "Praetorian Guard," the Nazi Party's "Shield Squadron" and a force that, fielding almost a million men (both on the front lines and as political police), managed to exert as much political influence in the Third Reich as the Wehrmacht, Germany's regular armed forces.

This is a 1936 SS German dagger. Used before and during WWII by Germany's SS. Authorized for wear by all SS officers that have been officers since November 9th 1935. Or any member who had belonged to the SS for three or more years as of January 30th, 1936.

The SS dagger models included the chained style (featured here), the non-chained and the honor dagger.

The design of the dagger consisted of a black painted wooden handle. Smooth construction. one side has the SS eagle emcrusted near the center. Just above that is a black circle containing the SS runnes. The head of the eagle is facing right, the eagle is clutching a wreath with a swastika in its center. The handle has a handguard and pommel of metal construction. The scabbard is painted to match the handle. It comes with three metal fittings. One in the throat are, a center piece and one in the tip. The crown and center fittings have brackets designed to hold the chain. The center fitting is unique to the chained dagger. It has a block design with light pebbling as background. The design of the dagger is very similar to that used by the SA and NSKK. YEAR ADOPTED: 1936 LENGTH: 37 cms (14.6") MOTTO: "Meine Ehre heisst Treue" My honor is loyalty Portepee: 42 cms (16.5") Aluminum portepee - for commissioner officers only The hanger of the dagger consisted of a double chain suspension made up of links depicting alternating SS sigrunnen and the characteristic SS skull with crossed bones. The nickel plated chain has two upper and four lower links. The two chains are joined at a nickel plated beltfastener in a modified cloverleaf design. There are no markings in the back of the chain or clip.

This page is a recognition and identification guide for German bayonets. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out specific points that should be noted. One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my German bayonet worth?". A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the Nazi bayonets is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the police sword in the collector's market is illustrated. This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of MilitaryItems.com, a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public. WANT TO LEARN MORE? FAQ's Dagger and sword anatomy Edge weapon RZM numbers German Dagger hangers Edge weapon maker markings Hilt markings German edge weapon materials Perspective view Purchasing a German bayonet

This is a closer look of the clover leaf design of the hanger piece. A celtic design is placed at the end of the chain. A clip is attached to the design. This part hooks to the inside of the uniform jacket. The following picture illustrates how the chain is attached to the center fitting of the scabbard.

The chained SS dagger is one of the most recognizable daggers of the Third Reich. The dagger is identical to its predecessor, the 1933 Standard Service dagger, except for the addition of the chain and the modifications that had to be made to the scabbard in order to accomodate the chain. Some of the modifications include: The addition of a cener scabbard fitting. Whose design ressembles a series of linked swatikas. The upper scabbard fitting was changed to accomodate the chain

The fittings of the scabbard are secured via the use of small screws. It is important to pay close attention to the design of the head of the screws because that is one way in which reproductions can be detected. The tip has a ball type ending. This section is often dented in because the dagger may have been dropped during normal use.

Many German edge weapons are currently reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the collectible.