WWII GERMAN DAGGER - SS
An SS dagger meant to be worn by all ranks of the SS was introduced in 1933. This dagger
was very similar to the SA style. The construction of the SS dagger consisted of black ebony
handles with an SS symbol insert located just below the pommel. In addition, a small eagle holding
a swastika is placed on the center of the handle. The fittings are manufactured from plated zinc
metal. The dagger was usually a special purchase item.
Initially, production of the dagger was not under RZM control. It was not until 1934 that the
RZM started overseeing production of the dagger.
The SS dagger is one of the most desirable daggers to obtain by a collector. It is
also a difficult one to find. There are many replicas flooding the market so the
buyer must be very careful when purchasing one.
The hanger is made from leather and has a buckle to adjust the length of
the belt. The hanger is attached to the scabbard via a chromed ring. The
opposite end of the hanger has a clip which bears the RZM control number.
|
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.
|
|
The stiching of the hanger is shown on the following picture. The markings in
one of the rings are also illustrated.
There are a couple of versions of the SS dagger that uses a metal chain for a hanger. These models are known
as the chained SS dagger and the
Honor dagger
The scabbard fittings are held together by flat head screws. The pommel is very
similar to the ones found on the SA daggers.
The handle of the dagger is adorned with a nickel eagle. Later on the war the
eagles were made of aluminum. The maker of the dagger inscribes its trademark on the
bottom of the blade. The RZM control numbers "1198/38" designate the maker of the blade
and the year of manufacturing (1938).
An inscription is found on the obverse side of the blade. This inscription reads reads
"Meine Ehre heist Treue" which translates to "my honour is loyalty".
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.
If you have an interest is seeing other edge weapons of the Third Reich, you can do so by going
to our
WWII German daggers and Swords
identification guide, Where we cover blades from the Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine), Air Force
(Luftwaffe) and other organizations.
| 
Swat the Shopping Bug to view related military items!
