Officers Dachau Degan
Hi all. I’m pretty new to the hobby and am trying to learn all that I can before spending $$$.
An SS officers Dachau degan is on my short list. I am looking at one on TWs site and would like some advice. The SS rune does not look like any I have seen before and to me looks kind of “smushed in.” Is this a normal variation?
TIA for any input you may have.
PS: I am not implying there are any shenanigans by the seller, whose videos I have been following for awhile.
I reached out to an advanced collector friend of mine as these Dachau type degens are tricky.
Here is his quote :
" It is all correct for a Dachau degen.
The background of the runes may have been darkened a bit. Be advised that many Dachau swords were have known to been put together by GIs when the camp and the Muller forge were liberated. ( End Quote )
Regards Larry
It is not the size of a Collection in History that matters......Its the size of your Passion for it!!- Larry C
“The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” - Winston Churchill
Thank you Larry
I appreciate the information!
The dachau degens do not have the secure press down cap beneath the pommel, so they can easily be taken apart.
The pommelcap is screwed straight on the Tang, and not inside the hilt.
As Larry pointed out its a textbook one, no blackening on the fitting, side flush screws on the top scabbard fittings, they have no Gahr stamps on the throat or below the guard.
They are therefore cheaper in compare with the earlier ones with pressed caps below the pommel.
Ken has a nice one for sale on WAF, it come with an original Portepee for just below 5K.
Cheers,
Ger
That is a nice specimen and fair price for one with the original portepee.
A number of years ago when I started blade collecting there were the Dachau 'believers', and 'non-believers', and I was one of the 'believers'. As time went on I found that the 'non-believers' were usually better educated/informed and I began my own research also using my experience and education with TR period Wehrmacht items etc. IMO with their own money guys can purchase whatever they want to - but at this stage in my collecting I'm done with humped up copies of what is supposed to be a gift from the RFSS. Best Regards, Fred
(PS: I am NOT referring to the unique Damascus swords.)
Fred i think you pointed out the reason why these Degens are way cheaper then the ones with the pressed cap underneath the pommelcap.
These Dachau Degens are easy to put together and therefore easy to fake, the reason why many collectors stay away for these ones.
Many collectors therefore choose textbook ones with provenance, like the early Krebs Degens, i can understand the reasons for doing that.
I haven't made my mind up if they are the real deal or not, just noticed that the one shown has all the features the Dachau Degen should have.
Best
Ger
btw.. and yes the buidling quality is not that high as the other ones
Ger, we are in an agreement that the workmanship is generally substandard (or worse).by gerrit
............. It might surprise you to know that there was time when I was a "believer" on this forum and some others. But as I have found out with some other "TR collector favorites" is that advice from some more knowledgeable old timers turned out to be correct. (The so-called "Dachau swords" being of them - some of the guys did not like them.) In January of 1941 a directive from Himmler was prepared declaring that the swords were no longer going to be awarded because of problems with steel quotas. In August of 1942 Himmler forbade the wearing of swords (except for some special occasions) that also being the year of shortcuts/substitutions for the Wehrmacht and the end of RZM/other dress blade production. A year later pistols were mandated. A question: The swords from Himmler had an award document. Does anyone have a late period (authenticated) one to share? ..............
In the interest of brevity along with some very appropriate TR period documentation I did not include information from Albert Speer's memoirs (Minister for Armaments and War Production 1942-1945). Because of the major problems in the Russian campaign - and much too lengthy to address here, the tools, materials etc. etc. that Himmler had in his control were focused on actual weapons (versus substandard quality dress swords). After the war was over of course Solingen had leftovers of German Police swords etc. etc. that could be (IMO) assembled as "SS" swords for GI's and the "collector market" - dealers etc. with new parts made or modified as needed. Best Regards, Fred
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