Germany. An SS Officer’s Commemorative Damascus Steel Sword, Collector’s Copy, by Stöcker & Co.

(SS Degen für Offiziere). A high-quality and extremely well-preserved collector’s copy SS Officer’s sword, measuring 945 mm in total length. It features an 810-mm long magnetic Damascus steel blade with a sharpened tip and semi-sharpened lower edge, and with a fuller running along the top of both the obverse and reverse. The obverse of the blade bears a gilt inscription of “MEINE EHRE HEIßT TREUE!” (“MY HONOUR IS LOYALTY!”) in Fraktur script, flanked on each side by double Sig runes. The reverse bears a gilt inscription of “DEM JAHRGANGSBESTEN SS-JUNKER IM WEWELSBURGER PISTOLENSCHIEßEN, 1935” (“THE YEAR’S BEST SS-JUNKERS IN WEWELSBURG PISTOL SHOOTING, 1935”) in Fraktur script, flanked by a gilt signature of Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Also set into the reverse ricasso is a gilt maker’s mark of “SMF” for Stöcker & Co., Solingen, topped by the firm’s seated king logo. It sits securely within a multi-piece nickel-plated hilt, featuring a crossguard which transitions into a rounded handguard. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed black celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original silver aluminum wire cord. Inset into the obverse of the handle is an insignia consisting of ringed and silvered double Sig runes, measuring 21 mm in diameter. The grip is topped by a nickel-plated stabilizing ring consisting of oak leaves interspersed with acorns. It completes with a flattened and grooved pommel nut which securely maintains the sword’s structural integrity. With only minor loss of finish evident to the nickel-plated features, this exceptional collector’s copy is in an extremely fine condition.