German, WW2, SS Officer Candidate Sword and Scabbard with Replacement Knot

*German, WW2, SS Officer Candidate Sword and Scabbard with Replacement Knot*

This is a fine example of a German SS officer candidate’s dress sword of the Second World War. It follows the recognised pre-Ehrendegen style carried by aspiring SS officers before they were formally awarded the full SS degen with its inset grip runes. The sword has the classic SS form with a long straight double-fullered blade, nickel-plated stirrup guard, ribbed black grip with tight wire binding, and an oak-leaf ferrule consistent with early SS stylistic conventions. The most notable features are the engraved Kulturzeichen—the intertwined Seigrune emblem—appearing on both the inner crossguard and on the scabbard throat. This mark is associated with Diebitsch-approved SS design and is characteristic of early and candidate-grade SS swords. The blade measures 84 cm, with the sword 97.3 cm overall and approximately 39½ inches sheathed. A silver-grey SS-pattern troddel is fitted to the guard; this is a later but appropriate replacement. The black-painted steel scabbard retains its plated throat and drag and remains complete.

Historical Note:
The full SS-Ehrendegen (Honour Sword), designed by Professor Karl Diebitsch, was formally introduced in 1935–1936 as the regulation sword for SS officers and NCOs who had completed their training. Before receiving this award sword with its prominent SS runic grip disc, officer candidates commonly carried a simpler dress sword that followed the approved SS style but did not yet display the SS runes. These early and candidate-grade swords appear mainly from the early to mid-1930s through to the early war years, and many were privately purchased from SS-approved Solingen makers.

A distinguishing feature of these candidate swords is the use of the Kulturzeichen, an intertwined Seigrune emblem created under Diebitsch’s direction. This symbol is not the same as the SS runes. The SS runes represented membership and authority within the SS and were placed prominently on the awarded Ehrendegen. The Kulturzeichen, by contrast, was a design-approval emblem indicating that the item conformed to the visual and ceremonial standards set for the SS. It was usually placed discreetly on fittings such as the guard or scabbard throat and appeared on a range of SS-approved ceremonial objects.

The presence of matching Kulturzeichen engravings on both the crossguard and the scabbard throat of this sword fits well within the known group of SS candidate and early private-purchase swords produced before or alongside the fully standardised Ehrendegen. Many examples of this type were later brought home by Allied servicemen, and surviving examples are well documented in SS edged weapon reference literature.

*Condition*
The blade remains bright and clean with an excellent finish and no significant blemishes. The ribbed black grip is undamaged and retains its original tight wire binding. The nickel plating to the guard and hilt shows honest age toning and small patches of wear consistent with wartime manufacture. The engraved Kulturzeichen marks on both guard and scabbard throat are clear and neatly executed. The SS-pattern troddel is a later replacement but is visually appropriate. The black-painted steel scabbard is complete with its plated throat and ribbed drag; the paint shows flaking and oxidation, and the drag displays age wear, but the scabbard remains structurally sound. Overall, this is a well-preserved, clean and strongly SS-associated example of its type. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

RQMCAOXIOO_7534219957