Yes, you are right, you did phrase your statement as a question with an interrogation mark (?) at the end of it. I should have been more precise in my comment about it. The issue for myself is, was Herr Gruner in the NSKK? Brigadefuhrers were also ranked in the SA as well as the SS.
Regarding execution axes - yes that is also true. I was really only trying to respond to your question about the sword - and that my ultimate conclusion was that it was a "pageant sword". I still have it, I can make up a better set of photos if you wish - the general style pattern is that of a Landesknecht, a type of general fighting sword which was apparently favoured by mercenaries. But that is another issue,let us not get diverted by discussing it here.
Fred Prinz, you stated: "I�m not an NSKK specialist, and did not do an exhaustive search, but one of my books puts the NSKK H�hnlein dagger at 1938."
OK, Fred, that is a valued observation, so can you pin-point this source of information, please?
My interest here is that if the Huhnlein daggers were introduced in 1938 - same time frame as the adoption of the regular chains - then why do these de-luxe presentation examples have such a poor quality centre mount? To say nothing of the dubious quality of the rest of the chains!
If the Huhnlein Honour Daggers date from this period, then one might expect them to have the 1936-1941 style trademark - regardless of whether or not they have damascus or plain steel blades. Is that not correct?
