Just to throw in a few things--There are period degens with the oak leaf etch. Most have no TM. Most are the unofficial Officer type with no grip runics or the NCO type. Most are late pieces but not the very thin scabbard very late type. Many have initials on the blade and/or the pommel. Most have no tang markings. SOME will have the etch designer's initials in a very small logo of two "P's" or two small case "d's"--one opposite to the other- as a part of the etch near the riccaso. You can see this in Wittmann's SS book in a close up of a sword that was owned by Craig at the time that had an ornamental etch. Wittmann makes no mention of this in the book--but it is there--and it is a clear flag of an original. I got one of these swords from a vet's son and it is in the BW collection. JJ Gillespie also had one of these swords.
