Gunnett,
Thanks for the maker information on your excellent swords. I wonder if anyone else has an example of the Polizei Degen with the SS runes on the pommel nut that differs from your Alcoso example?
I have never been able to figure out a couple of things about the Polizei-F�hrer-Degen:
First, is why are some of the officer grip eagles copper while some are silver color? Obviously, some of the copper eagles seem to never have had silver plating so the loss of silver plate does not seem to answer the question entirely.
Second, were the SS runes in the pommel only limited to one maker or was it an available extra part option that could be screwed onto any Degen?
Thirdly, why would a police officer buy a separate pommel (or a second sword for that matter) if he held dual membership in the SS? Police officers could simply wear the SS Degen and/or the SS Portepee to signify SS membership.
Here is a period uniform plate done by Kn�tel that shows the SS Degen in wear by the police. The Verwaltungspolizei Officer on the right is wearing the sword with the SS runes in the grip (although it is not obvious on the scan) along with the SS Offizier Portepee.
George
