UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons German Sword & Miniatures Forum WKC NCO Police Degen

Hello Everyone,
I have a question about a nco Police degen by WKC i have the oppertunity to buy. I know a little on their value, but this one has me stumped. I'll try to discribe it to a tee without the pics since i did not have a camera on me and it was brought to my girlfriends family gathering without prior knowledge that it would show up.

1. The Hilt has 95% or better of the nickel plating left, with no damage just normal ware spots on the guard edges. The pommel is the flat oval type with no etchings etc. 100% plating intact.

2. The ebony grip has a scratch across the front below the eagle covering 4 rib sections, not bad but there.

3. The eagle insert is aluminum or a silver type not sure, but looks aluminum. with minor damage at the feet just above the wreath, from the same scratch on the grip, again not bad but there (Looks like it was droped).

4.The underside of the hilt has a 26 stamped on it 2 on one side of the tang slot and 6 on the other side.

5 The original leather pad is in place and in good shape.

6. The ferrule has 100% of the nickel plating and 98% or better of the black background intact.

7. The blade tang is stamped 26. The standard wkc stamping is nice and crisp on the ricasso.

8. THE BLADE EDGE IS GROUND SHARP, Looks profesional done but not proper.

9. The blade plating itself is EXC + to EXC ++ except the grind marks as mentioned.

10 The scabbard upper fitting/throat is in near mint condition has 98% of the black background intact and some patina on the throat.

11. The scabbard has about 95% of the original paint intact with surface rust where it has worn off (normal ware spots). Ring is intact with the original hanger clasp attached but the leather or fabric is gone to time.

12. The scabbard has three dime size dings just below the scabbard ring, looks like a light door slam, not bad but there.

This is a vet bring back from my girlfriends great uncle who passed 9 years ago and was found when the wife of the departed was cleaning out a closet.
Other than the sharpened blade edge it would rate overall EXC ++ to EXC +++ conservatively.
I'm just looking for a general price range. I would guess it around $550.00 considering the blade grind, let me know if I'm close.

Thanks for any help as i lack knowledge on degens.

Sincerely
Eric


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Eric, I don't think the price range is unreasonable, based upon your desription. I would note most of these degens by far were made with unplated blades. It may be this one was polished out by whoever sharpened it and it appears to be plated. It could also have been plated postwar. These blades most often have a "matte," unplated finish. It is not too difficult to restore these blades with a lot of work, patience and proper abrasive materials.

Thanks for the advise Grumpy, I think you are right the finish was not shinny but a matte finish.
Any ideas what the 26 stamping on the hilt and blade tang means.
Eric

It's hard to say exactly what the numbers mean, Eric. Most likely, they are unit numbers or perhaps the owner stamped them for personal identification. Since it is an nco degen, they may be inventory or accountability numbers, if the sword was the property of the police and periodically issued for parades, etc. This would have been particularly true in a training environment.

I bet the numbers are for assembly by the maker. Seems like I have seen some like it on Police degens before and, for sure on luft swords.

To an EDGE WEAPON collector its the blade that matters and it sounds like this one has serious problems.It would be better to spend a few hundred more for one that has no problems.I am sure you could find one for.$700.00-$800.00

Zorro you are 100% correct. This is not your regular dealer buy but comes from my girlfriends aunt whose husband served in the war, if this were not the case i would have passed on it, we think the uncle sharpened it for home defence and would only serve sentimental value for my girlfriend. We don't know why he would do this because he also had a liberated factory cased Luger he could have used. The son took that one and he has put 100 rounds through it (meathead), I told him it's value in factory new condition but he didn't listen. That's another story for another forum.

If anyone has concrete knowledge on the numbers stamping please let me know.

Thanks for all the help
Eric

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