Personally I would be careful with using the word never. About 5 years ago or so there was a lion head saber on the forum with what appeared to be a period cast in place set of Sigrunen on the langet, an etched blade along with the SS Kulturzeichen on the hilt that appeared to be an old stamping. And other than some aging - it seemed to be untouched. With the often repeated old collectors tale of the SS Kulturzeichen being Diebitsch's "personal mark", "trademark - whatever" in a rather lengthy discussion elsewhere having no discernible basis in TR period evidence/publications. Best Regards, Fred