Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very desirable service used German WWII Model 1936 Chained SS Dienstdolch, complete with its Type II chain assembly and original anodized steel scabbard. The dagger itself follows the familiar SS service dagger form with ebony grip, SS runic roundel, national eagle, and etched Meine Ehre heißt Treue motto, while the chained scabbard distinguishes it as the later Model 1936 pattern. This example has the unmarked blade associated with purpose produced M1936 chained daggers and displays an attractive combination of honest wear, original fittings, and a substantially complete Type II chain rig.

The Model 1936 chained dagger was introduced for wear by SS officers as well as qualifying Old Guard NCOs and other ranks who had belonged to the organization before 30 January 1933. It was not simply an officer-only dagger, although it is commonly described in the collecting community as the “Chained SS Officer Dagger.” Earlier M1933 daggers could also be retained by qualified members and fitted with separately obtained chained scabbards, which accounts for surviving chained examples with earlier maker marked blades. Purpose produced Model 1936 examples, however, are well known with unmarked blades. For additional information on the numerous chain, scabbard, and fitting variations, please see Thomas T. Wittmann's Exploring The Dress Daggers and Swords of the German SS.

The blade on this example is unmarked on the reverse, consistent with the standard purpose produced Model 1936 configuration. It remains bright overall but has clearly been cleaned in the past to remove light oxidation, staining, and accumulated grime. This cleaning has unfortunately removed almost all of the original Pließten factory crossgrain and has left the surface somewhat matte, with scattered cleaning marks and light scratches. There is no major pitting that we can see, although traces of earlier peppering and staining remain visible. The cutting edges remain correctly unsharpened, the tip is intact, and there are only a few very small dents along the edge. The blade shoulders fit the lower guard very well.

The obverse carries the acid etched SS motto:

Meine Ehre heißt Treue

usually translated as “My Honor is Loyalty.” The motto remains clearly legible, although the edges of the etching have been softened somewhat by past cleaning and the original darkening within the letters has been removed.

The upper and lower guards and tang nut are of mid production nickel plated alloy construction. The guards retain crisp edges and well defined decorative grooves but show substantial age to the plating, including bubbling, flaking, and areas where oxidation has developed in the exposed base alloy. The reverse shows particularly noticeable light peppering where the plating has worn away. The grip was previously removed for inspection and no internal guard markings were observed. The nickel plated steel tang nut shows turning and marring to the hexagonal section, with most of its plating now gone and staining to the exposed surface. When hand tightened, the hilt remains secure on the blade tang.

The ebony grip remains in very good condition for an SS dagger and retains attractive dark color and visible grain. It shows light scratches and pressure marks overall, together with a small crack extending between the upper guard and SS roundel. Small chips are present at both upper corners on the obverse, and another chip is missing along one side near the lower guard. These are noteworthy but relatively limited condition issues given the brittle nature of ebony grips of this type.

The SS runic grip button is positioned at approximately the 7 o'clock position. The silvered ᛋᛋ double rune device and surrounding double circles retain much of their original finish with a lightly oxidized patina, minor verdigris, and only light wear to the enamel. The aluminum grip eagle is the high necked pattern with the beak angled slightly upward. Its head, breast, wing feathering, talons, wreath, and hook cross remain crisply defined with only light wear.

The scabbard uses an early style steel shell that remains straight and free from dents. It originally had a black anodized or chemically blackened finish protected by a clear lacquer coating. Much of that protective surface has been lost over time, allowing scattered light pitting to develop. The upper section above the center ramp retains the blackened finish particularly well, while the lower portion has suffered substantial loss, apparently from past abrasive cleaning. This is most evident on the obverse, where only approximately 20% of the original blackened surface remains between the center ramp and drag. We do not see evidence that the shell was subsequently repainted or refinished.

The scabbard represents an interesting transitional combination, with the blackened shell fitted with magnetic nickel plated steel mounts. The center ramp is the double screw pattern and carries three raised intertwined hook cross designs on each side, rendered more shallowly than those typically seen on the single screw pattern. The upper mount, center ramp, and lower drag all show plating loss and oxidation, particularly on the obverse, while the reverse surfaces retain noticeably more plating. The drag ball remains undented, an especially pleasing feature on a steel mounted scabbard. All six retaining screws are present and match in general design, each showing age related finish loss and oxidation.

The chain assembly is the collector designated Type II, also called Type B in some reference systems. As with other SS chained dagger classifications, these “Type” designations are modern collector terminology rather than wartime German nomenclature. The upper and lower chain sections consist of alternating SS rune and Totenkopf links with darkened recessed details and rounded attachment holes. On this example the skull links are plated steel, while the rune links and connecting rings are nonmagnetic plated alloy. The final connecting rings leading to the clip are tapered rather than square edged, another feature associated with Type II chain construction.

One of the upper rune links carries the SS-Kulturzeichen inspection mark, resembling two overlapping runic forms. The mark has the more squared appearance associated by collectors with Type II chains. The “Wotan's Knot” cloverleaf hanger clip is also present and retains its snap hook, although the internal spring is missing. The upper cloverleaf loop is the closed pattern normally associated with Type II assemblies. The clip is a collector classified Type B2 plated steel example and shows plating loss and oxidation, especially on the reverse.

Overall, this is a highly appealing Model 1936 Chained SS dagger with an especially interesting transitional scabbard and substantially complete Type II chain assembly. The unmarked blade, original motto, ebony grip, surviving SS roundel and eagle, blackened steel scabbard, double screw center ramp, mixed alloy Type II chain, SS-Kulturzeichen proof, and closed cloverleaf hanger all give it strong advanced collector interest. The past blade cleaning, plating loss, grip chips, scabbard finish loss, oxidation, and missing clip spring are all fully disclosed, while the dagger remains a compelling and highly recognizable example of the Model 1936 chained pattern.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8 3/4"
Overall length: 13 3/4”
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 10”

Background on SS Daggers:
The SS (Schutzstaffel or Protection Squadron) was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf AH. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of Germany eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.

The SS Dienstdolch (service dagger), also called the SS Ehrendolch (honor dagger), was introduced in 1933. Early on, members of the SS were awarded their daggers during a ceremony at the Feldherrnhalle Memorial in Munich. The annual ritual, charged with mysticism and meant to evoke the traditions of medieval Teutonic knights, was held on 9 November, the date of the unsuccessful Munich Putsch of 1923. Both officers and enlisted men wore the identical dagger until 1936. After this time, only enlisted men wore the M1933 dagger. After this time, only enlisted men wore the M1933 dagger, while officers and NCOs who had served 1933 and prior would receive the "Chained" version that we have here. These are quite a bit more rare and desirable than the Enlisted version.

It should be noted that as patterned, the M1936 "Chained" SS daggers did not have any maker or RZM markings on the back of the dagger, and were totally unmarked. However officers and senior NCOs who already had M33 daggers often wanted to keep their original daggers, and then would save on the cost by only purchasing the chained scabbards, which were available separately to those qualified for the honor. This is why it is not uncommon at all to see maker marked daggers in Chained scabbards.

Additionally, the chained center "ramp" and top fittings, chains, and "Wotan's knot" end clips all had several different patterns, and could be combined with either "anodized" or enameled steel shells. The bottom fittings could be solid nickel alloy or plated steel. To further complicate things, the various "Types" were produced concurrently. For more information on this please see Exploring The Dress Daggers and Swords of the German ᛋᛋ by Thomas T. Wittmann.

The SS Dagger was originally equipped with nickel crossguards with an ebony wood grip. The black grip contained a National eagle with swas insignia recessed in the center area and an SS doppelte Siegrune (Double Sig/Victory Rune) (ᛋᛋ) roundel button inset at the top. On early examples the scabbard shell surface was factory blackened using a metal bluing process. The scabbard had nickel mounts. The SS blade was a polished type containing the SS motto, Meine Ehre Heisst Treue (My Honor is Loyalty). Early examples were mostly hand-fit. Production of later examples was more standardized, using cheaper, nickel-plated fittings with black painted scabbard shells. They could be held with a standard belt hanger, or a much rarer vertical hanger.

Himmler, in a directive that came out on 15 February 1943, allowed commissioned officers of the Waffen SS and later the SD, to wear the SS Chain Dagger with the use of a silver bullion portepee. It was to be tied on using the same knot as on the Army Officer Dagger.