Original Item. Only One Available. This is an interesting German WWII Police Officer's Degen dress sword that has been shortened and converted into a fighting knife, retaining its distinctive police-pattern hilt, original maker-marked blade, and modified steel scabbard. The sword was manufactured by Peter Daniel Krebs of Solingen, an established German edged-weapon manufacturer of the period.

The knife retains the characteristic officer-pattern hilt, consisting of a steel D-shaped knucklebow with a curled lower quillon, a ribbed brown wooden grip with silver-colored wire wrapping, and a rounded, decorated pommel cap. The base of the grip is fitted with an ornate metal ferrule displaying an oak-leaf and acorn design. The front bears a silver-colored police eagle and swas. emblem, which appears to be a later replacement or reproduction.

The shortened single-edged steel blade retains its original longitudinal fuller and has been reshaped into a pointed fighting-knife profile. The ricasso bears the recognizable manufacturer's trademark:

PET. DAN. KREBS SOLINGEN

The inscription surrounds the firm's distinctive crayfish emblem, a reference to the German surname Krebs.

The accompanying steel scabbard has likewise been shortened to accommodate the modified blade. It retains its decorative silver-colored throat fitting with the characteristic interlaced knot design, together with the original-style suspension band and loose carrying ring.

Condition is fair overall, with age-related deterioration, extensive surface oxidation, and evidence of alteration. The shortened steel blade retains its reworked profile and intact point, showing widespread gray discoloration, oxidation staining, scattered pitting, and numerous scratches. The blade's surfaces exhibit pronounced grinding and sharpening marks, particularly along the cutting edge and reprofiled tip, where coarse, directional abrasion marks remain evident. The fuller is still well defined, and the Peter Daniel Krebs maker's trademark remains clearly legible despite the surrounding surface deterioration.

The hilt exhibits extensive wear, with widespread oxidation, scattered reddish-brown corrosion, and considerable loss of its original silver-colored finish, particularly along the knucklebow and crossguard. The decorative ferrule retains its raised oak-leaf detailing, although the finish has darkened considerably. The ribbed wooden grip remains substantially intact, showing surface wear, small indentations, and darkening within the grooves. The silver-colored wire wrapping is present, with localized wear and minor irregularities. The police eagle emblem appears to be a later replacement or reproduction, with disturbed material and an irregularly finished recess surrounding its attachment.

The shortened steel scabbard is in poor cosmetic condition, exhibiting extensive reddish-brown corrosion, surface roughening, and substantial deterioration of its original black enamel finish. Irregular patches of black finish survive among broad areas of exposed, oxidized metal. The suspension band and loose carrying ring remain present, both showing heavy oxidation. The decorative upper fitting retains its beautiful interlaced design and much of its silver-colored surface, with accumulated tarnish, staining, and localized wear. The overall appearance is heavily aged and unrestored, with the date and circumstances of the blade and scabbard alterations remaining undetermined.

Blade Length: 11 5/8 inches [29.5 cm]
Overall Knife Length: 16 7/8 inches [42.9 cm]
Overall Length in Scabbard: 18 inches [45.7 cm]

Historical Context

The German Police Degen was a ceremonial dress sword associated with the uniformed police services during the Third Reich. Introduced during the reorganization of German police equipment in the mid-1930s, the Degen continued the longstanding German tradition of incorporating swords into the formal uniforms of military officers and senior officials. Police officers and certain senior NCOs were authorized to wear these swords as part of their prescribed dress.

The development of the police Degen coincided with major changes to Germany's police administration. On June 17, 1936, Heinrich Himmler was appointed Chef der Deutschen Polizei, or Chief of the German Police, within the Reich Ministry of the Interior. His appointment accelerated the centralization of Germany's previously decentralized police forces, bringing them under a more unified national administration.

Later that month, the German police apparatus was organized into two principal branches: the Ordnungspolizei (Order Police), headed by Kurt Daluege, and the Sicherheitspolizei (Security Police), headed by Reinhard Heydrich. The Ordnungspolizei incorporated the uniformed police services, including the Schutzpolizei, responsible for policing larger cities, the Gendarmerie, which operated primarily in rural areas, and the Gemeindepolizei, responsible for smaller municipalities.

The reorganization was accompanied by efforts to standardize police uniforms, rank insignia, and ceremonial equipment. The police Degen became part of this system, serving as an official dress sidearm that identified the wearer's position within the police hierarchy.

The officer-pattern Degen generally incorporated a long, straight blade, silver-colored metal fittings, a ribbed grip with wire wrapping, and the German police eagle. Its scabbard was typically finished in black enamel and fitted with decorative silver-colored mounts. The interlaced design on the upper scabbard fitting is commonly referred to as the Wotan's Knot. The sword was suspended from the uniform by means of a dedicated hanger, with the suspension ring providing the attachment point.

Although the Degen retained the form of a traditional military sword, its primary function was ceremonial. It was worn for formal duties, parades, and other occasions requiring prescribed dress. Its continued use reflected the influence of established German military customs on police uniform regulations.