Social Welfare Officer Dagger

Product Description:This is a fine example of a hard-to-find Social Welfare Officer dagger, with no maker mark, as is correct for this type. The nickel-plated hilt fittings match throughout, and the two-tone dark orange celluloid grip remains intact with no cracks or chips—one side displaying a slightly lighter hue than the other. The uncleaned blade is graded EX+, showing minor surface wear and runner marks but no nicks to the cutting edge. It retains its original brown leather blade buffer pad. The nickel-plated scabbard is free of dents, exhibiting some age patina to the pebbling and minor lifting of the plating near the tip. The suspension bands feature the round holes distinctive to the Social Welfare service. The grip is slightly loose due to age and will need tightening, but we will leave that to the new owner. The top screw remains in pristine condition, showing no signs of tampering. Overall, this is a very nice and highly collectible example of a rare dagger. This Social Welfare Officer Dagger is in Excellent plus.

Historical Description: The Social Welfare Officer Dagger was introduced in 1938 for officers serving in the German Red Cross (DRK), the National Socialist People’s Welfare (NSV), and other affiliated organizations. This dagger was nearly identical to the DRK Officer’s Dagger, with the primary distinguishing feature being the suspension bands on the scabbard, which had round holes instead of slotted ones.

Unlike many other Third Reich daggers, the Social Welfare Dagger was never maker-marked, making unmarked examples correct and expected. These daggers featured nickel-plated hilt fittings, a celluloid grip, and a double-edged blade designed for dress wear rather than combat use. The scabbard was nickel-plated with a pebbled finish, often showing signs of age and patina over time.

Due to the relatively small number of Social Welfare officers compared to military personnel, these daggers are significantly rarer than standard military dress daggers. Surviving examples in excellent condition—especially with minimal wear to the blade and intact plating—are highly prized by collectors of Third Reich edged weapons.

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