Serial Number Location (as rank indicator)?

[Aeryn Sun]

I have read that when the serial number is stamped on the underside of the lower crossguard (rather than the back) of an SS Dagger, it indicates that the dagger was issued to an officer rather than an enlisted man. Since the source seemed reliable, I thought I would ask the more experienced if there's really any truth to that. For that matter, can you at least determine if any dagger was issued to an officer or enlisted man, just based on the location of the serial number, in general.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi, I have never heard of that theory before?

I have two numbered daggers. Both of which are researched. Both belonged to Officers. One is numbered on the back of the crossguard, while the other is numbered underneath. The one numbered on the underside belonged to an SS man who joined up around 1936. He did not gain a commisioned rank until 1942. Plus this dagger is a 33 pattern. So the number was added long before he became an Officer.

Cheers, Ade.

[Aeryn Sun]

Ade,

Thanks for clearing that up for me.