[Herb]

Another opinion. I feel that the death head (totenkopf) was never associated with the SS (Shutzstaffeln) or Defense Squadron Lugers. It has been traced as far back as 1741 when worn by the Death Head Hussars (Totenkophhusar) which were still in existence as late as 1912 and possibly later than that. The actual SS came into being by decree on 9 November 1925. There were two branches of the SS, the Allgemeine (General) SS and the Waffen SS. Nearly all of the Lugers found with the death head will be of DWM or Erfurt manufacture and will be dated between 1915 and 1918. There is supposedly an exception to this found in Costanzo's reference and that is a sideways head with small SS runes below it on the chamber of a 1916 Luger. This makes no sense as the SS didn't even exist then. Further, in my opinion, why would the elite guard, the SS, settle for weapons from 1915-18? The SS days of glory were during WWII and to my knowledge, there are no death head Lugers of that era.