BACKGROUND: The wearing of trade or specialty badges was an old tradition in the German army and was adopted by the Waffen-SS to distinguish personnel who had successful completed the appropriate training courses. Initially Waffen-SS personnel wore the circular army pattern insignia, but eventually developed their own diamond patterned insignia. Originally the sleeve diamonds utilized by the SS were constructed in silver/aluminum threads for all personnel for wear on the black service uniform. With the introduction of the field-grey uniform all ranks were to wear the insignia constructed in silver/grey threads, and the silver/aluminum versions were reserved for wear by Officers with the walking-out dress.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The insignia consists of an elongated vertical, black wool diamond base with machine embroidered horse shoe in silver/grey threads with the correct eight nail "hole" detailing rendered in black threads. The diamond is in overall excellent unissued condition. This insignia identified qualified farrier, (Horse-shoeing), personnel.