I own a long dagger/short sword. The hilt is in the design of the German eagle with its wings spread out as the hand guard and in the middle of the hand guard is a swastika. The scabbard is also adorned with swastikas on the top, mid section, and bottom.
I don't want to own this piece as I don't want to be seen as a Nazi sympathizer or anything of the sort, but I don't want to sell it to someone who actually is a Nazi sympathizer or something like that.
What do I do with it besides trash it? I don't want to trash it because it's decent quality. It's not historic in any way (which disturbs me to think about) but it's well made.
If it were actually from WWII, I'd say there's no reason not to hold on to a piece of history, but if it's just neo-nazi garbage? I agree with the others saying modify it or toss it.
You did not have a big reaction as in "WTF are you on about?!" after being gifted a nazi prop? IMO both you and the gifter should've had an unfavorable memory of the event etched onto your brains forever.
My only other thought besides destroying it: maybe gift it to a theater so it can be used as a prop? There are plays that focus on nazis/neo-nazis (e.g. The Producers) so maybe they could get some use out of it?