Original Item: Only One Available: This Gebrüder Heller NSKK EM Dagger is a nice example, as they usually are coming from this firm. The crossguards are fine solid nickel and in choice condition. The surfaces are completely smooth with good crisp edges and precise accent grooves. The lower reverse guard is gruppe marked Fr. The tang nut matches nicely and does not appear to have been out in modern times.

The grip is a fine fruit wood, medium brown in color and with a subtle vertical grain. The SA symbol button is perfectly placed and the enamel is in good shape. The nickel grip eagle is the style with a beak that points slightly upward. The bird retains full detail through the breast and wing feathering, talons and wreathed immobile swas. The grip fits the guards like a glove and is in perfect condition.

The scabbard is straight throughout. It has an old black paint job that was done after the NSKK order to paint the shells. The black paint has some pitting. Not bad, though, and doesn't detract too much. The scabbard mounts are in good condition through to the lower ball which, while showing usage, has not been dropped. All of the screws are in place.

The blade of this dagger is nice, bright and having most of the original grain. There are some in and out marks and just a hint of age in the surfaces, but it still rates in very good condition. The motto is deep and crisp, with a fine black background typical of Heller. The ricasso has the much admired anchor logo, along with the firm's name and location Gebrüder Heller Schmalkalden. The blade shoulders perfectly meet the crossguard contour.

A very nice early NSKK Dagger from an early and rare maker who used top quality materials.

History of the SA-

The SA or Brown Shirts, were a private political formation which Adolf AH and the NSDAP used to maintain order at organized Party meetings and demonstrations. The group was formed in 1921, and grew to a huge force of nearly 3,000,000 men by the later 1930's. To instill esprit de corps, as well as create employment for the Blade City of Solingen, it was decided each SA man would carry a dagger with his Brown Shirt uniform. Huge quantities needed to be produced to accommodate the demand. The dagger initially was produced of hand-fitted nickel mounts with attractive finished wood grip and brown anodized (a bluing process) finished scabbard.

The blade was etched with the SA motto, Alles für Deutschland. Examples produced prior to 1935 were stamped with the German sector of the SA group on reverse lower crossguard. Later examples underwent standardization through the RZM ministry. These pieces were produced of cheaper plated zinc-base fittings and scabbards were simply painted brown.

Prior to his "unmasking" as a traitor, Ernst Röhm was the leader of the SA. In 1934, he distributed approximately 100,000 SA daggers with his personal inscription on the reverse blade. These daggers were to honor individuals who had served with the SA prior to December, 1931. Other than the inscription, these pieces were identical to the standard M1933 SA dagger. After the Röhm purge, the inscription was ordered to be removed. Many examples were returned to the factory for grinding. Others were simply ground in the field by whatever means were available. Examples will occasionally be encountered with remnants of the original inscription remaining on the blade, but mostly none will remain. Some blades exist with an intact inscription, reflecting only the removal of the Röhm signature. Very very rarely is an example seen with a full, untouched inscription, as the holder would have surely risked a charge of treason.