Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used condition early pattern SA Dienstdolch (Service Dagger), made by the rarely seen firm of Gustav L. Köller Nachfolger, based in Solingen, Germany. It comes comes compete with an original scabbard, which is the correct early pattern. This is only the second item we have had from this company.

The dagger has solid nickel silver fittings throughout, and is a nice example. The crossguards and tang nut are in very good condition throughout with all fittings having a nice lightly aged patina. There is a little age to these mounts but there is no lifting anywhere, showing that they are solid and not plated. They just show a bit of light wear with some denting and scratches. The pommel nut shows a bit of turning, and the hilt has just a bit of wobble on the tang. The lower reverse guard is Gruppe/Gau marked Wf, for Westfalen (Westphalia), which encompassed the area near Cologne, very close to Solingen. This feature was only seen on daggers produced 1935 and prior.

The grip is a fine product having a lovely reddish brown color, with medium center ridge construction, with just a bit of wear and some small dents. This grip is in good condition and fits the crossguards nicely, showing a crack on the obverse by the pommel, as well as some small chips on the reverse next to the guards. The symbol button is still nicely set, and still has virtually all of the translucent enamel intact, as well as the nickel plating. The grip eagle is a fine example being the style with beak that points straight. It has just a bit of oxidation on it, showing that it is solid nickel alloy. The details are still there to the eagle to include the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas (hook cross).

The blade is in good service used condition, showing much of the original factory cross grain throughout the surface on both sides, though it is faint due to wear and past staining. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The blade however also shows overall speckled oxidation staining and wear from cleaning, looking to have been exposed to moisture for a time. The edge looks to have been sharpened to clean it, which was unfortunately not well done. leaving some grind marks on both sides. The acid-etched Alles für Deutſchland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is present, though cleaning has worn the factory dark finish.

This fine example was produced by rare maker Gustav L. Köller Nachfolger, Stahlwarenfabrik (Steelware factory), located in the Wald neighborhood of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. It has the company's "losenge" style trademark logo on the reverse:

This company was founded in 1825 by Gustav Ludwig Köller, and in 1892 was known as Gustav Ludwig Köller, Taschenmesser & Federmesser (Pocket Knives and Pen Knives). The company was registered with Solingen authorities in 1896. It was subsequently sold to the Martin family, when Nachfolger (Successor) was added to the name and registration. This company produced SA daggers and HJ knives during the third reich period, per J. Anthony Carter's excellent book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and is the early-war style, which were produced with a brown "anodized" finish on the steel, which was then lacquered. This example has lost much of the original lacquer, however it still retains most of the anodized finish on both sides. There is a bit of oxidation speckling, but no major rust or wear to the finish from cleaning. The upper and lower fittings are solid nickel silver, with a great polished look and some tiny dents and scratches showing typical wear. The chape is just a bit dented at the end, as the nickel alloy is somewhat soft, making this a common thing to see. The throat nicely matches the cross guards, and all four dome headed screws are present and in good shape.

A very nice early war SA dagger from a rare Solingen maker, complete with an original scabbard. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8 3/4"
Overall length: 13 3/4”
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 10”

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.