{"product_id":"original-german-pre-wwii-1938-dated-sa-dagger-by-eduard-wusthof-of-solingen-with-refinished-scabbard-and-hanger-clip-rzm-m7-19","title":"Original German Pre-WWII 1938 Dated SA Dagger by Eduard Wüsthof of Solingen with Refinished Scabbard and Hanger Clip, RZM M7\/19","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent 1938 dated SA \u003cem\u003eDienstdolch\u003c\/em\u003e service dagger manufactured by \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEduard Wüsthof, Dreizackwerk\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e of Solingen under RZM code \u003cstrong\u003eM7\/19\u003c\/strong\u003e. It retains nearly all of the nickel plating on its fittings, an excellent golden brown wood grip, strong factory \u003cem\u003ePliesten\u003c\/em\u003e crossgrain on the blade, approximately 80% of the original motto darkening, a brown refinished scabbard, and an RZM M5\/71 marked Overhoff \u0026amp; Cie. hanger clip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe crossguards and tang nut are nickel plated zinc alloy and retain nearly all of their original finish, with no notable lifting or flaking. There is remarkably little oxidation where the wood meets the guards, an area that often shows deterioration from prolonged contact with the grip. The fittings have no major chips or dents, showing only normal age, light handling wear, and some scratching to the front of the crossguard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wood grip has an attractive golden brown mahogany tone with medium center ridge construction and strong grain. It fits the guards closely and remains in excellent condition with no cracks or chips. There are only light pressure dents and service scratches, including a scuffed area adjacent to the rear crossguard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SA symbol button is well seated with its enamel fully intact and most of the surrounding plating retained, showing only minor oxidation. The inlaid grip eagle retains good detail to the beak, breast and wing feathering, talons, wreath, and mobile swas. Some finish has worn through to the base metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is in excellent condition and retains the full factory final polish grind crossgrain on both sides, a finish known in German as \u003cem\u003ePliesten\u003c\/em\u003e. It is created by polishing the blades with large leather covered wheels using a slurry of extremely fine grit, and is nearly impossible to replicate using modern means. For advanced edged weapon collectors, the survival of this original crossgrain is an especially important feature because it indicates that the blade has not been aggressively polished or resurfaced after manufacture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are signs of careful past cleaning and normal runner wear, together with traces of older oxidation staining. No obvious swirl marks from harsh polishing are present. The point remains intact and unbent, and the edges are correctly unsharpened.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe obverse bears the acid etched SA motto:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlles für Deutschland\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ewith approximately 80% of the original factory darkening still retained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear is marked with the RZM contract information:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(RZM) M7\/19\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1938\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis marking indicates the dagger was made by RZM Dagger contractor \"19\" in 1938, which records show is \u003cem\u003eEduard Wüsthof, Dreizackwerk\u003c\/em\u003e (Trident Works), located in Solingen, the legendary \"City of Blades\" in western Germany. During the WWII Period they manufactured many SA and NSKK daggers, both with their trademark and later with the RZM code M7\/19. The firm was founded in 1814 by Johan Wilhelm Wüsthof, and recently celebrated its 200th anniversary. It is one of the premier mid-sized cutlery companies in Germany today. For more information please see J. Anthony Carter's fine work \u003cem\u003eGERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eReichszeugmeisterei\u003c\/em\u003e (National Quartermaster's Office), or RZM, was was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles. The M7 in the code stands for knives\/daggers, contractor 19 stands for firm Eduard Wüsthof.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe steel scabbard body is straight and dent free and presently carries a very good chocolate brown enamel finish. Close inspection shows brown paint extending onto the edges of the fittings, while wear at the upper edge reveals an earlier black enamel finish beneath. This indicates that the scabbard was originally configured for NSKK use and was later refinished brown for use with an SA dagger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard mounts are matching nickel plated steel and remain in excellent condition, with only very minor denting to the lower ball. Three of the four domed retaining screws remain present, with the screw adjacent to the hanger ring missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAttached directly to the hanger ring is a fully functional plated steel spring clip marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(RZM) M5 \/ 71\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003efor \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverhoff \u0026amp; Cie. of Lüdenscheid\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. The company’s \u003cstrong\u003eOLC in a diamond\u003c\/strong\u003e trademark is also present. The clip shows overall finish wear and light oxidation consistent with age and use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its 1938 dated RZM M7\/19 Eduard Wüsthof blade, strong factory \u003cem\u003ePliesten\u003c\/em\u003e crossgrain, approximately 80% surviving motto darkening, excellent plated hilt fittings, attractive wood grip, and RZM M5\/71 OLC marked hanger clip, this is a strong late prewar SA dagger. The brown over black scabbard refinish, missing scabbard screw, light hilt scratching, minor grip wear, traces of blade staining, and clip oxidation are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in an Eduard Wüsthof, RZM dagger, SA edged weapon, Overhoff \u0026amp; Cie., or advanced German prewar militaria collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 8 3\/4\"\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 13 3\/4”\u003cbr\u003eCrossguard: 3”\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 10”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistory of the SA-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrior 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45728374423621,"sku":"ONSV26CNB113","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/CBB39AE7-D3C6-418C-B16F-BE7BF978A798.jpg?v=1789153273","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-pre-wwii-1938-dated-sa-dagger-by-eduard-wusthof-of-solingen-with-refinished-scabbard-and-hanger-clip-rzm-m7-19","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}