Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a rare early war transitional pattern NSKK Dienstdolch (Service Dagger), with Nickel-plated fittings throughout. This example was made by the legendary firm Carl Eickhorn of Solingen, the "City of Blades" in western Germany, and the blade is marked with both their trademark logo and RZM code. This company had made SA and NSKK daggers since the Röhm era, and continued to produce them throughout the war. It comes complete with an original scabbard, which is the wartime type with a black enamel finished body and nickel plated steel fittings. These daggers are identical to the SA dagger, except for the color of the scabbard, with the SA dagger having a brown body.

The guards and tang nut are nickel plated alloy, probably zinc or some other "pot metal", and both still retain most of the finish, which is mostly bright. There is however oxidation and some flaking next to the wood of the handle, which causes oxidation due to moisture and the chemicals used to dye the grip. The plated alloy pommel nut retains much of the plating, and does show signs of turning. The grip overall is still tight on the blade.

The grip is a fine product having a lovely mahogany red color, with medium center ridge construction, and the grain is lovely, with some great color variation. The grip is in very good condition, though it definitely does show some cracking near the guards along the grain. This is quite common due to the dye used on the fruit wood grip, which makes it brittle. There is also a repaired crack and wood graft on the rear by the crossguard. The SA / NSKK symbol button is still nicely set, and still has almost of the translucent enamel intact, with the nickel plating showing some light oxidation. The grip eagle is a fine example being the style with beak that points straight. It looks to be plated alloy, and is now quite patinated, possibly having had the nickel plating wear away.

The blade is in very good condition, showing most of the original factory final grind cross grain on both sides. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. There are areas of light staining on both sides, and there is also light runner wear, as with virtually all original German daggers. The edge is correctly unsharpened, and the tip is intact, however there are tiny dents and roughness on both edges. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is crisp, with the factory darkening almost completely retained.

On the rear of the blade, there is the (RZM) logo over M 7 / 66, with a 1939 date underneath. Below this, the blade is etched with the 1935-41 Eickhorn trademark: a seated squirrel holding a sword, with the firm's name and location, Eickhorn / SOLINGEN below. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany. According to J. Anthony Carter's book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this firm used this specific trademark with out the "ORIGINAL" word specifically on transitional SA daggers with the RZM marking. The company was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn, and is arguably the most famous of all Solingen makers. Not only could the family trace their history back 500 years, but they could also demonstrate involvement in the hardening and grinding industries for the same period. Truly the nobility of Solingen Edged weapon dynasties. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers.

The scabbard shell is straight and dent free throughout, retaining the original black enamel finish very well. There is some checking and crazing from age, as well as scratching and a few areas of light oxidation, however it is retained at well over 90%. The nickel plated steel fittings are in lovely condition, showing light wear and oxidation, with just a bit of the nickel plated finish missing. The throat nicely matches the crossguards, and all fittings have their original dome headed screws, which show some signs of turning.

The Reichszeugmeisterei, 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 66 stands for firm Carl Eickhorn of Solingen.

A great transitional period NSKK dagger from the most famous of all Solingen Makers, complete with a original scabbard in lovely condition. 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.