{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-1941-dated-sa-service-dagger-by-carl-eickhorn-with-excellent-blade-scabbard-and-hanger-rzm-m7-66","title":"Original German WWII 1941 Dated SA Service Dagger by Carl Eickhorn with Excellent Blade, Scabbard, and Hanger, RZM M7\/66","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII SA Service Dagger, or \u003cem\u003eDienstdolch\u003c\/em\u003e, manufactured in 1941 under RZM contract by \u003cem\u003eCarl Eickhorn of Solingen\u003c\/em\u003e. Complete with its brown painted scabbard and later pattern leather belt hanger, it is a particularly well preserved wartime example with an excellent blade, tight hilt, and clearly defined markings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dagger is constructed with nickel plated alloy fittings throughout. The nonmagnetic crossguards are most likely made from a zinc based alloy and retain nearly all of their original plating, showing only light scratching and age related wear. The steel tang nut has some plating loss and light oxidation around its hexagonal portion. The hilt remains tight on the tang, with no apparent movement or wobble.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wooden grip has an attractive reddish mahogany tone, visible grain, and a medium center ridge profile. It fits the guards well and remains in excellent condition, with only a few small pressure dents. There are no visible cracks or missing sections. The inset SA roundel retains its enamel and plating, with only minor oxidation. The inlaid aluminum eagle remains sharply defined and shows minimal wear, with no significant oxidation apparent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is in excellent overall condition and retains clearly visible original factory crossgrain throughout much of its surface. This fine transverse finishing pattern is highly important to advanced collectors, as it is one of the primary indicators that a German WWII dagger blade retains its original factory finish and has not been heavily cleaned, polished, refinished, or artificially aged. The blade shows expected scabbard runner wear and some light cleaning marks, together with scattered minor staining and an approximately 1\/4\" area of oxidation along one edge. The remainder of the blade is bright, and the cutting edges have not been sharpened.\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\u003eThe motto remains crisp, with nearly all of its original darkening intact. It translates as “Everything for Germany.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear is etched with the RZM contract information, which is fully visible:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(RZM)\u003cbr\u003eM7 \/ 66\u003cbr\u003e1941\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis marking indicates the dagger was made by RZM Dagger contractor \"66\", which records show is the legendary maker \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCarl Eickhorn\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, located in Solingen, the \"City of Blades\" in western Germany. \u003cspan\u003eAccording to J. Anthony Carter's book, \u003cem\u003eGERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS\u003c\/em\u003e, this 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.\u003c\/span\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 NSDAP 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 Carl Eickhorn of Solingen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe steel scabbard shell remains straight and free from significant dents. It retains a very good brown enamel finish, with minor age related checking, crazing, and scattered chips. Black paint is visible beneath the brown finish in several chipped areas. This may indicate that the scabbard was originally finished for NSKK use and subsequently repainted brown for an SA dagger, although the available evidence does not establish when that alteration occurred.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard is fitted with nickel plated steel mounts that show light wear and closely match the appearance of the dagger’s crossguards. The lower ball has minor denting, a commonly encountered condition issue on scabbards of this type. All four dome headed mount screws remain present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAttached to the scabbard suspension ring is a later pattern brown leather belt hanger fitted with plated steel hardware. The leather shows age and use, including surface cracking and finish wear, but no apparent dry rot. The keeper loop remains present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe functional spring clip is marked on its reverse:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(RZM)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM5\/8\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis code identifies \u003cem\u003eF. W. Assmann \u0026amp; Söhne of Lüdenscheid\u003c\/em\u003e, a prominent manufacturer of uniform fittings, buckles, buttons, and related accoutrements. The buckle shows wear to its plating, while the clip retains considerably more of its original finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its excellent unsharpened blade, crisp motto, dated Carl Eickhorn RZM marking, attractive mahogany toned grip, well preserved plated fittings, complete scabbard, and Assmann marked hanger, this is a highly appealing wartime SA dagger ensemble. The possible scabbard repaint adds an interesting point for further study, while the dagger’s overall condition makes it particularly well suited for a Carl Eickhorn, RZM edged weapon, SA equipment, or advanced German WWII dagger 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\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistory of the SA-\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\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\/span\u003e\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":45429304361029,"sku":"ONSV26CC124","price":1195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/73905B38-D48A-4703-9243-F3A3237464A5.jpg?v=1785510897","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-1941-dated-sa-service-dagger-by-carl-eickhorn-with-excellent-blade-scabbard-and-hanger-rzm-m7-66","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}