Original Item: Only One Available: The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf AH. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of NSDAPsm and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe. The SS dagger was introduced in 1933. Early on, members of the SS were awarded their daggers during a ceremony at the Feldherrnhalle Memorial in Munich. The annual ritual, charged with mysticism and meant to evoke the traditions of medieval Teutonic knights, was held on 9 November, the date of the unsuccessful Munich Putsch of 1923. Both officers and enlisted men wore the identical dagger until 1936. After this time, only enlisted men wore the M1933 dagger.

The SS Dagger was equipped with nickel crossguards with an ebony wood grip. The black grip contained a National eagle with swas insignia recessed in the center area and an SS sigrunne button inset at the top. On early examples the scabbard shell surface was factory blackened using a metal bluing process. The scabbard had nickel mounts. The SS blade was a polished type containing the SS motto, Meine Ehre Heisst Treue (My Honor is Loyalty). Early examples bore one of three district stampings on the lower reverse crossguard of I, II, or III. Early examples were mostly hand-fit. Production of later examples was more standardized, using cheaper, nickel-plated fittings with black painted scabbard shells. They could be held with a standard belt hanger, or a much rarer vertical hanger.

Heinrich Böker &Co. is a famous manufacturer founded in 1869 in Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in western Germany. The company exists today, and has a long and storied history of top quality blade production. Knives made by this maker are highly desirable.

The blade remains mostly bright and still retains some cross grain, especially on the back around the BÖKER SOLINGEN framed tree trademark logo. There are small age spots and traces of past oxidation, as well as overall speckling. The blade also has the usual runner marks. This blade still grades in good condition. The SS motto, Meine Ehre heißt Treue (Loyalty is my Honor) is crisp but has some wear. 30% of the factory blackening is in the letter fonts in the backgrounds. The edge of the blade does not show any non factory sharpening, and is still in excellent condition. The blade shoulders perfectly meet the lower crossguard contour, and is solid in the grip.

The crossguards of this dagger and tang nut are in good condition throughout, and are of the earliest solid nickel silver construction. They have smooth surfaces, good crisp edges and precise accent grooves.  The upper guard is marked with a Roman numeral I. This indicates issue in the 1st SS District.

The ebony grip is a nice example showing in great shape except for a crack on the reverse near the cross guard. Early examples such as this were hand fit, which could result in cracking over time. The color is very good, and wood grain can be seen. The symbol button is positioned at about 7:00 o'clock, and the enamel surfaces are perfect. The silvered SS symbol and double circles around them have a nice matching patina with the nickel still intact, with a little verdigris. The nickel grip eagle is the "high-necked" type with the beak pointing slightly up. It remains in crisp condition, showing little wear to the bird's head, breast and wing feathering and to the talons, wreath or swas.

The scabbard shell is a solid example being straight as an arrow with a few small dents. The original black "anodized" finish is only really present near the throat, where the hanger protected it. The rest of the shell has faded to a dark brown oxidized patina. The matching solid nickel silver scabbard mounts are in good condition. The lower ball has been crushed slightly and is split, due to the weaker nickel alloy used in early models (later ones used steel).

The scabbard is held securely in the extremely rare leather vertical hanger, topped with a nickel hanger clip. The leather is in good condition, though it has dried over time, and the securing strap broken. The nickel clip itself is marked with D.R.G.M. (Deutsches Reiches Gebrauchs Musterschutz) - meaning it is a protected patented design under the Reich Government. The leather is also marked (ᛋᛋ) 48 / 35 (RZM), meaning it was an officially issued vertical hanger, something we have not seen before. The SS RZM codes are different from the standard codes issued by the "Brown House", so unfortunately we cannot identify the maker, however this makes the hanger even MORE rare.

An excellent chance to own a good condition SS dagger by a legendary Solingen blade maker, with an extremely rare marked and dated hanger.