Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII NSKK Dienstdolch, or Service Dagger, manufactured by F.W. Höller of Solingen under RZM code M7/33. It is a very well preserved mid war example with nickel plated fittings, an especially attractive tiger striped wood grip, a near mint blade retaining strong factory crossgrain, and the correct black enamel steel scabbard.

NSKK service daggers followed the same basic form as SA daggers but were distinguished by their black finished scabbards. This example uses later nickel plated alloy fittings rather than the earlier solid nickel type.

The crossguard remains in very good condition with only minor pinprick oxidation and light age related discoloration near the grip. The upper pommel fitting shows some plating loss and flaking on the obverse, while the plated steel tang nut retains nearly all of its nickel finish and shows only slight evidence of turning around the hexagonal base. The grip assembly remains tight on the blade.

The wood grip is particularly attractive, with a rich dark reddish mahogany tone and medium center ridge form. Strong diagonal tiger striping runs through the grain, producing alternating lighter and darker bands that give the grip a distinctive appearance. Condition of the grip is excellent. There is only minor pressure denting, with no major chips or missing wood. A fine hairline crack is present on the rear near the pommel and is fully disclosed.

The inset SA/NSKK roundel is well seated and retains its brown enamel intact. The plated surround remains present with only slight verdigris around the edge. The inset eagle also remains well detailed, with the beak, breast and wing feathering, talons, wreath, and mobile swas (hook cross) still clearly defined. It shows only light wear and oxidation.

The blade is in excellent condition and retains the full factory final polish grind crossgrain on both sides, a finish known in German as Pliesten. 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.

The acid etched SA/NSKK motto:

Alles für Deutschland

(Everything for Germany) is deep and crisp, with a fine frosted background that is retained almost completely.

The original factory edge is intact, with no signs of post-manufacture sharpening, and the blade tip is unbent. There is a bit of scuffing from cleaning and light runner wear, but otherwise this is a blade that would be nearly impossible to improve upon, with no oxidation we can see.

The reverse of the blade is crisply etched with the RZM contract code:

((RZM))
M7/33

This indicates manufacture by F.W. Höller, Waffenfabrik (Weapons Factory), 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 "thermometer" trademark and later with the RZM code M7/33. They also produced numerous 98K bayonets and other edged weapons. The firm was founded in 1866, and registered in Solingen in 1883. By 1900 ownership had passed to Emil Höller, and it continued manufacture after WWII, finally closing in 1974. For more information please see J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS.

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 NSDAP items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. The M7 in the code stands for knives/daggers, contractor 33 stands for firm F.W. Höller, a maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany.

The scabbard is the correct later black enamel steel type and remains straight and free of noticeable dents. The black enamel finish is retained to an excellent degree, with only a few small chips and scuffs from age and service. The upper and lower scabbard fittings are nickel plated steel and remain in excellent condition with only light oxidation. The area around the hanger ring loop shows what appears to be original brazing flow beneath the nickel plating rather than later damage. The lower ball is undented. The throat fitting matches the appearance of the crossguards, and all scabbard fittings retain their original dome headed screws.

With its F.W. Höller RZM M7/33 marking, excellent tigered wood grip, crisp Alles für Deutschland motto, strong surviving factory crossgrain, unsharpened edge, tight hilt, and very well preserved black enamel scabbard, this is a particularly appealing NSKK service dagger. The minor pommel plating loss, light oxidation, small grip pressure marks, rear hairline crack, limited blade scuffing, runner wear, and a few small scabbard finish chips are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in an NSKK edged weapon, F.W. Höller maker, RZM dagger, tigered grip, or advanced German WWII dagger collection.

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

History of the SA and NSKK-

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.

After the purge, the NSKK, which had been a part of the SA, was split off into a separate organization. They retained the same daggers as the SA, however now used a black painted scabbard, and their officer's daggers had a few differences as well. Many already had SA daggers, so these had the scabbards painted black over the original brown anodized finish.