Original Item: Only One Available. This very good condition mid war period produced SA Dagger is made with nickel-plated fittings throughout. The crossguards and tang nut are made from alloy, most likely zinc-based, and still have much of the original plating intact. There is however flaking, bubbling, and oxidation to the base metal, particularly next to the guards on the grip, which is common due to contact with the wood. The pommel nut is steel, and is in very good condition, with much of the original plating present, however it does show signs of turning.

The grip is in very good condition, having a fine brown colored mahogany tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. It has very nice grain, and fits the cross guards well. It shows only light wear, with some small pressure dents and scratches, and no cracking. There is a bit of paint spatter on it, probably from storage in a garage. The SA symbol button is nicely, with intact translucent enamel, and the plating intact with a bit of oxidation around the edges. The details are still there to the inlaid later war style aluminum eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas (hook cross).

The blade of this example is in very good condition, with most of the factory final polish cross grain still visible throughout the blade. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The blade has the usual runner wear, and there is scattered oxidation on the blade, particularly near the cross guard. The edge is still correctly unsharpened. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is still quite crisp, with the factory darkening very well retained.

The rear is etched with the RZM contract information:

((RZM))
M7 / 49

Friedr. Herder Abr. Sohn. GmbH, Constant-Werk, Stahlwrarenfabik (Steelware Factory) was a well known edged weapon producer from Solingen, the "City of Blades" in the mountains of Western Germany. According to J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, the Herder family can be traced back to 1623, when Arndt, Jürgen and Wilhelm Herder were making knives in Geylenbergh. In the 19th Century, Friedrich Herder formed his own company, Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn (Abraham's Son). The "crossed keys trademark was first trademarked in 1848, and renewed in 1895. They continued production through WWI and the Interwar period, and made early pattern SA daggers with their "Keys" trademark, before moving to their RZM code later in the war. This is definitely a company with a long history, part of a long established Solingen family.

The Reichszeugmeisterei (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, with Friedrich Herder Abr. Sohn being contractor number 49.

The scabbard shell is mostly straight and has very good original brown enamel paint, though there is some denting on the reverse side. It also has a bit of scuffing and the usual crazing and checking in the finish, with small areas of finish damage. The scabbard shell is equipped with mismatched mounts, with a plated steel locket and a plated alloy chape. It looks like the lower fitting was replaced at some point with an early war example, and the original screws were lost. The throat fitting still has the original hanger ring and both dome-headed screws.

An very nice example of a mid to late war pattern SA dagger from a very desirable maker, complete with scabbard. 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.