Original Item: Only One Available: There were 2 manufacturers with the identical name “Gebrüder Heller” (Heller Brothers).

1) Gebrüder Heller GmbH Messer- und Kugelfabrik (Heller Brothers LLC Knife and Bullet Factory). This company was located in Marienthal. Its logo is a single line with their name Gebr. Heller etched vertically to the blade. It manufactured bayonets and received in WW2 the S code S/178 and later the letter code csr. According to Anthony Carter it produced also army and airforce daggers as well as SA service daggers. It presumably was assigned the RZM number M7/50.

2) Gebrüder Heller Bohrerfabrik (Heller Brothers Drill Factory). This company was located in Schmalkalden. Its logo is an anchor surrounded by the name Gebrüder Heller Schmalkalden in a double circle. This maker produced regular SA service daggers (large makers mark) and SA honor daggers with the Röhm dedication (smaller makers mark closer to the cross guard)

This Gebrüder Heller of Marienthal SA Dagger has very fine hilt, with choice nickel crossguards. The lower reverse guard is Gruppe marked "Th".

The grip is a most attractive High Ridge example, having beautiful grain that slightly swirls beneath the surface. This grip is in very good condition, showing minor wear and fitting the guards tightly. The SA symbol button is perfectly placed and has good enamel. The nickel grip eagle is the style with a beak that points slightly upward and retains full, crisp detailing throughout.

The scabbard is very nice example with a good, smooth shell. It is a chocolate brown color and the paint is retained at 85% with some minor scratches from carrying wear. The scabbard mounts are the nickel plated type, in very good condition. These mounts are retained by unturned dome head steel screws.

The obverse blade is a very nice, with visible crossgrain and a needle-like tip. The crisp, deep motto still hold traces of factory darkening. The reverse of the blade has the GEBR. HELLER vertical name The blade shoulders perfectly meet the lower crossguard contour.

A very nice early war Heller SA Dagger here.

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.