Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely condition early wartime production SA Dagger, made by the desirable firm of Paul Seilheimer, Waffenfabrik (Weapons Factory), based in Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. This dagger looks to have had earlier production grip components installed on the wartime production blade. The cross guard looks to be solid nickel alloy, while the pommel guard has the speckled look of a plated component, but we cannot be sure it is not solid alloy. Both show light wear and some oxidation from age, but still look great and have a lovely patina. The pommel nut is non-magnetic, and looks to be solid nickel alloy.

The grip is a fine product having a fine reddish colored mahogany tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. This grip is in very good condition with great grain, and fits the crossguards well. There is no chipping or cracking, just some scratches and dents from service. The SA symbol button is nicely set having mostly intact enameling, and the plating intact with just a bit of verdigris and oxidation as shown. The details are still there to the inlaid nickel alloy eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas (hook cross). It shows some light oxidation around the edges.

The blade of this example is in very good condition, with most of the factory cross grain still visible. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. There is some scattered staining and oxidation on the blade, as well as the usual runner wear, present on just about every German dagger out there. The cross grain is a bit faint in areas due to cleaning as well. The edge has not been messed with at all, the the point is still quite sharp. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is still quite crisp, with the factory darkening retained at about 75%.

The rear is etched with the RZM contract information:

((RZM))
M7 / 38

This marking indicates the dagger was made by RZM Dagger contractor "38", which records show is the somewhat rare maker Paul Seilheimer, Waffenfabrik (Weapons Factory). Founded in 1917, this company was based in the Wald district of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. According to J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, the company made early pattern SA daggers with their PS in a circle trademark, while both SA and NSKK daggers were made with the RZM code. The company continued operation until 1970, though members of the family are still involved in Solingen industry to this day.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and still has almost all of the original brown enamel paint on the steel scabbard body. We cannot feel or see any major dents or other issues. There is some crazing and checking on the paint, but nothing major, and the original texture on the rolled steel body can still be seen. The scabbard shell is equipped with fine matching nickel-plated steel mounts. These mounts are in very good condition overall, with only some light wear on the contact points. They nicely match the crossguards and are complete with all four dome head screws.

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 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, contractor 38 stands for firm Paul Seilheimer.

A lovely example of a Pre-WWII SA dagger from a desirable maker, which had some of the fittings replaced during the war. Complete with a great scabbard. this dagger is 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.