Original Item: Only One Available. This very good condition mid war period produced SA Dienstdolch (Service Dagger) is made with nickel-plated fittings throughout. The guards are made from alloy, most likely zinc-based, and still have much of the original plating intact. There is light to moderate overall oxidation, particularly on the cross guard, but no major lifting of the nickel plating. As we often see, there is oxidation where the guards contact the grip, due to reacting with the stain in the grip combined with moisture. The pommel nut is steel, and has lost much of the plating, and now is oxidized overall, with some signs of turning.

The grip is in very good condition, having a fine dark brown colored chestnut tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. It shows some lovely grain, and fits the guards well. It shows some small pressure dents and scratches, as well as some cracking right against the guards, caused by the pressure used to secure them, and also the oxidation to the metal. There are also some chips forming near the cross guard, so it should be handled with care. The SA symbol button is nicely set, with intact enamel, and the plating intact with a bit of verdigris around the edge. The details are still there to the inlaid nickel plated eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas (hook cross). It shows some verdigris around the edges.

The blade of this example is in very good condition, showing the factory final polish grind cross grain throughout. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. There is some scattered oxidation staining in areas, particularly right on the edges, which we have left intact to avoid damaging the crossgrain and lovely patina. There is also the usual runner wear and light scratching from use and cleaning. It still has the factory blunt edge, with no sharpening, nicks. or other damage, and the tip is intact. Really a nice blade with no signs of having been messed with. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is still quite crisp, with the factory darkening well retained.

The rear is etched with the RZM contract information:

((RZM))
M7 / 13

This marking indicates the dagger was made by RZM Dagger contractor "13", which records show is the rare maker Artur Schüttelhöfer & Co. Stahlwarenfabrik (Steelware factory) in the Wald neighborhood of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. This company was founded in 1920, and assembled and finished daggers for political organizations and officers during the Third Reich period, per J. Anthony Carter's excellent book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

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 Arthur Schüttelhöfer & Co. being contractor number 13.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout without any dents and has very good original brown enamel paint. The finish now shows checking and crazing on both sides from age, and some areas have lost the paint due to this, and there is a bit of scratching as well. The areas that have lost the finish now show some light surface oxidation. The scabbard shell is equipped with fine matching plated steel mounts, which show only light wear and oxidation, with no dents to the bottom "ball". They nicely match the crossguards and are complete with all four dome head screws.

A lovely example of a mid to late war pattern SA dagger from a rare 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.