{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-sa-dagger-by-rare-maker-richard-plumacher-sohn-with-named-usgi-bring-back-inscribed-scabbard-and-hanger-rzm-m7-83","title":"Original German WWII SA Dagger by Rare Maker Richard Plümacher Sohn with Named USGI Bring Back Inscribed Scabbard and Hanger, RZM M7\/83","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII SA dagger manufactured under RZM contract \u003cstrong\u003eM7\/83\u003c\/strong\u003e by \u003cem\u003eRichard Plümacher Sohn of Solingen\u003c\/em\u003e, complete with its original brown painted scabbard and early pattern leather hanger with F. W. Assmann \u0026amp; Söhne hardware. Of particular interest, the scabbard bears extensive period appearing hand inscriptions recording its reported capture in\u003cstrong\u003e Linz, Austria in 194\u003c\/strong\u003e4 and identifying the returning U.S. serviceman as \u003cstrong\u003eFrank B. Portillo\u003c\/strong\u003e of Mesa, Arizona. The dagger itself retains extensive factory \u003cem\u003ePließten\u003c\/em\u003e crossgrain, a crisp SA motto with original darkening, an unsharpened blade, and substantial surviving nickel plating on its later production fittings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lower portion of the scabbard is inscribed:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaken in 1944\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ein Linz\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAustria\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCloser to the throat is a longer inscription reading:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSouvenir\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Austria\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrought back\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eB Frank Yo Portillo from\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMesa Ariz\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Sun Valley\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis has been identified as \u003cstrong\u003eFrank B Portillo (May 11, 1921 - June 30, 2016)\u003c\/strong\u003e, ASN \u003cstrong\u003e38124097\u003c\/strong\u003e, a documented WWII Veteran. We have found pictures of Portillo in uniform, which will be included with the dagger. His obituary can be viewed here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.legacy.com\/us\/obituaries\/legacyremembers\/frank-portillo-obituary?id=16995905\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFrank B. “Kiko” Portillo\u003c\/a\u003e. Looking at the pictures he was involved with Army Anti-Aircraft work as indicated by the AA patch on his left shoulder. His rank looks to have been Technician fifth grade (Corporal) when the picture was taken, and per information from the article, he was employed previously by the American Smelting \u0026amp; Refining Co. at Patagonia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear of the scabbard throat is marked with a reference number on the rear, which we assume is from a collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCA\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eH926864\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe crossguards and tang nut of the dagger are made from alloy, most likely zinc-based, and still have much of the original plating intact. There is overall oxidation and light bubbling on the fittings, with flaking off the plating near the guards, which is common due to exposure to the wood. The pommel guard has significantly more oxidation than the cross guard, and has lost large sections of the nickel plating on the front side, and to a lesser extent on the reverse. The plated steel end nut retains most of the plating, though does show some oxidation, and there are no signs of turning evident on the hexagonal portion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grip is a fine product having a fine red brown colored mahogany tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. This grip is in good condition with nice grain, and fits the crossguards well. There are some small dents from service, but no cracks we can see, and just a few areas of light staining. The SA symbol button is nicely set in the grip, with fully intact translucent enamel and intact plating. It shows a lovely mellow patina from oxidation to the nickel plating. The details are mostly there to the later pattern inlaid aluminum eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile \u003cem\u003eswas\u003c\/em\u003e (hook cross).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is in very good condition and retains extensive original factory crossgrain, known in German as \u003cem\u003ePließten\u003c\/em\u003e, across both sides. 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 fine longitudinal finish is an important surviving factory characteristic on German edged weapons because it indicates that the blade has not been aggressively polished or resurfaced after manufacture. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe edges of the blade are completely blunt and unsharpened, as made at the factory, and the tip has a small flat area, which does not look broken, but ground. It may be how these were originally made, as the edges of the dagger are over 1mm thick. There is some light runner wear on the blade, and spots of oxidation staining near the tip, and also next to the cross guard. There is also lengthwise scuffing present on the half of the blade near the tip, which is visible in the light. \u003cspan\u003eThe acid-etched \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlles für Deutschland\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (Everything for Germany) SA motto is still quite crisp, with the factory darkening fully present.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear is etched with the RZM contract information:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e((RZM))\u003cbr\u003eM7 \/ 83\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis marking indicates the dagger was made by RZM Dagger contractor \"83\", which records show is the rare maker \u003cem\u003eRichard Plümacher Sohn, Stahlwarenfabrik\u003c\/em\u003e (steel wares factory) located in Solingen, the legendary \"City of Blades\" in western Germany. Per J. Anthony Carter's fine work \u003cem\u003eGERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS\u003c\/em\u003e, this company was a restructured version of Richard Plümacher, Messerfabrik, which began operations in the 1920s. First registered in 1934, they originally made mostly cutlery and knives, but later made SA and NSKK daggers for the Third Reich. This is the only example of a Richard Plümacher Sohn edged weapon that we have ever had. The company did survive the war, but stopped trading in 1962.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eReichszeugmeisterei\u003c\/em\u003e (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, contractor 83 stands for Richard Plümacher Sohn of Solingen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard shell is straight throughout and has very good original brown enamel paint, which makes the inscription easy to read. It has just a bit of scuffing and the usual crazing in the finish, with only small areas of finish loss, and the original steel texture can still be seen. The scabbard shell is equipped with fine matching plated steel mounts, which show only light wear and very little oxidation. They nicely match the crossguards and are complete with all four dome head screws.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAttached to the hanger ring on the scabbard is an early pattern belt hanger, with solid nickel hardware and brown leather. The leather is in good condition, showing only light wear and no cracks or tearing. The nickel spring clip itself is marked with a \u003cstrong\u003e\"barred A\"\u003c\/strong\u003e followed by \u003cstrong\u003eD.R.G.M.\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eDeutsches Reiches Gebrauchs Musterschutz\u003c\/em\u003e) - meaning it is a protected patented design under the Reich Government. This design was registered to the owner of the \"Barred A\" trademark, \u003cem\u003eF. W. Assmann \u0026amp; Söhne of Lüdenscheid\u003c\/em\u003e, a large maker of belts, buttons, and other accoutrements. The spring clip is still fully functional, as is the buckle, and the original keeper look is still present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its Richard Plümacher Sohn RZM M7\/83 maker code, extensive surviving \u003cem\u003ePließten\u003c\/em\u003e, named and dated Austria bring back inscriptions, accompanying Frank B. Portillo research, original brown scabbard, and Assmann marked early pattern hanger, this is a particularly well documented and visually distinctive SA dagger ensemble. It would fit especially well in an SA edged weapon, named USGI bring back, RZM maker, Solingen edged weapon, or advanced German WWII militaria collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 8 3\/4\"\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 13 3\/4”\u003cbr\u003eCrossguard: 3”\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 10”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistory of the SA-\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrior 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45916844654661,"sku":"ONJR26OL0168","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/32F3B2DC-A625-4FDA-8888-DC92B9AFADB1.jpg?v=1790967108","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-sa-dagger-by-rare-maker-richard-plumacher-sohn-with-named-usgi-bring-back-inscribed-scabbard-and-hanger-rzm-m7-83","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}