Original Item: Only One Available. This very good condition mid war period produced SA Dagger is made with nickel-plated fittings throughout, and is fitted with an exceptionally good blade. This example was made by the the legendary Solingen-based firm of Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie (WKC), Waffenfabrik GmbH.

The handle guards and tang nut are made from alloy, most likely zinc-based "pot metal", and still have most of the original plating intact. There is not much oxidation, but there is definitely some wear from service and/or oxidation, which has removed some plating from the cross guard. The pommel nut is non-magnetic, and is in good condition, showing signs of turning to tighten the fittings to the tang.

The grip is in excellent condition, having a fine brown colored mahogany tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. This grip is in very good condition with nice grain, and fits the crossguards well. It shows some small scrapes and pressure dents, mixed with some light wear, but there are now cracks or other major issues. The SA symbol button is nicely, with mostly intact translucent enamel, and the plating intact with a bit of oxidation at the bottom. The details are still there to the inlaid eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas (hook cross). The plating is however all but gone, and it now has a dull gray oxidized zinc patina.

The blade of this example is in excellent condition, with almost all of the factory final polish cross grain still visible. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The blade has the usual runner wear, and does show a bit of light staining, but no major cleaning or polishing since it was made. It still retains the original WKC factory edge, which is beveled but never truly sharpened. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is still quite crisp, with the darkening somewhat worn from cleaning.

The reverse ricasso is etched with a double circle with RZM logo in the middle over M7 / 42. This indicates Post-1941 manufacture by maker Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie (WKC), Waffenfabrik GmbH (Weapons Factory). This company is a famous manufacturer of military swords and cutlery in Solingen, Germany - a city famous since the middle ages for its metal-working and craftsmanship in sword making, often called the "City of Blades".

Per J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS, the traditional manufacturing of swords at WKC dates back to the year 1774 when the Weyersberg first registered the ''Kings head'' as their trademark. Later in 1883 the company merged with the Kirschbaums, and the company Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie was formed, which continued into the Weimar Period. It then rebranded in 1930 as W.K.C. Waffenfabrik GmbH, and produced many edged weapons during the NSDAP Period. The company is still in operation today.

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 WKC Waffenfabrik being contractor number 42.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and has very good original brown enamel paint, though it does look to have been refinished during the war. It now shows a bit of scuffing and the usual crazing and checking in the finish, with only small areas of finish damage, showing that it was repainted decades ago. The scabbard shell is equipped with fine matching plated steel mounts, which show only light wear and oxidation, though the bottom "ball" is dented in, common even on the steel fittings. They nicely match the crossguards and are complete with all four dome head screws.

An great example of a mid to late war pattern SA dagger from a very famous maker, complete with scabbard and a great blade. 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.