Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting example of a rare transitional pattern NSKK Dagger, with solid nickel silver fittings on the hilt. These daggers are identical to the SA dagger, except they have a black finished scabbard. This example was made by the rare maker David Malsch, located in Steinbach, Thuringia. It comes comes compete with an original scabbard, which is the mid-late war pattern. This dagger has a combination of early and middle production features, making it a very interesting piece!

The dagger has very nice fittings, which normally would usually be nickel-plated alloy on an RZM marked example. These however are solid nickel alloy, with no signs of being plated. The lower reverse guard is Gruppe/Gau marked BO, for Bayerische Ostmark (Bavarian Eastern March). This was an administrative division of NSDAP Germany in Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate and Upper Franconia, Bavaria, which had previously been a NSDAP Party region. Only early period daggers have the Gruppe markings.

The grip is a fine product having a lovely mahogany color, with medium center ridge construction, with some light wear and a few small dents. The grain is lovely on this example, with some great color variation. The grip had a very thin oil finish applied at some time, which is still mostly retained. This grip is in very good condition and fits the crossguards nicely, with no cracks or chunks missing, and a lovely polished glow. The pommel does show some turning, and is non-magnetic nickel or aluminum alloy. The hilt is a bit loose on the blade, probably from the grip wood shrinking.

The SA / NSKK symbol button is still nicely set, and still has most of the translucent enamel intact, with the nickel plating showing some oxidation. The grip eagle is a fine example being the style with beak that points straight. It has just a bit of verdigris on it, showing that it is solid nickel alloy, and it has patinated nicely. The details are still there to the eagle to include the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas (hook cross).

The blade is in very good condition, showing the original factory final grind cross grain throughout the surface on both sides. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. There are a few areas of very light staining on both sides, and there is also light runner wear, as with virtually all original German daggers. Cleaning of the blade has made the cross grain faint in areas, and made the markings hard to see. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is crisp, with the factory darkening removed almost completely.

On the rear of the blade, there is the RZM logo over M 7 / 70, indicating manufacture by rare maker David Malsch, Eisen- und Stahlwarenfabrik (Iron & Steel Factory), located in Steinbach, Thuringia. This company, founded in 1806 by David Malsch, was one of the largest businesses in Steinbach by the early 20th century. They had 500 employees during the NSDAP period, however the vast majority of their production was for the Luftwaffe, DLF, and NSFK. They only made a small number of SS, SA, and NSKK daggers, which may have used blade blanks from F. & A. Helbig. For more information please see J. Anthony Carter's excellent book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The Reichszeugmeisterei (National Quartermaster 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 13 stands for firm David Malsch.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and is the mid-war style, which has a black enameled steel body. This is still in very good shape, with no dents we can see, and just some finish chipping in small areas. There is also a lovely pattern of crazing and checking in the finish, only achieved after decades, so this is definitely not a refinished example. The upper and lower fittings are nickel-plated steel, with a great look and just some light wear. The throat nicely matches the crossguards, and all fittings have their original dome headed screws, which do not show any signs of turning.

A very interesting transitional period NSKK dagger from a very rare maker, complete with a great original scabbard. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8 3/4"
Overall length: 13 3/4”
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 10”

History of the SA and NSKK-

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.

After the purge, the NSKK, which had been a part of the SA, was split off into a separate organization. They retained the same daggers as the SA, however now used a black painted scabbard, and their officer's daggers had a few differences as well. Many already had SA daggers, so these had the scabbards painted black over the original brown anodized finish.