Description
Product Description: We are honored to be able to offer this extremely rare Feldherrnhalle Dagger complete with the correct original hangers. The Feldherrnhalle Dagger is one of the rarest of all Third Reich produced daggers. Estimates suggest that less than 50 were produced. The firm of Eickhorn was the sole manufacturer of the Feldherrnhalle Dagger, with each dagger being uniquely numbered internally. This particular dagger was purchased from a veteran in the Northwest area of the United States. Since the time of its original purchase from the veteran’s family, from what we know, the dagger has passed hands only twice. The 29cm steel blade retains all of its beautiful original factory cross-graining from the guard to the tip, on both side of the blade. The blade shows only extremely light marks from the scabbard’s runners, attesting to the fact that this dagger has not been handled much since the end of the war. With exception to the extremely light runner marks, only a few very small freckles can barely be observed near the blade’s tip. This is something that, if not given the extreme value of the dagger, we might not feel necessary to mention on other daggers. The SA motto “Alles für Deutschland” is acid etched to the blade’s obverse and still gives the same crisp appearance as it did after initial production. The reverse side of the blade features the logo of the sole manufacturer of these daggers, Carl Eickhorn, in acid etching. The Eickhorn logo remains crisp like the blade’s motto. The unique elongated wooden grip, similar in style to the standard SA Daggers, is produced of a fine rosewood. The grip is set into the upper and lower guards nearly perfectly, attesting to the skill level the professionals working at the Eickhorn factory exhibited at that time. The rosewood grip shows minimal wear throughout with only very faint stress to the highest edges of the central grip line. Two very small cracks can be seen near the top pommel. These cracks appear to be from the wood expanding and contracting due to humidity, something that is common among the tightly fitted wooden gripped Third Reich daggers. The silver plated aluminum lower cross-guard features the SA emblem on the obverse. The lower guard retains virtually all of the original silver plating with minimal wear. The upper guard (pommel) features a national eagle clutching a wreathed swastika on both sides. This guard, also made of aluminum like the lower guard, retains nearly all of the original silver plating. The eagle details remain sharp and crisp. Recessed on top of the pommel is the original crossed assembly screw. This screw, like the guards, also retains all the original factory silver plating. The interior of all of the Feldhernnhalle daggers are numbered in consecutive order of manufacture. The interior numbers on this particular dagger are stamped with the number “40”. The scabbard on this Feldherrnhalle Dagger is produced of silver plated aluminum. Virtually all of the original silver plating is intact and the scabbard still has most of its very thin original factory applied protective lacquer. Both scabbard bands are intact and completely untouched. The bands are held in place by two very small set screws, both of which show no evidence of tampering. The scabbard’s upper throat body is also set with a single screw set on the reverse, a common Eickhorn trait. Also of importance to note is the distinct scabbard die-flaw found on all original Feldherrnhalle Daggers, located on the lower scabbard’s lines. This flaw can be found on the lower section of the dagger’s scabbard where the right perpendicular line tries to meet the next line, but fails to do so due to the flaw. This gap is critical to see on originals. The extremely rare hangers accompany this Feldherrnhalle Dagger. This type of hanger is unique only to the Feldherrnhalle Dagger. The hanger’s individual brocade straps are constructed of a golden rayon weave on the obverse, with a medium brown crushed velvet reverse. The straps have minor wear and patina throughout, still retaining their original rich golden luster. Approximately half of the velvet on the reverse has worn away. The hanger’s fittings are constructed of die-forged zinc. The fittings retain virtually all of the original gold wash, as well as the thick factory applied protective lacquer, which helps to give the hangers their “POP”. During the time period the upper hanger clip was reversed by the original owner, most likely to make clipping the hangers to the uniform’s hanger strap ring much easier. With approximately 50 of these daggers produced, and, realistically, likely less than 20 still in existence, this is one of the rarest of all Third Reich produced daggers. We rate this particular Feldherrnahlle Dagger among the very best example of today’s surviving examples.
Historical Description: Following the purge of the SA leadership and the elimination of Ernst Rohm on June 30, 1934, newly appointed SA Stabs-Chef Victor Lutze formed a new elite SA guard unit. This new unit was designated “Feldherrnhalle” in honor of the site where the November 1923 Putsch ended. This new unit originally consisted of six Sturmbann located in Berlin, Munich, Hattingen, Krefeld, Stettin, and Stuttgart. The role of the newly formed SA-Feldherrnhalle was primarily the guarding of party offices. January 1938 saw Hermann Goring, an SA Obergruppenfuhrer himself, becoming commander of the unit. The Feldherrnhalle unit wore distinct uniform insignia. The first insignia consisted of a collar tab insignia with a “W” for “Wachtstandarte Feldherrnhalle”. This collar insignia eventually changed to the SA Opferrune, and remained in this style until the end of the war. The unit also wore the distinct Feldherrnhalle cuff title on the wearer lower left sleeve.
The Feldherrnhalle Dagger was instituted in 1937. The manufacturing of this dagger was given to one firm, Carl Eickhorn. There are estimates that only 50 of these daggers were produced, which is likely the reason the firm of Carl Eickhorn, was the only firm given the contract to produce them. These daggers can be found with both bakelite and wooden grips. One example is known featuring a Damascus Blade. The dagger was bestowed on special basis to honorary members of the Feldherrnhalle and the SA Stabs-Chef.
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