Description
Product Description: This is a very nice SA dagger, with great eye appeal. The blade is bright and undamaged, with minimal areas of graying. The “Alles für Deutschland” motto etching is crisp. The blade is neatly etched on the reverse ricasso with the round “RZM” emblem, as well as the maker code “M7/13” indicating manufacture by the firm of Arthur Schüttelhöfer. The handle of this dagger is simply gorgeous. All of the original bright plating remains on the upper and lower guards, with eye-catching shine. The desirable blonde rosewood grip is clean, beautiful, and shows no damage. The grip eagle and enamel SA roundel are nicely inlaid. The finish on the eagle shows untouched dark age toning. This SA dagger is complete with its correct original scabbard. The fittings retain all of the nickel plating, with no lifting, and the factory applied gloss brown enamel paint on the steel scabbard body shows only scattered small marks. There are no dents, and the screws and suspension ring are intact. This dagger is exceptionally clean and displays extremely well. The condition rates as excellent plus.
Historical Description: The “Sturmabteilung” (SA), formed in 1921, was the original paramilitary branch of the Nazi party. With the Nazi rise to power in 1933, a dress dagger was introduced for wear with the iconic “brown shirt” uniform. As the SA was a huge organization, with an eventual strength of close to three million men, there was a huge demand for these daggers, and they were produced by 123 different makers, from larger factories to small, cottage-industry workshops. The daggers featured a wood grip with an inset enameled SA emblem and the German national eagle and swastika emblem. The blade was etched with the motto of the SA, “Alles für Deutschland.” The early daggers were crafted with the utmost quality, in both workmanship and materials. Originally, the name and logo of each manufacturer was etched on the reverse of the blade. These early daggers featured hand-fitted nickel silver fittings, and scabbards that had an anodized coating. Prior to around 1935, the daggers were stamped with an SA group letter on the reverse of the cross-guard. In 1936, the Reichszeugmeisterie der NSDAP (RZM) organization began to standardize the manufacture of the SA dagger. Commercial type manufacturer markings were to be eliminated and replaced with the RZM logo as well as an RZM code to indicate the manufacturer. Late production daggers marked with RZM logos usually are made with plated zinc fittings and have aluminum grip eagles. Instead of the early anodizing process, later scabbards were simply painted. During the transitional period around 1936, many daggers were manufactured bearing the RZM logo and maker code in combination with the earlier type maker names and logos. These transitional daggers can be found with early or late features, or a mix of both.
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