Original Item: Only One Available. This excellent condition mid-war period produced SA Dagger has nickel-plated fittings throughout. The crossguards and tang nut are nickel plated aluminum, and have about 85% of the plating intact, with some plating flaking and oxidation in areas. There is some oxidation where the grip wood meets the guards, which is typical. There is not any major chipping or dents in the fittings, just the usual effects of age.

The grip is a fine product having a nice dark red mahogany tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. This grip is in very good condition with great grain, and fits the crossguards well. The symbol button is nicely set having fully intact translucent enameling, and the plating intact with just a bit of verdigris and oxidation as shown. The details are still there to the inlaid eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas. It does have a bit of plating wear at the edges, and a nice patina.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and has good original brown paint. It has a few chips, which show a black undercoat, so it may have been the scabbard for an NSKK dagger repainted at the factory. The scabbard shell is equipped with fine matching nickel-plated steel mounts. These mounts are in very good condition overall, with little to no denting to the lower ball. They nicely match the crossguards and are complete with 3 of 4 dome head screws. This really is a nice solid scabbard.

The blade of this example is in excellent condition and has virtually all of its factory crossgrain. All we can see is some runner wear, with a few tiny specks of staining. THis is one of the best blades we have ever seen on an SA dagger. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is crisp, with the factory darkening still intact. 

The reverse is etched with a double circle with RZM logo in the middle over M. 7 / 90. This indicates manufacture by Carl Malsch-Spitzer, Messerfabrik (Knife Factory) of Steinbach Kreis Meiningen in Thuringia. This RZM code is often erroneously identified as Carl Spitzer of Malsch, but this is incorrect, as there is no such company. Also the Spitzer family of Knife makers was based in Solingen, not Malsch. According to GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS by J. Anthony Carter, the company manufactured SA and SS daggers during the third reich period, first using their Trademark logo, and later using the RZM code M7/91. The company continued after the war, but as of 2001 the factory stood empty.

The Reichszeugmeisterei, 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 91 stands for firm Carl Malsch-Spitzer.

An excellent example of an SA dagger with a near mint blade. Ready to display!

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.