Condition: Excellent
Maker: C. Gustav Spitzer
Pattern: Early
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Product Description: This early SA Dagger is a nice and desirable representative example. The blade shows some light age, with normal runner marks, but retains original crossgraining throughout, with nice darkening in the etched motto. The reverse of the blade has the early commercial type maker mark of the firm of C. Gustav Spitzer, in Solingen. The handle is textbook for an early dagger, with nickel silver crossguards. The early type grip eagle and enameled SA roundel are intact, with no damage. The grip is very attractive, with beautiful brown tones, and no chips or cracks. The T-nut pommel is marred, and shows signs of having been turned. The lower crossguard has a “Wf” stamp for SA-Gruppe Westfalen. This early SA dagger is complete with its correct early scabbard. The scabbard body retains nearly all of the original brown anodized finish, with scattered marks and light signs of age. The nickel silver scabbard fittings show a very light patina, and the ball at the tip is dented and has a split. The two lower scabbard screws appear to have been tightened. This is an attractive, early, maker marked dagger, with great visual appeal. The condition is excellent.
Historical Description: The Model 1933 (M33) SS dagger was first serviceable dagger produced for the SS. The design was derived from a 16thcentury Swiss hunting dagger called the “Holbein”. The M33 SS Dagger was worn by all ranks within the SS. Becoming a member of the SS was held in high respect during the Third Reich, and their daggers became a symbolic piece within its ranks. Every year on November 9th, the new SS men would pledge their full allegiance to the Führer (Adolf Hitler) in front of the Feldherrnhalle monument in Munich and receive their dagger as a symbol of that oath. The inscription on the blade “Mein Ehre Heißt Treue”, which translates to “My Honor is Loyalty”, was the motto of the SS.
Manufacturing for these daggers began late in 1933 and continued until 1942 when production of all daggers ceased to conserve materials and labor for the war effort. Today, collectors categorize these daggers into three main categories; Early, Transitional, and Late period. SS daggers produced from 1933 to early 1935 are early and have anodized scabbards, nickel fittings, and are generally of a higher workmanship. Transitional period daggers were produced from 1935 to 1938, are usually found with painted scabbards, plated fittings and RZM codes with their makers logo on the blade. Late period daggers were produced from 1938 to 1942. They are similar to the transitional period daggers in that they use plated fittings and painted scabbards, but will only be found with the RZM logo and code on the blade.
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