Early SA Dagger w/Partial Ground Röhm

Product Description: This early SA Dagger is a lovely and very desirable piece, with a partially ground Ernst Röhm dedication. The blade is very nice, with original crossgraining. The light “Alles für Deutschland” motto is crisp. The reverse of the blade has an “E. P. & S. Solingen” maker mark, indicating manufacture by the firm of Ernst Pack & Söhne. The reverse of the blade originally had an etched dedication by Ernst Röhm. This dedication was ground off by regulation following the Night of the Long Knives, but parts of the dedication etching remain visible, which is rare to find and desirable. The handle is typical for a dagger from this early period, with nickel silver crossguards and an early grip eagle. The SA roundel retains all of the enamel. The wood grip shows slight wear and age toning, and no cracks or chips. The reverse of the lower crossguard is stamped “Tb” for SA-Gruppe Tübingen. The scabbard is also a textbook early style. The brown anodized finish on the scabbard body is very well preserved, with only small, scattered marks. The early nickel fittings match the handle. The lower fitting has some dents, as is often the case. The suspension ring retains a nice early hanger, with brown leather and nickel silver fittings. The hanger is complete and sound, with a functional spring clip.  This early SA Dagger has great eye appeal, and is a choice example. Overall, the condition rates as excellent.

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 crossguard. 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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