Condition: Excellent
Maker: Rich. Drees & Sohn
Pattern: Early
Base Material: Nickle Fittings
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Product Description: This Rich Drees SA Dagger is an exceedingly rare piece. It rates a 10 on the McSarr rarity scale, the highest rating. With less than 1,000 daggers produced, this is among the very rarest SA daggers. The condition of this extremely desirable early piece is excellent. The blade shows typical runner marks, and some gray darkening before the logo starts near the tip on the front. The logo is crisply done, and retains nice original darkening. The reverse of the blade has the rare Rich. Drees maker emblem. The handle shows slight, even wear, with an attractive, mellow patina to the early style nickel silver crossguards. The wooden grip shows some scattered surface marks, with no chips or cracks. The enameled SA roundel and typical early grip eagle are intact, with no issues. The reverse of the lower crossguard has an “Om” stamp on the reverse, for SA Gruppe Ostmark. This Rich Drees SA Dagger is complete with its original scabbard, with textbook nickel silver fittings and a brown anodized finish to the scabbard body. The anodized finish shows wear on both sides, but is mostly intact. The suspension ring is present, and is fitted with an interesting hanger that is most likely a period addition. The hanger has a functional spring clip, affixed to a leather belt loop. The scabbard is straight, with a slight dent at the bottom of the ball on the tip. The screws on this dagger have not been turned, and all of the fittings match perfectly. This dagger has never been taken apart or cleaned; it is a completely honest and correct piece throughout.
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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