Transitional NSKK Dagger – Eickhorn

Product Description: This transitional NSKK Dagger is a very beautiful example. It was made by the firm of Carl Eickhorn, a maker associated with top quality pieces. The steel blade is gorgeous, with bright luster and a crisp engraving. The blade has excellent cross graining along its entire length. There are typical runner marks from being in and out of the scabbard, but no damage. The ricasso is nicely maker marked with the Eickhorn squirrel logo, as well as the RZM code for this maker and the date 1938. This dagger has a really attractive handle. The grip is brown, as is correct, with appealing, dark tones, and no chips or cracks. The aluminum grip eagle is correct, with slight patina, and the SA roundel retains all of the original enamel. The plated upper and lower crossguards remain bright, with no lifting. This transitional NSKK Dagger is complete with its original scabbard. The original, factory applied glossy black paint on the scabbard body is almost completely intact, with some crazing. The scabbard throat and drag fittings are also plated and match the dagger’s fittings perfectly. The scabbard is straight and undented. The suspension ring on the dagger retains an original hanger with plated metal fittings. The spring clip on the hanger is marked with the OLC emblem as well as the round RZM logo and OLC maker code “M5/71.” This dagger displays exceptionally well, and remains in strong excellent plus condition.

Historical Description: The NSKK (Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps) was a motorized paramilitary organization under the auspices of the Nazi Party during the Third Reich. The members of this organization trained in the operation and maintenance of automobiles and motorcycles. It was a relatively small organization, with about 5,000 vehicles at its disposal in 1931. NSKK members had a rank structure based on that of the SA and wore similar uniforms and insignia. In 1933, NSKK members were authorized to wear the newly introduced SA dagger. Later, in 1936, a change was made to differentiate the NSKK dagger from the SA version. The NSKK dagger was to have a black finish on the scabbard, as opposed to the brown scabbard used by the SA. There was also a chained version, with a special suspension on the scabbard, that was worn by officers and by those who had joined the NSKK prior to early 1933. Because NSKK daggers were not made before 1936, and because the NSKK was a much smaller organization than the SA, the NSKK daggers were made in smaller numbers than SA daggers; they are correspondingly rarer to encounter today.

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