BACKGROUND: The SA, Sturmabteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), was originally formed in the August 1921 as a protective guard unit for the political leaders of the fledgling NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), and as with the NSDAP the SA was structure along para-military lines. The SA recruited most of its personnel from the ranks of the various Freikorps groups composed mainly of disgruntled ex-soldiers and was first utilized at a NSDAP meeting in Munich in November 1921. The SA M33 service dagger was the first dagger officially sanctioned by the NSDAP and was introduced on December 15TH 1933. The dagger was intended as an ornamental item and the design was based on the traditional 16TH century Swiss "Holbein" hunting dagger. Originally the daggers featured an anodized scabbard and utilized nice quality solid nickel/silver fittings while later models had cheaper nickel/silver plated fittings and painted scabbards. In late 1934 items manufactured for the SA including daggers came under the quality control of the RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster) and as a result were marked with the RZM logo when appropriate. Of Note: The RZM was official founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP as a Reich Hauptamt, (State Central Office), and was based on the earlier SA Quartermaster’s Department. The functions of the RZM were not only to procure and distribute items to Party formations, but also to approve chosen designs and to act as a quality control supervisor to ensure items manufactured for the Party met required specification and were standardized.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 8 3/4" long, double edged, nickel/silver plated, drop forged steel construction blade with a low central ridge. The blade is still clean and bright with some light surface spotting and light scabbard runner marks with the original cross-graining is still visible. The obverse of the blade has the acid etched Sütterlin script motto, "Alles für Deutschland", (All for Germany), which is crisp and well defined. The reverse of the blade has the manufacturers acid etched logo for "HAMMESFAHR CIE. SOLIGEN". The dagger has the early, cast, solid, nickel/silver crossguard, pommel, and tang nut which all show a nice, even, light, age patina. The reverse of the crossguard is stamped with the SA-Gruppe abbreviation, "No", indicating issue by SA-Gruppe Nordsee. Of Note: Due to the group markings it was an issue as opposed to a private purchase. The dagger has a very nicely formed walnut grip which has a nice snug fit to both the top and bottom fittings. The grip has nicely inset solid nickel/silver national eagle and nickel/silver and enameled runic SA button both intact. The dagger comes with its original coppery brown anodized sheet metal scabbard with solid nickel/silver fittings. The scabbard retains about 90% of its original coppery brown anodized finish with some minor surface pitting. Both fittings retain their original dome headed securing screws and the top fitting also retains its hanger suspension loop and ring. The weight and balance of the scabbard would seem to indicate it still has its original internal lead counterweight insert intact. The construction materials, scabbard finish, manufacturers mark, lack of an RZM code and the internal counterweight are all indicative of manufacture between 1933 and mid-1934. Nice example.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $714.00