Description
This scarce maker produced some of the finest quality daggers of the Nazi era and this one is a gem! Fresh from the estate of a WWII GI combat veteran, this and several others were recently found in an estate and they are attic fresh after being in a trunk for over EIGHTY years! It is untouched and as original as they come. It has some minor tweaking to the top of the pommel area as shown perhaps as a result of it being taken in combat. If you want an honest one with a fine blade, look no further.
Formed in 1921, the Sturmabteilung (SA) or “Brown Shirts”, functioned as the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). Comprised mostly out of WWI veterans and Freikorps (German volunteer military or paramilitary units), the SA’s main function was to provide protection at Nazi rallies and assemblies. The SA played a critical role in Hitler’s rise to power. The organization was co-founded by Adolf Hitler and Ernst Rohm, and was later put under Rohm’s leadership. In 1934, Hitler’s ordered the “Blood purge” / the dis-empowering of the SA which later became known as the “Night of the Long Knives”. Like most NSDAP branches, the SA wore paramilitary dress and dagger.
The SA dagger was originally produced in vast quantities by 123 different cottage makers. Initially these daggers were made with the highest quality, being produced out of hand-fitted nickel fittings, hardwood grips and brown anodized or “blued” scabbards. The blades were etched, “Alles für Deutschland”, or “All for Germany”. Pre-1935 SA daggers were stamped with the SA group stamp to the reverse of the lower crossguard. Later examples were RZM marked and used less expensive plated zinc-based fittings with painted scabbards.
On May 19, 1936, NSKK-Korpsführer Adolf Hühnlein ordered all NSKK dagger scabbards to be black painted or factory-anodized to differentiate from the SA. Some members chose to paint their scabbard black (homemade), while others purchased new scabbards in the authorized color. Shortly after factory made NSKK daggers with issued with the correct black painted scabbards. The M36 NSKK Chained Leaders Daggers were for the rank of NSKK-Sturmführer and above.
