Original German WWII 1941 dated SA Dagger by Tigerwerk Lauterjung & Co. with Scabbard – RZM M7/68 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This very good condition service worn mid-war period produced NSKK Dagger has nickel-plated fittings throughout. These daggers were first issued when the NSKK was part of the SA, and both used identical daggers. After the NSKK split off, they kept the dagger design, but had the scabbard painted black, like the SS.

The crossguards and tang nut on this lovely example are nickel plated zinc alloy, and have most of the plating intact, with plating flaking and oxidation on the wear points. There is some light oxidation and flaking where the grip wood meets the guards, which is typical, but both still have most of the plating, with the expected wear from service. There is not any major chipping or dents in the fittings, just the usual effects of age.

The grip is a fine product having a fine dark mahogany color tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. This grip is in very good condition with great grain, and fits the crossguards well, with no chipping or cracks that we can see. The symbol button is nicely set having fully intact translucent enameling, and the plating intact with just a bit of verdigris and oxidation as shown. The details are still there to the inlaid nickel eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas.

The blade of this example is in very good condition, with a lot of the factory cross grain still visible. There is some runner wear, as well as light staining and oxidation in areas, which has been removed by cleaning. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is however still quite crisp, with the factory darkening still mostly intact. 

The rear is marked with the RZM and SS contract information:

((RZM))
M7 / 68
1941

This marking indicates the dagger was made by RZM Dagger contractor “68” in 1941, which is Lauterjung & Co., Tiger Stahlwaren- und Waffenfabrik, a famous manufacturer in Solingen, the legendary “City of Blades” in Western Germany. Their trademark was a Tiger, and their factory was thus often referred to as Tigerwerk (Tiger Works). The firm was founded in 1873 to make knives, scissors, and other steel ware, and survived until after the war. There were several different branches of the Lauterjung family involved in edged weapons, operating under different trade names to avoid confusion. For more information please see GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS by J. Anthony Carter.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and currently has a very nice black enamel paint finish, though it looks like it was arsenal refinished at some point. Past scuffing and chipping can be seen under the paint. The scabbard shell is equipped with fine matching solid nickel mounts, which show this is a transitional period dagger. These mounts are in very good condition overall, with only a little denting to the lower ball. However, the lower fitting is missing both screws, and can be pulled off the scabbard. The top fitting is also missing one of the two screws.

The Reichszeugmeisterei, or RZM, was was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles. The M7 in the code stands for knives/daggers, contractor 68 stands for firm Tigerwerk Lauterjung & Co..

A very nice example of an SA dagger from a desirable maker and leather hanger. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8 3/4″
Overall length: 13 3/4”
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 10”

History of the SA-

The SA or Brown Shirts, were a private political formation which Adolf AH and the NSDAP used to maintain order at organized Party meetings and demonstrations. The group was formed in 1921, and grew to a huge force of nearly 3,000,000 men by the later 1930’s. To instill esprit de corps, as well as create employment for the Blade City of Solingen, it was decided each SA man would carry a dagger with his Brown Shirt uniform. Huge quantities needed to be produced to accommodate the demand. The dagger initially was produced of hand-fitted nickel mounts with attractive finished wood grip and brown anodized (a bluing process) finished scabbard.

The blade was etched with the SA motto, Alles für Deutschland. Examples produced prior to 1935 were stamped with the German sector of the SA group on reverse lower crossguard. Later examples underwent standardization through the RZM ministry. These pieces were produced of cheaper plated zinc-base fittings and scabbards were simply painted brown.

Prior to his “unmasking” as a traitor, Ernst Röhm was the leader of the SA. In 1934, he distributed approximately 100,000 SA daggers with his personal inscription on the reverse blade. These daggers were to honor individuals who had served with the SA prior to December, 1931. Other than the inscription, these pieces were identical to the standard M1933 SA dagger. After the Röhm purge, the inscription was ordered to be removed. Many examples were returned to the factory for grinding. Others were simply ground in the field by whatever means were available. Examples will occasionally be encountered with remnants of the original inscription remaining on the blade, but mostly none will remain. Some blades exist with an intact inscription, reflecting only the removal of the Röhm signature. Very very rarely is an example seen with a full, untouched inscription, as the holder would have surely risked a charge of treason.

After the purge, the NSKK, which had been a part of the SA, was split off into a separate organization. They retained the same daggers as the SA, however now used a black painted scabbard, and their officer’s daggers had a few differences as well.