Original German WWII Early NSKK Dagger RZM M7/37 by Robert Klaas Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available: This is a very difficult dagger to encounter these days. The crossguards are the nickel plated variety and still retain their beautiful, shiny luster. As is the case with most plated examples the plating shows minor lifting/freckles in and around the area bordering the upper and lower grip area.

The grip a red mahogany color with the “medium contour” ridge having outstanding graining! The grip-to-crossguard fit is very nice with mild shrinkage on the sides. The grip eagle is an earlier nickel variety remaining very crisp with a golden hue. The eagle is the “point-behind-the-head” style.

The blade is mirror bright with 95% crossgraining exhibiting very faint in and out marks. Gorgeous. The SA motto “Alles fur Deutschland” is very crisp still maintaining 90% of the frosted backgrounding. The blade grades very high. The reverse ricasso is matching etched with the Klaas “larger, open, double RZM circle w/background burnishing” and beneath is the maker’s code “M 7/37” for Robert Klaas of Solingen-Ohligs.

The scabbard shell is totally straight throughout. The black factory paint is very nice rating at 90%. The shell is fitted with factory new nickel-plated mounts showing very faint storage scratches. The four dome head side screws are present and undamaged. This is an investment quality piece offered at an affordable price.

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.