Original Excellent German WWII SA Dagger with Scabbard by Carl Malsch-Spitzer 3 Piece Hanger & Scabbard – RZM M7/91 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This excellent condition mid-war period produced SA Dagger has nickel-plated fittings throughout. The crossguards and tang nut are nickel plated alloy, most likely zinc, and have about 95% of the plating intact, with some flaking and oxidation where the grip wood meets the guards, which is typical. 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 nice dark red mahogany tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. This grip is in excellent condition with great grain, and fits the crossguards well. There are no chips, cracks, or other major issues, just some pressure denting from use. 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 eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas. The plating is fully intact, with a nice patina.

The blade of this example is in excellent condition and has virtually all of its factory final grind cross grain intact, which can be seen easily in the light. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. All we can see is some runner wear, with some other scratches from insertion, and virtually no oxidation. This is one of the best blades we have ever seen on an SA dagger. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is crisp, with the factory darkening still almost completely intact.

The reverse is etched with a double circle with RZM logo in the middle over M 7 / 91. This indicates manufacture by Carl Malsch-Spitzer, Messerfabrik (Knife Factory) of Steinbach Kreis Meiningen in Thuringia. This RZM code is often erroneously identified as Carl Spitzer of Malsch, but this is incorrect, as there is no such company. Also the Spitzer family of Knife makers was based in Solingen, not Malsch. According to GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS by J. Anthony Carter, the company manufactured SA and SS daggers during the third reich period, first using their Trademark logo, and later using the RZM code M7/91. The company continued after the war, but as of 2001 the factory stood empty.

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 91 stands for firm Carl Malsch-Spitzer.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and has great original brown enamel paint. The rolled steel texture of the body can still be seen through the paint, so it has definitely not been repainted. There are a few areas on the rear where the paint has crazed and chipped / flaked away, showing the steel body of the scabbard, which has just a bit of oxidation. The scabbard shell is fitted with fine nickel-plated steel mounts, which show only minor oxidation and wear. They nicely match the crossguards and are complete with all four dome head screws.

The attached three piece belt hanger is in good condition, though the leather is somewhat shrunken at worn. The plated steel spring clip is RZM marked M5/71 over olc in a diamond, for Overhoff & Cie. of Lüdenscheid, who produced numerous clothing accessories. 

An excellent example of an SA dagger by a rare maker with a near mint blade and rare 3 piece 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.