Original German Early WWII SA Dagger by H. HERDER Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This early-war period produced SA Dagger has nickel-plated fittings throughout. The crossguards and tang nut are in very good condition throughout with all fittings still having their brightness. There is a little age to these mounts but there is no lifting anywhere. The pommel guard also does have a cut in it, showing that the fittings are in fact solid nickel silver. The tip of the scabbard has sustained multiple dents.

The grip is a fine product having a nice dark aged mahogany tone in the surfaces and having medium center ridge construction. This grip is in very good condition and fits the crossguards like a glove. The symbol button is nicely set, but unfortunately is worn through the nickel plating to the copper flash plate and only about 40% of the enamel remains. The grip eagle is a fine example being the style with beak that points straight. The details are still there to the eagle to include the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas. The nickel plate, as with the symbol, has worn off, leaving the copper flash coating over the original base metal.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and is the early style with a brown anodized and lacquered finish. Overall it is in good condition, but the lacquer has aged and started to bubble up in places, obscuring the color of the anodized finish. The scabbard shell is equipped with fine matching nickel mounts, as used on the anodized scabbards. The throat is in excellent condition, though the tip guard ball has been dented several times, as the nickel is more easily dented than the steel used later. They nicely match the crossguards and are complete with all four dome head screws.

The blade of this example is marked H. HERDER – SOLINGEN in a circle around the spade herder logo. The blade is mostly still bright, though there are areas of pitting and staining that have been polished out. The original factory cross grain can still be seen on many areas of the blade. There are runner marks and some edge chips, as would be expected of an early dagger that saw long service. There also is evidence of past sharpening. This is a nice blade nonetheless and at this point certainly grades at very good.

The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland SA motto is crisp, though use and polishing have removed most of the dark finish within the letters.

A very nice early example of an SA dagger from a top maker.