Original German WWII NSKK Dagger by Rare Maker Karl Robert Kaldenbach of Solingen with Scabbard and Hanger - RZM M7/72

Original Item: Only One Available. This very good service used condition mid war period produced NSKK Dienstdolch (Service Dagger) has nickel-plated fittings throughout, and is fitted with a very nice blade. This example was made by the the rare Solingen-based firm of Karl Robert Kaldenbach, Instrumente chirurgische, located in the Gräfrath District. We have only previously had one other item by this maker.

These daggers are identical to the SA dagger, except they have a black finished scabbard. The guards and tang nut are nickel plated alloy, probably zinc or some other "pot metal", and both have lost a good amount of the plating to oxidation, especially near the wooden grip. Ares missing the plating are now black, suggesting possible exposure to water or some other oxidizing agent. The steel pommel nut is missing most of the plating as well, and does not show any signs of tightening. The grip overall is still tight on the blade.

The grip is a fine product having a fine dark reddish colored mahogany tone in the surfaces and medium center ridge construction. This grip is in very condition with great grain, and fits the crossguards well. There is no cracking or chipping in the wood that we can see, however we can see staining on both sides, with some darker stains on the back, possibly from oxides running of the fittings. The SA / NSKK button itself is nicely set having fully intact enamel, and the plating intact with some 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, however it is now quite dark in color from oxidation.

The blade of this example is in very good condition and has the factory final polish grind crossgrain easily visible throughout the blade. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. We can see some areas of past oxidation staining which were cleaned away, which wore down the grain a little, and there are also the usual runner wear and swirl marks from cleaning. There is also some oxidation on the blade right next to the crossguard, probably from moisture exposure. The original factory edge is intact, with no signs of post-manufacture sharpening, and the blade tip is unbent. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is deep and crisp, with a fine frosted background that is retained almost completely.

The rear is etched with the RZM contract information:

((RZM))
M.7 / 72

This marking indicates the dagger was made post-1941 by RZM Dagger contractor "72", which records show is the rare maker Karl Robert Kaldenbach, Instrumente chirurgische (Surgical Instruments) based in the Gräfrath borough of Solingen. Founded circa 1800, this company registered with Solingen Authorities in 1920, specializing in the manufacturer of surgical and veterinary instruments. During the Third Reich period they started making SA and NSKK daggers, first marked with their trademark logos. They later made these under RZM code M7/72, and also started to make HJ Knives, per J. Anthony Carter's excellent book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The Reichszeugmeisterei (National Quartermaster's Office), 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 72 stands for Karl Rob. Kaldenbach of Solingen.

The scabbard the mid-war style, which has a black enamel lacquered steel body fitted with nickel plated steel. The steel shell is straight and dent free, still retaining about 60% of the original black enamel finish, with areas having flaked away over the years, allowing the shell to oxidize. We can also see a lot of crazing and checking in the remaining finish, indicating that it was not repainted at any time. The original enamel is still retained at over 95%, showing crazing and checking in the finish, indicating that it has not been repainted at any time. The upper and lower fittings look great with light wear, and only minor denting to the lower ball. The throat nicely matches the crossguards, and all fittings have their original dome headed screws, which show some oxidation.

Attached to the hanger ring on the scabbard is a very nice later pattern black leather belt hanger, with a plated steel hardware. The leather definitely shows wear to the finish, with a bit of dry rot to the surface, and the leather has split through completely where it would normally go around the scabbard loop. Instead, the clip is attached to the scabbard loop to hold it in place. The keeper loop is still present, and the spring clip is still functional, marked on the back with ((RZM)) M5/8, for F. W. Assmann & Söhne of Lüdenscheid, a large maker of belts, buttons, and other accoutrements.

A lovely NSKK dagger from a very rare maker with a very nice blade and original scabbard with hanger. Ready to display!

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

History of the SA and NSKK-

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. Many already had SA daggers, so these had the scabbards painted black over the original brown anodized finish.