Original German WWII SA Dagger by Rare Maker Robert Müller & Sohn with Scabbard and Hanger - RZM M7/32

Original Item: Only One Available. This very good condition mid war period produced SA Dagger is made with nickel-plated fittings throughout, looking to have seen only light use during the war. This example was made by the rare firm of Robert Müller & Sohn, located in the Merscheid district of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. It comes complete with its original mid war painted scabbard and a very nice leather belt hanger.

The handle guards and tang nut are made from alloy, most likely zinc-based "white metal", and still have a good amount of the original plating intact. There is however light overall oxidation, as well as flaking and oxidation where the fittings are in contact with the wooden grip, which is somewhat typical. The pommel guard in particular shows more plating loss and oxidation. The pommel nut is nickel-plated alloy, and does show some oxidation, however it does not show any turning. The hilt is still tight on the blade, with no wobble.

The grip is in very good condition, showing a lovely mahogany brown color with some nice grain and color variation. There is some cracking near the pommel guard, and possibly near the cross guard, common due to how brittle the stain makes the wood over many years. There is also a long scratch on one side, which is definitely not a crack, as it runs onto the eagle. The SA symbol button is nicely, with fully intact translucent enamel, and the plating intact with overall oxidation. The details are still mostly there to the inlaid aluminum eagle, including the beak, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and mobile swas (hook cross).

The blade of this example is in excellent condition, showing the original factory final polish grind cross grain clearly throughout the blade. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. There is some light oxidation staining in areas, particularly near the blade ridge and edge, but there is no major rust. There is the usual runner wear on the blade, as well as some cleaning marks, but otherwise this is really a great blade. It still retains the original factory edge, which on Müller daggers is beveled and relatively sharp. The acid-etched Alles für Deutschland (Everything for Germany) SA motto is still quite crisp, with the darkening almost fully intact!

The reverse ricasso is etched with a double circle with RZM logo in the middle over M7 / 32. This indicates Post-1941 manufacture by maker Robert Müller & Sohn, Stahlwaren- und Metallwarenfabrik (Steelware and Metalware Factory). This company is a known manufacturer of flatware, knives, and razors in the Merscheid district of Solingen, Germany - a city famous since the middle ages for its metal-working and craftsmanship in sword making, often called the "City of Blades".

Per J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS, the company was founded in 1885 by Robert Müller, but no registered with Solingen authorities until 1920. By 1939 the company was owned by the widow Bertha Müller and her son, also named Robert Müller. During the third reich era they were a known producer of knives, including SA and NSKK daggers, as well as HJ Knives. The company ceased operations in 1971.

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, with Robert Müller & Sohn being contractor number 32.

The scabbard shell is straight and dent free throughout and has excellent original brown enamel paint, which shows overall crazing and checking, confirming the age. There are just a few areas of missing paint on the reverse, and it looks great! The scabbard shell is equipped with matching plated steel mounts, which show some wear and oxidation from use and age. The bottom ball shows some denting, which is common even on steel fitted examples. The fittings nicely match the crossguards and are complete with all four dome head screws.

Attached to the hanger ring on the scabbard is a very nice later pattern 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. The functional clip itself is marked with a "barred A" followed by D.R.G.M. (Deutsches Reiches Gebrauchs Musterschutz) - meaning it is a protected patented design under the Reich Government. This design was registered to the owner of the "Barred A" trademark, F. W. Assmann & Söhne of Lüdenscheid, a large maker of belts, buttons, and other accoutrements. The clip also has the RZM code M5/8 for Assmann, meaking this is a transitional belt clip as well, correct to the period.

A great example of a mid to late war pattern SA dagger from a rare maker, complete with scabbard and 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.