The S.A. Dagger was worn as a symbol of  authority worn by members of Hitler’s Sturmabteilung
(SA)(Storm Detachment)      

A thuggish street army first raised in 1921 to fight communist party supporters during political demonstrations. The S.A. or “Brown Shirts” grew to a membership of 3,000,000 men by the late 1930′s. Huge quantities of daggers were produced to accommodate this political army and in so doing revitalised the ancient blade industry of

 Solingen.

The weapon takes the form of a Gothic dagger similar in design to one featured in a painting by Hans Holbein. These “Holbein Daggers” were initially produced with hand-fitted nickel mounts and exotic fruit wood grips The steel scabbards. had a lacquered brown anodized finish, The blade was etched with the SA motto, Alles für Deutschland. Examples made 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 utilizing cheaper plated zinc-based  fittings and scabbards were brown spray painted. Non Ferrous metals were reserved for the armaments build up. 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 (Interestingly SS Daggers with the same inscription were issued). 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 M 1933 SA dagger. After the Röhm purge an order to remove all inscriptions that bore his name was given. Many examples were returned to the factory for grinding. Others had the defecation erased  in the field by whatever means were available. Examples will occasionally be encountered with remnants of the original inscription on the blade. Some blades exist with an intact inscription, reflecting only the removal of the Röhm signature. Very rarely is an example seen with a full, untouched inscription, as the holder would have risked a charge of treason.

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