BACKGROUND: The SA, Sturmabteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), was originally formed in the August 1921 as a protective guard unit for the political leaders of the fledgling NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), and as with the NSDAP the SA was structure along para-military lines. The SA recruited most of its personnel from the ranks of the various Freikorps groups composed mainly of disgruntled ex-soldiers and was first utilized at a NSDAP meeting in Munich in November 1921. The SA M33 service dagger was the first dagger officially sanctioned by the NSDAP and was introduced on December 15TH 1933. The dagger was intended as an ornamental item and the design was based on the traditional 16TH century Swiss "Holbein" hunting dagger. Originally the daggers featured an anodized scabbard and utilized nice quality solid nickel/silver fittings while later models had cheaper nickel/silver plated fittings and painted scabbards. In late 1934 items manufactured for the SA including daggers came under the quality control of the RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster) and as a result were marked with the RZM logo when appropriate. Of Note: The RZM was official founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP as a Reich Hauptamt, (State Central Office), and was based on the earlier SA Quartermaster’s Department. The functions of the RZM were not only to procure and distribute items to Party formations, but also to approve chosen designs and to act as a quality control supervisor to ensure items manufactured for the Party met required specification and were standardized.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: SA dagger with a 22cm long, double-edged, drop-forged, nickel-silver plated blade, in its original scabbard. The dagger has a cast, solid nickel-silver pommel and tang nut. Its contoured wooden grip has, inlaid to its obverse, the enameled "SA" signet near the pommel, and an eagle and swastika to its center. "Wf" is stamped to the reverse of its solid nickel-silver cross guard, indicating that the bearer was attached to SA -Group "Westfalen". Abbreviated group markings such as that are most commonly found on blades produced between 1933 and 1935. "Alles für Deutschland" (Everything for Germany) is acid etched, to the front of the blade. The manufacturer's logo and name "J.A. HENCKELS", "ZWILLINGSWERK", "SOLIGEN" to the blades reverse. The lack of an RZM, "Reichszeugmeisterei" (National-materiel-control-office), logo and code marks most likely indicates that this blade was made before October of 1934, as those made after that date would have included them. The 24cm tall scabbard has a solid nickel-silver throat, mouthpiece, and lower scabbard fitting. Dome-headed securing screws are to either side of its throat and along the upper edges of its scalloped lower fitting. A brown leather hanger is included. Overall nice dagger.