BACKGROUND: The SS M33 service dagger was introduced on December 15TH 1933 for wear by all full SS members, regardless of rank. The dagger was intended as an ornamental item and the design was based on the traditional 16TH century Swiss "Holbein" hunting dagger as was being utilized for the SA personnel’s dagger with a different coloration and insignia. The daggers were bestowed annually to newly accepted SS members at 10:00pm on the anniversary of the unsuccessful Beer Hall Putsch, (November 9TH), in front of the Feldherrnhalle in Munich. Originally the daggers featured an anodized scabbard and utilized nice quality solid nickel/silver fittings until roughly early 1937 when the scabbards began to have a painted finish and cheaper nickel/silver plated fittings replaced the earlier solid nickel/silver fittings in 1938. Of Note: During the course of the Third Reich there were five distinct SS daggers introduced starting with the M33 dagger in 1933, the Röhm inscription, the Himmler dedication and the SS Honor dagger in 1934 and the M36 dagger in August 1936.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Early, (circa 1933-37), nice quality dagger features a roughly 22cm long, double edged, drop forged steel, nickel/silver plated blade with a low central ridge. The nickel/silver plated blade shows minor scabbard runners and surface spotting but is still quite clean and bright with most of the original cross graining still being visible. The obverse of the blade has a nice, deep, well defined acid etched motto, "Meine Ehre Heißt Treue", (My Honor is Loyalty). The reverse of the blade has a well defined acid etched manufacturers logo, name and location. The logo consists of two kissing swans encompassed by script, "Robert Klaas Solingen. The dagger comes with a nickel/silver cross guard, pommel and tang nut and a carved ebony grip. The reverse of the cross guard is well marked with stamped Roman numeral, "I". The nicely shaped ebony grip has a nice snug fit to the cross guard and pommel fittings. There is a chip to the top reverse grip. The grip has a flush, inset, solid nickel/silver national eagle and nickel/silver and enameled SS button nicely fit in place. The dagger comes with a black anodized, magnetic sheet metal scabbard with solid nickel/silver fittings. The solid nickel/silver top and bottom fittings both show the same light, consistently even age toned patina as on the cross guard, pommel and tang nut. The top scabbard fitting retains both of its dome headed retaining screws and the hanger suspension ring and loop. Nice untouched SS dagger. The original hanger is included, but is broken.