The SA dagger (Sturmabteilung dagger) is one of the most recognizable edged weapons from pre-war Germany. Originally introduced as a symbol of membership and loyalty within the SA (Sturmabteilung), these daggers have become highly sought-after historical collectibles. Today they are collected for their craftsmanship, maker variations, and historical significance rather than for their original political context.
This guide explains the history of the SA dagger, how to identify original examples, the different production periods, and what collectors should look for when buying one.
The SA (Sturmabteilung), often referred to as the “Brownshirts,” was established during the early years of the Nazi movement.
In 1933, shortly after the Nazi Party came to power, the official Model 1933 SA Dagger (M33) was introduced.
The dagger was designed as both a ceremonial sidearm and a symbol of status within the organization.
Every dagger carried the famous motto:
“Alles für Deutschland”
(“Everything for Germany”)
Collectors generally consider early SA daggers to be the most desirable.
Characteristics include:
During this period, more than 200 different Solingen manufacturers produced SA daggers.
One unique feature of early SA daggers is the group marking stamped into the lower crossguard.
These markings identified the regional SA district where the dagger was originally issued.
| Markering | SA Gruppe |
|---|---|
| B | Bayerische Ostmark |
| BO | Bayerische Ostmark (latere afkorting) |
| Br | Brandenburg |
| Fr | Franken |
| H | Hochland |
| He | Hessen |
| Ho | Hochland |
| M | Mitte |
| N | Nordmark |
| Nd | Niederrhein |
| No | Nordsee |
| Ns | Niedersachsen |
| Ob | Ostmark |
| Om | Ostmark |
| P | Pommern |
| S | Sachsen |
| Sa | Sachsen |
| Sch | Schlesien |
| Sw | Südwest |
| Th | Thüringen |
| Wf | Westfalen |
| Wm | Westmark |
Because some groups produced fewer daggers than others, certain markings are considerably rarer.
One of the most interesting variations of the SA dagger is the double-marked transitional RZM dagger.
These daggers bridge the gap between the early privately marked production and the later standardized RZM production.
During the mid-1930s, the Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) introduced a standardized licensing system for manufacturers
of political edged weapons. Instead of using only their company trademark,
manufacturers were required to mark blades with an official RZM code (for example, RZM M7/66 for Carl Eickhorn).
During this transition, several manufacturers continued to stamp both their traditional company logo
and the new RZM code on the same blade. These are known as transitional or double-marked SA daggers.
Most double-marked SA daggers were produced between approximately 1935 and 1938, although a few manufacturers continued this practice into 1939.
The exact timeframe varied by manufacturer, as there was no single date on which every factory switched exclusively to RZM markings.
A transitional blade generally features:
For example, a Carl Eickhorn transitional dagger may display the familiar squirrel logo together with RZM M7/66 1938.
Beginning in 1936, production became standardized under the Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM).
Instead of manufacturer logos, blades received RZM codes such as:
These codes identify the manufacturer.
For example:
Late production daggers typically feature:
Among the rarest SA daggers are those bearing the dedication of Ernst Röhm, the SA Chief of Staff.
The reverse blade reads:
“In herzlicher Kameradschaft, Ernst Röhm.”
Following the purge known as the Night of the Long Knives in 1934, most owners were ordered to remove Röhm’s dedication.
Because of this, collectors encounter:
Unground Röhm daggers are among the most desirable variants.
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The wooden grip should have:
Small shrinkage over time is normal.
Look for:
Original scabbards should have:
Repainted scabbards are common and generally reduce value.
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Always verify that:
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To finish this blog about SA daggers, I would like to share something with you that we have in our private collection:
a beautiful SA Nordsee uniform, complete with its dagger. As you can see, this is the uniform worn by the Sturmabteilung during the Third Reich period.
