I have been asked this question many times over the years, but only am reasonably confident of my answer in the past 5 years or so. After analyzing the data of about 16,000 entries for the McSARR (McAlvanah SA Rarity Rating), there were several candidates from the known 214 makers. Please note I did not consider examples as the Early SA Rohms by Eickhorn and Pack or variations as the double oval Eickhorn, only the Makers. My opinion for rarest would be ARTUR MELCHER. This involves only the Early SAs. Thank you, Mike
Great info Mike, there can't be many of them in collections around the world
Here you go
Very hard to find.
Now, everyone but Dr. Mike, what is your observation of the second or third rarest. No science, no math, just your feeling of what the rarest of the rare.
Dave
Hermann Konejung AG, Solingen ? pure SWAG on this
Good choice, Eric.
There is no real right answer if you are going for a gut feel response.
Herm Konejung is pretty rare and cool besides. I've always wonder why that mark was chosen.
Dave
Pardon me, but what does pure SWAG mean?
Well, I always knew it as stolen goods, but I don't pick up the relevance in this usage
"Semi-Wild-@ss Guess"
SWAG is used to describe an estimate derived from a combination of factors including past experience, general impressions, and heuristic or approximate calculations rather than an exhaustive search, proof, or rigorous calculation.
Dave,
Good question - I believe the company specilaied in making spectacle frames, pocket knifes and scissors, spectacles registered in 1907 as a brand stamp ?
looking for more info
Hello ,
this maker ? seen on a french forum :
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S+
Seppi,
Photobucket says that page does not exist.
Once again, I ask you to please post the photos, not the links.
Thanks, Dave.
Hello all ,
is this maker Fritz Berthelmes *BAVARIA* may be considered as rare or rarest ?
S+
this is a 5 on the McSARR so it is right in the middle regards rarity-Mike
I think Mike gave this one a 10/10
This one. :-)
Mr.G
Mr. Gale,
That is a very cool trademark ... and in good shape.
Thanks
Dave
H. Herder was the only maker that we know of that was owned by a woman at one time- Henriette in 1865.
Hi, this ones are some of the Rarest for me.
Best
Andreas
The actual rarest SA logo is this one. Used on prototype daggers by Eickhorn
Mike, I think you're on to something. Espescially the lengths you went through to get a hold of my Armeso, made me think I had something special...
I may be delusional, but I think this maker is one of the rarest. This photo is not mine. Thanks to the author
Wester & Butz for me!!
That is one of my favorites, Fitzer!
Herman
This little ship also got a 10 on 10!
Herman
A.Werth
Carl Haas
Paul Ebel
Jos Schlimbach
Wow!! Very nice gentleman. Beautiful daggers for sure, and, super hangers.
Ed
Just very seldom see dagger makers!
Makes you wonder how many?
Condition on many I have never seen is unreal!
Thanks for showing!
PVON
Wow, I've not seen these makers. Thanks for showing them!
Hello ,
voici mon exemplaire :
That is a really nice dagger Vik! never seen that maker before. Do you also sell daggers? I am looking to grow my collection.
Maybe this a an unusual addition to the topic, but I still wonder why we never find the neat Klaas marking on any early SA-dagger...
Robert Klaas was one of the largest producers of early M33 SS-daggers, but did not make a single early SA?
So the only one I have found so far, is this double marked one...
Best regards,
Herman
I've been looking for 30 years. Good luck.
That is a very good question, does make you wonder why when they were such a big and prolific maker