UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons SA & NSKK Dagger Forum Early SA Ed Wustoff w/ Surprise!

ED Wustoff

Here is a great early maker also known for making Rohm daggers. The overall appeal of the dagger itself is in great condition and also rates a “3” on a rarity list. This dagger is the heavier type attributed to the crossguards, which internally they are marked St & St both sides of the guards upper and lower. The Tang close to the blade shoulders has the normally seen “O” that is seen with this maker. The anodizing and laquer is all there with a little bit of spidering. The reverse blade has no remnant signs of the dedication lettering ,, but there are signs of the spine having that “Slight wave” to it in a couple of places,, so it is possible that this was a Rohm at one time. The blade itself has been cleaned but I think it comes with the territory once you read further in my description,, and where it has been!

Now the surprise part,,,the chances of finding a $100 bill on the ground these days,,is next to nothing and one would have better luck finding a penny on the ground. That slim next to none chance had just made itself possible by me being at the right place at the right time. The $100 bill chance turned out to be an “Oe” gruppe mark that is ever so rarely seen!! For the gruppe mark type collectors of SA daggers, this is a dream come true. There is a ton of History surrounding this elusive gruppe mark and the SA gruppe itself!
I researched this gruppe and the information is endless,,I could not find any information on the gruppe mark itself but I did get some on the SA Leader in charge in Austria by the name of “Hermann Reschny” and his years of duty in the SA. Seems as though this guy was the “Ernst Rohm of Austria” during the early 1930s,, as Hitler himself had problems with Hermann Reschny`s authority in Austria and his political overthrow thoughts. 5 years before the Anschluss,, this guy wanted to take Austria in 1933.

The number 2629 is untraceable and it is my opinion that the this was not the original number as there is a slight trace of another number barely visible beneath the #6. The areas around the numbers are slightly depressed as of a removal of what was once there. .
In Ralf Siegerts SA book ,, it is quoted on page 78 concerning the “Oe” gruppe mark ..”Already before the annexation of Austria intio the Third Reich in 1938,, daggers for SA men who were involved in “illegal actions were stamped with the “Oe” letters.”… What these particular illegal actions were except going against Hitlers wishes not to overthrow that Government,,I do not personally know. I am hopeful that when Tom Wittmanns SA book comes out,, that he will be able to shed more light into the gruppe mark itself. Below is a dossier of Hermann Reschny ,, theSA High Leader in Austria.
I am thankful to Adam 777 of the GDC for helping me with this information concerning the birth of this gruppe and the amount of Rohm daggers awarded to these men.
(founded) 1934 -02-01 in Munich,
SA Rohm inscription daggers supplied to this group: 3,200

I can only speculate the reason why we don’t see a lot of “Oe” gruppe marked daggers is maybe the same reasoning that the removal of the Ernst Rohm inscription on his honor daggers were to remove the memory of the same with the Ostereich Gruppe itself. This is just my opinion.
All this information would not be possible ( nor this thread would have been created) if I have not been fortunate enough to be at the Lakeside and found this rare gem,, when I contacted that Trader guy Paul Hogle. Thanks again 
I am also thankful to the Axis history forum in help with the Hermann Reschnys dossier, and insight into the Hilfswerk-Nordwest gruppe.
Hermann R e s c h n y
SA-Obergruppenführer

[02.04.1931-02.08.1934: Führer of SA-Gruppe Österreich (HQ: Linz).]

Born: 15.06.1898 in Stammersdorf bei Wien / Österreich.
Died: 07.01.1971 in Graz / Österreich.

NSDAP-Nr.: 52 036 (Joined 03.09.1926)

SA Promotions:
15.07.1926 Führer der SA-Österreich
01.01.1931 SA-Oberführer
14.10.1931 SA-Gruppenführer
01.07.1932 SA-Gruppenführer (reinstated at this rank with lifting of the government ban on the SA)
20.04.1933 SA-Obergruppenführer
[00.00.1941] Oberleutnant d. R.
00.00.194_ Hauptmann d. R.
01.10.1944 Major d. R.
Below are the dates when SA Gruppe Osterriech was placed under another Gruppe identity only to re-establish itself in 1938. There are no known Nw gruppe marks for this SA gruppe.
1.7.33 - 30.6.34 F SA Obergruppe VIII (Osterreich) which became on March 1934 SA Obergruppe XI
1934 - 13.3.38 F SA Hilfswerk Nordwest
14.3.38 - 31.5.38 F SA Gruppe Osterreich

Below is a small paragraph ( link included) of the Ostereich actions including Hermann Reschny taken from the online book “The Unmmaking of Adolf Hitler”
http://books.google.com/books?id=qncE3wy...hny&f=false
The Austrian National Socialists like the Dolfuss government were ridden with factions. One of Habichts chief rivals in a party without central leadership was Hermann Reschny, an SA Obergruppen fuhrer who had the ten thousand Austrian legion under his control as well as a sizeable SA group in Austria itself. Reschny made preparations to order the Austrian legion to march into Austria in October 1933, a date postponed until early 1934 when, with other SA leaders, he considered whether the SA should be summoned home to join the battle then being waged between the government and social democratic forces.
Reschny told Habicht nothing of these plans, but Hitler heard of them through the German military attache in Vienna and he forbade Reschny to continue with any projects that would involve a rising SA. Nevertheless the possibility of a takeover in vienna remained an alluring prospect, and still another Nazi group, this one in the Vienna police department, separately plotted a strategy for the seizure of power that would be adopted by the actual putchists in July.
The pre-Anscluss and all the way up to the actual date in 1938 is some very exhaustive reading and study. After the Ostereich gruppe was disbanded in Austria a good number of men flew back to Germany and form the Austrian legion “OST” which from that point took on the name of “Hilfswerk Nordwest” unitl the actual Anschluss.
Having a dagger with a gruppe mark always tells of its whereabouts in the Reich it was desiganted to,, but having a gruppe mark that tells a story of political turmoil and eventual overthrow,, is something tightly packed into 2 small letters on a crossguard ,, which opens a door into the past that not too many people just don’t know about,, due to the lack of “Oe” marked daggers. If one does not see it then they don’t know about it,, except the collector who collects these types and knows the connection between the two!
Below is just a comparison of crossgurd styles,, with Eickhorn being on the left and Ed Wustoff on the right. Cool History! Larry

Where did the neat little Standards come from?

Wow! Larry, that's quite a study. Great dagger itself, but these two letters make it very special. There used to be a thread with diagram (based on collectors observation)called "Gua %" showing the percentage of the daggers issued to each SA group. So, the score for "gua" Oesterreich was 0.31% only - the same as super rare "W" (Wachstandarte Feldherrnhalle).

Larry, "Connecting the dots" of history to bring period items into focus. Well Done!!! Fred

Very nice dagger Larry! Thanks for all the info too, very interesting stuff..Kevin.

Fantastic, Larry. Great find, great analysis!

But, , one of these days you gotta move up the food chain to SS daggers.

Regards,
Dave

Larry,

What can I say but thanks for the history lesson. Remarkable research done there my friend. You always seem to come up with these outstanding early SA's and your threads are very educational.

I believe your Oe group mark, is like finding a needle in a hay stack. I knew they were out there but extremely rare, this is the first one I've seen.

Hats off to you on a job very well done, nice dagger with a rare group mark, and great display. What more could one ask for.

Regards
Rich

Thank you Gents,,Finding the dagger was cool but researching the information was very challenging and satisfying. The dagger and the info together IMO,, and for my collection, makes this rare example complete! With SAs it is so hard to put a personal history to it compared to an SS dagger, with a serial number on it.

Yes I would more than love to do that and i have the SA resources to do it but something about these SAs that have their own personality and mystique about them that makes it hard to part with them. Although I do have 1 early SS, I still desire a Chained SS. I need to get myself out of that "rut".

With the help of John Peppera,,I got them from this web site.. www.inthepasttoys.net. I paid alot less than what was listed and the contact person there is Deborah. in the NY area. These standards are about 12" tall and make a great desk ornament!!
and finally to Adam,, that pie chart is on the SA gau rarity list on the 2nd page and about 5 photos down. The "Oe" is barely but a line in the pie chart.
http://phpstack-500133-1583587.cloudwaysapps.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=196387&page=2
Thank again Guys and it was well worth it for myself and hopefully for the SA dagger and Gruppe mark type collector. Regards Larry

That is a beautifull SA by Ed Wüsthof, Larry, congratulations with its find!

Also, very interesting documentation that you added, thanks!

I have one comment to add: the grip to crossguard fitting looks unusual for an SA by Ed Wusthof, but it could be due to the pictures.

I add a couple of images for your comparasing purposes.

Best regards,

Herman

A fantastic dagger Larry and I have some steak knives by Wustof that would go well with it!

Hi Hermann your observations are correct, as the step on my lower crossguard is not as deep as the photo shown of yours. I do beleive that this grip has been on this dagger for quite some time as the tang nut was very hard to turn and there was alot of old dirt build up between guards and the grip. Was it original to the dagger? Hard to tell,, and there are no markings on the bottom and top of the grip wood. I also think the same would go for scabbards as we really dont know along the line from early period to present if they had been replaced due to damage or switched out. I have also noticed in your second photo that the accent grooving on the lower crossguard is not as deep as your first and third photos. Makers did trade or buy parts from each other to fill production quota. Your Wustof is exceptionally beautiful and Im sure If I was to take off all the grime on my grip it on some spots it would show a nice grain ,, but my grip is alot more worn. Yours has beautiful crossgrain!! I attached 2 photos of an F.Dick dagger and crossguards as it they are both marked with a "W",, but take notice to the lower crossguard as the accent grooving is shallow compared to the upper crossguard. My point I am trying to make is that although the stamping was the same,, the outer appearance differed. Just as the guards differed on your 2nd Wustoff photo. So My grip or even my crossguard?... Maybe from another maker. Hard to say. I do Highly value your opinion and I do thank you for pointing that out to me and showing me comparative photos. Best regards to you Hermann and Erich I just need a fork,, I already have the duble edged knife