These daggers were all Rohm daggers, albeit most had the inscription ground later on. The condition of this one is terrible and it's going to take a lot of "tuning up" to make it look any better.
I doubt if it will look like this long...maybe I'm wrong, but it is really not a joy to look at in this condition..so, is it going to stay like this or go into the body shop? It should be very interesting to see what develops with it over time.
Congrats to the buyer in any event...what's gonna win in the long run is my question; 1. history (as found today) or 2. condition (heavy scabbard work and polishing of the blade)?
Great score. No doubt in my mind as to originality. Looks like the one I owned except for the copper scabbard. As Dave has stated, don't do any restoration. Congratulations
Guys, rest assured that I'm in no hurry to "pimp my ride." It's not going anywhere and nothing is going to happen to it. After the last three weeks it's nice to just sit here and look at it. Right now my plans are that I have no plans.
My only course of action at present is that I'm trying to document the chain of possession. The owner during the last approximate 60 years is alive and known to the sellers. The original veteran who acquired the piece from Europe may or may not still be around. I'll see what I can find out before it's too late.
And I would like to offer some corrections if I may. It's doesn't look terrible and there's nothing wrong with it. It's quite beautiful in it's own way; I wouldn't change a thing.
I suspect I'm not the only one drooling over this dagger, whatever you paid, I sure it was a bargain! This has to be the most desirable SA dagger configuration, period.
You have a prize piece, I wouldn't mess with it either, it has a distinct character and sense of history. Congrats, glad it went to an enthusiast & member.
Can somebody tell me how late this mark was used into the 3rd Reich period, it was certainly used from about 1929 onwards, I would like to know whether it was used later than say late 1933?? Cheers
My opinion is that it was used through the prototype* development of the SA daggers.
The reason I hold that opinion is that I am aware of three blades with this mark and have seen a photo of a fourth.
The first of the regular production Eickhorn SA daggers had the large oval trademark and these were 1934 vintage.
This same mark is seen on the Fire leader's dagger.
Dave
*They are called "Christmas Daggers" because they were given out before Christmas of 1933 to senior SA men. This is what I have read and is based on news reports in Solingen trade papers at the time. I have not read those original papers so I could be entirely wrong.
Thank you for the explanation, at this moment I'm just interested in the time frame of this mark, I believe I have seen it on very early HJ knives as well???.
Gary, the one I have seen on HJ knives is very close to the ones on the first Eickhorn SAs and the Fire Leader. Same squirrel*, but no CE underneath inside the oval but Underneath is SOLINGEN and under that in smaller letters is GES.GESCHUTZT. This is an early no-ricasso knife.
Hope this helps
Dave
* I use Anthony Carter's book a lot, but in this case it does not clear up what exact vintage these are. The book contains drawings rather than photos and does not mention the size of the marks.
Another point that is short on proof. I have always heard that the HJ knife was the very first Nazi-marked Edged weapon. It had a swaz before the Nazis even came to power.
That might account for that earlier trademark on the older HJ knives. The one I mentioned above has an anodized scabbard, which I think is early.
My opinion is that it was used through the prototype* development of the SA daggers.
The reason I hold that opinion is that I am aware of three blades with this mark and have seen a photo of a fourth.
The first of the regular production Eickhorn SA daggers had the large oval trademark and these were 1934 vintage.
This same mark is seen on the Fire leader's dagger.
Dave
*They are called "Christmas Daggers" because they were given out before Christmas of 1933 to senior SA men. This is what I have read and is based on news reports in Solingen trade papers at the time. I have not read those original papers so I could be entirely wrong.
Does anyone know where copies of these news reports can be found? Are they printed in any reference book? If so, which one?
The dagger is very interesting, and one cannot help but wonder who was originally gifted this dolch, what was his position, and what had he done to warrant such a gift..
An early old comrade to be sure, quite possibly overseeing some of the earliest street fighting days in the early /mid 20's..
A few days ago Tom Wittmann made this video about early SA daggers, which also includes this threads Christmas dagger and others. Hope I can place this link here, if not you can more it somewhere more appropriate.
