UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons SA & NSKK Dagger Forum Would you provide info on this dagger?

This dagger was brought home by a GI who is a close family friend.

He told me he traded a couple cartons of cigarettes for it back in 1945. He rememebers trading with a German man in civilian clothing but does not recall if it was before or after the surrender or in what part of Germany, although he was with the American forces from Normandy and I believe wound up near Heidelberg.

He vividly remembers Germans were hungary and trading all kinds of things for food, cigarettes and the like.

The blade mark says "RZ" with an "M" underneath, the entire etched as a circle.

Below this is "M7/1".

The hanger assembly that is attached to the sheath also has a number stamped on the metal piece. It is "M5/25", underneath this is stamped "RZM".

I would be curious to know if this dagger is indeed original and if so, in what factory and what year? Is it possible to know to whom it was issued?

Lastly, what's the value? If I were to get a handwritten explanation from the G.I. regarding how he received the dagger would that increase the value?

I'll attempt to attach pics. The lens on my digital camera is not great but I did my best.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

-Robert

Another

Another...

More

again

and again..

and another...

Last one was kind of lousy...

Robert,

Welcome to the Forum!
It is original, post 1936 SA dagger.
The RZM code on blade stands for maker Gebr�der Christians, Christianswerk, Solingen.
Hanger maker is M5/25 Christian Theodor Dicke, L�denscheid.
Confirmed story from G.I. would add some value (for some more, for some less).
I see the pitting on the blade - that would decrease value of the dagger.
Grip is nice, so the scabbard.
I'd say the price range $300 - 400.

Nice pickup , I have spoken to many veterans that acquired many items for cigarettes and such, even items as valuable as diamond rings or a nice Leica camera for a couple packs of Lucky Strikes, but one gotta smoke right. I agree its probably worth in the $400.00 range, congratulation its a great starter piece and sure beat the party pin that I started with 9 years ago.

The scabbard looks black. If it is, then the dagger is a NSKK or motorcorps dagger. Worth about the same to most collectors, but more correctly identified. It certainly looks black.

Nice overall dagger!

Mark

Thanks for your advice and feedback.

The scabbard is dark brown but looks black in the pics. I suspect brown is standard issue?

Regarding the discoloration on the blade, it is not deep but it'd probably be best to not remove it?

What causes the discoloration and can something be done to keep it from getting worse?

Having viewed these daggers many times on sites such as this I was surprised how light the daggers are when I finally got a chance to hold one. I can see how the tips might break.

Thanks again! I've been a history buff for years but am new to collecting militaria.

Robert

One more...

Looking a little harder I can't tell if the scabbard is black or brown. It's not as light brown as the other pics on the site but in the right light it looks a very dark chocolate brown.

I guess it'd take a more knowledgeable eye than mine to determine.