Most SA and SS blades are gross grain polished. I know one sometimes encounters smaller or cottage makers that don't exhibit crossgraining, but generally the polished steel blades are what we expect to see on a SA or SS blade...

The norm for Army, Luft and Naval blades are plated, but are there any SA/SS makers that were known to plate their blades, if so who, and over which time period. I have read this was done by some makers, but have seldom seen it myself, and I have always viewed these blades with a little caution. I have 2 daggers in my collection that I believe have plated blades, one is an early SA by Hammesfahr, the other a SS M36.

Is there a "textbook" answer or does anyone have a SA or SS with a plated blade that they know hasn't been messed with???

Red