Damaged Dagger

[oldfireguy]

This belongs to a friend and it was brought back by his father when he returned home from the war. It is a battlefield pick-up and has suffered damage to the handle, almost looks like it was burned. The blade is etched but difficult to read due to the lighting I had to work with. My biggest question is, who would have carried something like this? An enlisted man, NCO, or officer.

[Billy G]

Fireguy,

Welcome. This isn't a military dagger, it's a dagger for members of the SA which would probably rate as political or paramilitary. The blade is acid etched with the motto "Alles fur Deutschland" or Everything for Germany. It is a later production RZM piece which even in mint condition would bring less attention & money. The grip damage & overall blade condition makes it a sad case overall.

[Rob E.]

This particular fellow wouldn't fetch too much money.

It almost appears to be SS with the black scabbard and black appearing handle, but the blade is SA.

The handle is missing the runes that should be insert towards the top of the handle.

A normal joe soldat probably carried this, neither an NCO or Officer.

Just my edumacated opinion.

If you found a better handle (they can appear here and there at times if you ask around) and cleaned it up some it might be alittle more presentable / sellable, if that is what he is going for.

Collectors would obviously know it was cleaned / handle replaced though...

[zander]

Yes a rough dagger the makers mark relates to rzm m7/68 which is Lauterjung &co TIGER Solingen, a well known and sought after makers mark,(before the rzm induction) the black scabbard may indicate an NSKK dagger the damage is bad but if it could tell a story well who knows ,,,,,

all the best steve

[oldfireguy]

I don't think he wants to sell it but is trying to find out some information about. His dad brought a few things back and they have been sitting in an attic for who knows how long.

Thanks all for the input and I will pass it on. Much appreciated.

[Larry Lipps]

As it is an SA dagger used primarilary for ceremoinial purposes, it is somewhat unlikely that it would be a battlefield pickup. It's possible that an SA member now serving in the military decided to cary his dagger, but these weren't designed for actual combat.