The “Sturmabteilung” (SA), formed in 1921, was the original paramilitary branch of the NSDAP. Composed of Great War veterans and Freikorps members, the “brown shirts” of the SA were the brawling party thugs of the Nazi Party, frequently clashing with Communists in the streets during the hectic years of Weimar Germany. With the Nazis gaining power in 1933, a dress dagger heavily steeped in Ancient Roman design was introduced for SA members to wear with their iconic “brown shirt” uniform. The SA was a massive organization, with an eventual strength of close to 3 million men, and the demand for those daggers was equally intense. They were produced by 123 different makers, from the finest cutlers of Solingen to small, cottage-industry workshops. This German WW2 E.F. Horster RZM M7/36 SA Dress Dagger is in Very Good Condition, with some scattered chipping to the blade edges, some scratching, scabbard wear, and spot patina at each side of the blade, some scratching and spot patina to the guard and pommel, some finish abrading and patina to the bottom of the pommel nut, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features an 8 3/4” bright double edge dagger blade with the classic SA motto “Alles für Deutschland” (translating to “All for Germany”) crisply etched along the left side, boasts the classic bright nickel plated metal guard, pommel, and pommel nut, and is etched at the reverse ricasso with the circular “RZM” mark and the maker’s code “M7/36”, denoting manufacture by the famous E.F. Horster. It sports a beautiful walnut handle with the traditional German national eagle inset in inverted fashion at the middle left side and the familiar SA enameled roundel inset in inverted fashion at the lower left side, and is complete with the original German WW2 SA Brown Painted Steel Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with a small spot of surface chipping and patina at the lower right back body, some drying and surface cracking to the belt hanger, remaining a tight fit for the blade, making it difficult to draw and sheath the dagger, missing both of the side screws from the end tip, and with some light overall scratching, spot patina, and age wear evident. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 95% of the original brown painted finish on the body, exhibits the original bright nickel plated metal throat and end tip, and carries the original brown leather hanging strap with dull nickel silver hardware attached to the hanging ring at the left side of the throat. The belt clip of that strap is “RZM” stamped, along with the maker’s code “M5/71/OLC”, denoting manufacture by Overhoff & Cie. of Lüdenscheid, and the set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 E.F. Horster RZM M7/36 SA Dress Dagger.

Per the consignor, this item has been in his family's possession since his father, Staff Sergeant Ernest Meyers, was discharged from the Army in January, 1946. SSG Meyers served in the Headquarters Company, 1st battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment of the 80th "Blue Ridge Division". A signed letter from SSG Meyers' son is included with this item.