M33 SS Dagger by Robt.Klaas
Price: Sold
BACKGROUND: The SS M33 service dagger was introduced on December 15TH 1933 for wear by all full SS members, regardless of rank. The daggers were bestowed annually to newly accepted SS members at 10:00pm on the anniversary of the unsuccessful Beer Hall Putsch, (November 9th), in front of the Feldherrnhalle in Munich. Originally the daggers featured an anodized scabbard and utilized nice quality solid nickel/silver fittings until roughly early 1937 when the scabbards began to have a painted finish and cheaper nickel/silver plated fittings replaced the earlier solid nickel/silver fittings in 1938. Of Note: During the course of the Third Reich there were five distinct SS daggers introduced starting with the M33 dagger in 1933, the Röhm inscription, the Himmler dedication, the SS Honor dagger in 1934 and the M36 dagger in August 1936. Of Note: The RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was officially founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP. The functions of the RZM were not only to procure and distribute items to Party formations, but also to approve chosen designs and to act as a quality control supervisor to ensure items manufactured for the Party met required specification and were standardized. Starting in late 1934 items manufactured for the SS came under the quality control of the RZM and as a result were marked with the RZM logo when appropriate. In 1943 the Waffen-SS assumed full control over production of their items, including edged weapons and production no longer fell under the authority of the RZM.
Description: Mid-period type in dagger with excellent polished blade shows slight scabbard runners and light surface scratches. Well defined, dark-gray etched motto, “Meine Ehre Heißt Treue”, to obverse and RZM maker code & date for “‘SS RZM M7-37-1051-39” for ‘Robt. Klaas’ on reverse ricasso. Nickel-silver crossguards, pommel and tang nut. Nickel-silver national eagle and enameled SS button nicely fitted to grip. Thinning black anodized steel scabbard shows age and slight wear to nickel silver fittings & retain all four of their retaining screws. Dagger comes with its original black leather dagger hanger marked ‘RZM M5/25’. Unusual early RZM blade & hanger with earlier scabbard, fittings & grip.
