This original Eickhorn Röhm dagger represents one of the rarest and most historically important forms of the early Model 1933 SA service dagger. Carl Eickhorn of Solingen manufactured the dagger during 1934. Most importantly, its blade retains the complete factory-etched dedication to SA Chief of Staff Ernst Röhm.
€ 7.000
1 in stock
This original Eickhorn Röhm dagger represents one of the rarest and most historically important forms of the early Model 1933 SA service dagger. Carl Eickhorn of Solingen manufactured the dagger during 1934. Most importantly, its blade retains the complete factory-etched dedication to SA Chief of Staff Ernst Röhm.
The dagger also carries an early Carl Eickhorn squirrel trademark and an “Nrh” SA group mark. The latter connects its original distribution with SA-Gruppe Niederrhein. Furthermore, its solid nickel-silver fittings, hardwood grip and anodised scabbard display the construction expected from an early production example.
This dagger appears to match a previously catalogued example in the Ulric of England archive. Distinctive blade pitting, grip marks, the small Eickhorn trademark and the “Nrh” stamp support that conclusion. Therefore, the earlier listing provides useful modern provenance. However, it does not identify the original SA recipient.
Collectors can compare this example with other original SA and NSKK daggers currently listed within the Nordmenn Militaria collection.
The SA introduced its Model 1933 service dagger after the National Socialist government came to power. Its design featured a brown wooden grip, swept crossguards and a double-edged blade. The obverse blade carried the motto:
Alles für Deutschland
This translates as:
Everything for Germany
The Imperial War Museums collection holds an original SA honour dagger and describes the characteristic brown wooden grip, curved fittings and ridged blade form associated with the pattern. The museum record offers a useful institutional comparison for the basic construction of this dagger type.
In February 1934, qualifying early SA members became eligible to receive a specially dedicated version. The reverse blade carried the words:
In herzlicher Kameradschaft Ernst Röhm
A suitable English translation is:
In heartfelt comradeship, Ernst Röhm
The inscription used a factory-applied facsimile of Röhm’s signature. Therefore, Röhm did not personally sign each dagger. Specialist records associate these honour daggers with members whose qualifying service dated from 31 December 1931 or earlier, including certain early transfers from the Hitler Youth.
The political importance of the Eickhorn Röhm dagger changed rapidly during the summer of 1934. The Nazi leadership arrested and killed Röhm during the purge commonly called the Night of the Long Knives. Röhm died on 1 July 1934.
Soon afterwards, the authorities ordered recipients to remove Röhm’s name from their daggers. Some owners removed only the signature. Others ground away the entire dedication. Consequently, collectors now classify surviving examples as full Röhm, partial Röhm or ex-Röhm daggers. Specialist auction and dealer records confirm that complete inscriptions command a significant premium over ground examples.
This example retains the complete inscription. As a result, it remains much scarcer than an ordinary early SA dagger.
For comparison, see this factory-ground Röhm dagger in the Nordmenn collection. Although it represents the SS pattern, it illustrates the deliberate removal process ordered after Röhm’s fall.
Carl Eickhorn ranked among the leading Solingen edged-weapon manufacturers. The company supplied numerous military, political and government dagger patterns during the Third Reich period.
The reverse ricasso of this dagger bears the early double-oval Eickhorn trademark. It contains the firm’s squirrel emblem together with the Carl Eickhorn and Solingen wording. Röhm-dedicated Eickhorn blades often used a smaller trademark because the dedication occupied much of the available blade surface.
The archived Ulric listing specifically records the small Eickhorn cartouche on an “Nrh”-marked full Röhm dagger. It also records solid nickel-silver mounts and a brown anodised scabbard. These details correspond closely with the dagger shown here.
The trademark appears appropriately positioned beside the facsimile signature. Moreover, the visible age within the maker mark and dedication appears consistent with the surrounding blade surface. No obvious fresh cutting or modern bright engraving can be seen in the supplied photographs.
Nevertheless, photographic assessment cannot replace microscopic examination. A final certificate should include magnified inspection of the etch, blade grain, ricasso shoulders and tang assembly.
The reverse blade retains the full dedication rather than a partial inscription. The script follows the familiar Eickhorn arrangement. It includes the introductory wording followed by Röhm’s large facsimile signature.
The lettering sits beneath the surface in the manner expected from chemical etching. In addition, the dedication shows wear that relates naturally to the surrounding blade. The corrosion spots beneath the signature also pass through the aged surface rather than sitting above it.
The same distinctive pitting appears in the archived Ulric photographs and description. Therefore, the object shown here strongly appears to be the previously catalogued dagger. That association adds useful provenance and confirms that the dagger has circulated in the specialist market as a recognised full Röhm example.
The obverse blade carries the standard SA motto, Alles für Deutschland, in Gothic script. The placement and general letter form correspond with early SA dagger production.
However, the blade has undergone noticeable polishing. Longitudinal marks now run along much of the surface. This work has reduced a large amount of the original transverse factory grain.
Several dark areas and small corrosion marks remain. The most visible pitting appears below the Röhm signature. Further spotting appears near the ricasso and along the blade surfaces.
Despite these condition issues, both inscriptions remain clearly readable. The polishing lowers the condition grade, but it does not remove the historical importance of the complete dedication.
The shaped brown hardwood grip displays the deep central contour associated with early Eickhorn production. Its warm brown colour remains attractive, although the surface shows scratches, pressure marks and areas of finish loss.
The grip contains two inset emblems:
SA roundel: The upper grip contains the enamelled brown and cream SA runic badge.
National eagle: The centre contains an early metal eagle holding a wreath and swastika.
Both insignia appear correctly positioned in the supplied photographs. The eagle also has the detailed form expected from an early nickel-silver fitting. However, only direct examination can establish whether either emblem has ever been removed or reseated.
The wood shows shrinkage near the guards. Small edge losses and surface cracks are also visible. Nevertheless, the grip remains structurally complete and retains a pleasing period appearance.
The dagger has early solid nickel-silver upper and lower crossguards. Their distinctive stepped ends and decorative grooves match the Model 1933 pattern.
The metal surfaces show age, scratches and scattered contact marks. However, they do not display the bubbling often found on later plated fittings. Their weight and appearance remain consistent with early solid construction.
The lower guard also fits the grip profile in the expected Eickhorn manner. Some gaps have developed through natural wood contraction. Therefore, the dagger should not be dismantled in an attempt to tighten the assembly.
The reverse lower crossguard carries the stamped abbreviation:
Nrh
Collectors identify this mark with SA-Gruppe Niederrhein, the SA regional command for the Lower Rhine area. Early SA dagger group marks served as regional distribution or control markings. They did not normally record the owner’s name.
Therefore, the “Nrh” mark provides geographical attribution but not personal attribution. Archival research may narrow the field of eligible recipients. However, the mark alone cannot connect the dagger to one named SA member.
The previously catalogued Ulric example also carries the “Nrh” mark. Furthermore, the archive notes that no additional benchmark number appears beneath the lower guard.
The dagger retains an early steel scabbard with a dark brown anodised surface. Nickel-silver mounts protect the throat and lower end. The suspension ring also remains attached to the upper fitting.
The scabbard body displays scratches, surface wear and areas of finish loss. Nevertheless, much of the original dark brown appearance survives. The fittings also show age and small contact marks.
No serious crushing or structural distortion can be seen in the photographs. Therefore, the scabbard remains a suitable and apparently original companion to the dagger.
The earlier Ulric archive photographs showed a short leather hanger and belt loop with the dagger. Those fittings do not appear in the current photographs. Should they remain with the collection, they should stay permanently associated with the dagger. They would improve both completeness and value.
Browse the wider Third Reich edged-weapons collection for related original daggers, hangers and accessories.
Based on the supplied photographs, this Eickhorn Röhm dagger displays a convincing combination of early characteristics:
Taken together, these features support identification as an original 1934 SA Röhm Honour Dagger by Carl Eickhorn.
However, this assessment remains photographic. A conclusive examination should also inspect the tang, internal guard marks, scabbard throat, screws, blade shoulders and inscription under magnification.
No further polishing, cleaning or disassembly should take place. Any such work could damage the surviving finish and reduce the dagger’s collector value.
The dagger remains in good original collector condition, with a rare and substantially complete historical inscription.
Its strongest features include the full Röhm dedication, early Eickhorn trademark, “Nrh” group stamp, solid fittings and original anodised scabbard.
However, the blade has received significant cleaning. Most factory crossgrain has disappeared. Pitting also affects the area beneath the Röhm signature. In addition, the grip and scabbard show genuine age-related wear.
Therefore, this example should not receive a near-mint grade. Its value rests mainly on rarity, historical importance and the survival of the complete dedication.
Condition has a major effect on the value of any full Röhm dagger. Maker, group mark, blade grain, inscription quality, scabbard condition and original suspension fittings also influence the result.
Ratisbon’s records a full Eickhorn Röhm dagger sold in June 2024 for €5,105 including premium. Its wider price archive also records stronger examples at €7,160, €7,470 and €8,405, while removed-dedication examples achieved much lower prices.
The polishing and pitting on this dagger prevent it from reaching the highest condition bracket. However, the complete inscription, Eickhorn manufacture, “Nrh” mark and identifiable archive history add significant value.
Object: SA Model 1933 Röhm Honour Dagger
Manufacturer: Carl Eickhorn, Solingen
Date: 1934
Organisation: Sturmabteilung
Regional mark: Nrh — SA-Gruppe Niederrhein
Blade motto: Alles für Deutschland
Reverse dedication: In herzlicher Kameradschaft Ernst Röhm
Construction: Hardwood grip, inset insignia, solid nickel-silver fittings and steel blade
Scabbard: Brown anodised steel with nickel-silver mounts
Condition: Good; blade polished with localised pitting and reduced factory grain
Provenance: Appears to match a previously catalogued Ulric of England example
Further research may be carried out through the Imperial War Museums SA Honour Dagger record, the Bundesarchiv photographic archive, the Ulric of England archived dagger listing and the Ratisbon’s Röhm dagger price guide.
