SS Dagger, Model 1933. (with a dedication from Heinrich Himmler). [Carl Eickhorn].

The SS dagger model 1933 became the first official edged weapon of the Schutzstaffel. The design of this weapon traces back to 16th-century Swiss daggers known as Holbein daggers, and its appearance largely resembled the SA dagger, which was introduced at virtually the same time. The blade bears the motto “Meine Ehre heißt Treue” (“My Honour is Loyalty”), which became one of the organization’s principal symbols. In the early years of the SS, the dagger was regarded not only as an element of uniform and a symbol of unit membership, but also as a personal edged weapon that the owner could use if necessary.

The reverse side of the blade carries the dedication “In herzlicher Kameradschaft, H. Himmler” (“In heartfelt comradeship, H. Himmler”). The history of these daggers is directly connected to the events of summer 1934, known historically as the “Night of the Long Knives.” Between 30 June and 2 July 1934, the Nazi leadership conducted a bloody purge of the SA leadership and various other political opponents; SS units played a significant role in these events, substantially strengthening the organization’s position. On 3 July 1934, 200 specially selected SS members and leaders who had participated in the “Night of the Long Knives” were presented with model 1933 daggers bearing Heinrich Himmler’s personal dedication. Thus, the present example is not an ordinary SS service dagger, but a special presentation variant directly linked to one of the key events in the organization’s formative history. The limited number of examples presented, Himmler’s personal dedication, and the clear historical connection to the events of 1934 make such daggers one of the rarest and most historically significant varieties of early SS edged weapons.

The dagger was manufactured by Carl Eickhorn, a company founded in Solingen in 1865 that became one of the largest edged weapons manufacturers in Germany. The company’s trademark depicting a squirrel (Eichhörnchen) served as a guarantee of the highest quality products. During the Third Reich period, the firm produced a wide range of regulation edged weapons: dirks for all branches of the armed forces, SA, SS, NPEA, NSFK, and TeNo daggers, as well as dress dirks, sabres, and swords. Carl Eickhorn products are distinguished by superior steel quality and meticulous finishing, and are highly valued by modern collectors.