Early M33 SS Dagger by Herder

Early M33 SS Dagger by Richard Abraham Herder - Crisp Dark Grey Motto, Berlin Group Matching Serial Number & District 'III' Mark

An honest, completely untouched early production Model 1933 SS Dagger by the coveted maker Richard Abraham Herder, Solingen. The blade is in very nice condition, featuring a beautifully preserved, deep and dark grey etched SS motto "Meine Ehre heißt Treue" on the obverse. The reverse shows the early, oval Richard Abr. Herder maker mark. The blade fits absolutely perfectly and flush against the lower crossguard. It remains in its uncleaned condition, showing typical runner marks, honest age spots, and a tip that remains as sharp as a needle. The dagger fits into its scabbard like a glove. The early anodized scabbard is in truly beautiful condition, retaining an exceptional deep luster. The scabbard fittings fit remarkably flush and tight against the body. Both the upper and lower fittings show an exact patina match and are held in place by very neat, unmolested screws, proving the scabbard has never been tampered with. The upper scabbard throat shows a minor, typical hairline stress crack directly above the fitting screw, a textbook characteristic caused by the decades-long tension of the internal runner springs.

Both nickel-silver crossguards on the hilt are a factory-matched pair with identical aging and patina. The lower crossguard is crisply stamped with the original SS member serial number "148 914" and the Roman numeral "III" (SS-Abschnitt III Berlin). Notably, this specific serial number range is historically documented as belonging directly to the Berlin SS group, creating a flawless and highly desirable historical match with the district stamp. This low, early serial number has never been researched before, offering a fantastic opportunity for the next owner to identify the exact Berlin SS member who carried this dagger. The black ebony grip houses a tight nickel-silver eagle and a flawless SS pastel. As is common with organic dense hardwoods like ebony, the material has reacted over the last 90+ years to climate changes and natural dehydration. This has resulted in some honest wood shrinkage and typical age-related drying cracks, including a vertical hairline on the lower reverse and a horizontal stress crack expanding towards the eagle. The lower reverse also shows an older, stable period-style chip repair adjacent to the crossguard. This natural wood-aging reinforces the absolute authenticity of this untouched piece. An incredibly honest, tightly fitting, and historically significant Herder SS dagger with immense research potential.