What's so special about an SS dagger?

[Gent]

Hey there, I'm new to the forum. Now I'm more into antiquity type stuff, but I've always had a thing for WWII German Militaria. Often I'll see a couple dealers selling a few SA daggers at gun/knife shows for around $550-$950 depending on maker and condition etc, but occasionally, I'll see a beat up SS dagger going for like $1500. I've always wondered, what makes the SS dagger worth so much more than the SA dagger? Is there some other factor playing in the market other than supply and demand and the "SS premium"? I'm sure there were more SA daggers made than SS daggers, but how many more? From my understanding anyone in the SS including enlisted men could order these?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Good old supply and demand!

Anything SS always has a premium attached to it. SA's are more common.

Cheers, Ade.

[Wagriff]

I think it has to do with the "SS Mystique". The SS have always held a fascination for many people for many reasons ranging from their "Elite status" to their sinister reputation. If it's controversial, you will always see collectors attracted to it.

[Larry C]

I think it has to do with the "SS Mystique". The SS have always held a fascination for many people for many reasons ranging from their "Elite status" to their sinister reputation. If it's controversial, you will always see collectors attracted to it.

Took the words right out of my mouth

[Adrian Stevenson]

Sorry I forgot to address the subject of numbers, as I was taking my wife Lez to hospital this morning and so was in a rush.

Roughly ( all these figures about dagger production are best estimates) there were 3 million SA daggers produced, compared with around 220,000 SS daggers of 1933 pattern.

Moving onto the Rohm dedication dagger: Approx 120,960 daggers were ordered but not all were delivered due to Rohm's demise..Perhaps two thirds were of these were produced? 9,900 SS daggers with Rohm dedication were ordered with again around two thirds being delivered.

Cheers, Ade.

[Woolgar]

I also believe the items are scarce due to many being destroyed at the end of the war in an attempt at not being identified as being part of the SS

Nick

[Little Mermaid]

Hey there, I'm new to the forum. Now I'm more into antiquity type stuff, but I've always had a thing for WWII German Militaria. Often I'll see a couple dealers selling a few SA daggers at gun/knife shows for around $550-$950 depending on maker and condition etc, but occasionally, I'll see a beat up SS dagger going for like $1500. I've always wondered, what makes the SS dagger worth so much more than the SA dagger? Is there some other factor playing in the market other than supply and demand and the "SS premium"? I'm sure there were more SA daggers made than SS daggers, but how many more? From my understanding anyone in the SS including enlisted men could order these?

Actualy, it is not uncommon to see a good early SS Röhm dagger going for 10+K.....

[Adrian]

Welcome to the forum!
A quick look through any dealer's site or outlet that sells SS items will show that all SS items command a premium price. It isn't just applicable to daggers.
Uniforms, helmets, visor caps, paperwork, photos etc etc are all much higher in price than 'regular' items by comparison.

[Gent]

Thanks for all the replies guys!, I appreciate it very much. I plan on adding onto my German collection a bit more in the coming months and a dagger of some kind is in order. (most likely an SA to start off, but if I'm feeling ballsy enough to spend the cash, I'll go with the SS) right now all I have is a wineglass from the Berghof and a WWI trench dagger my grandpa traded a pack of lucky strikes for.

[operaman]

Stickgrenade I think you have hit on the main reason.After the war anyone who had anything to do with the SS hid or destroyed much of their gear for fear of what the allies would do to them.I met a man one time who was in the HJ when the war ended his mother made him bury all of his uniform ,knife included the the back yard.