Description
This early SA has very fine nickel cross guards. The lower reverse guard is Gruppe marked, “Th”. The grip is quite beautiful, being a walnut wood and having good vertical running grains throughout both sides. The grip remains in perfect condition and fits the cross guards like a glove. The SA runes button is the copper base variety, having perfect enamel. The nickel grip eagle is the “high-necked” type. It shows no wear and has all details. A very good hilt here. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. It has excellent anodizing, having a desirable coppery look to it. The anodizing appears to be mostly all there with some storage wear. The nickel scabbard mounts are in good condition, with a perfect layer of undisturbed nicotine patina. All four original screws are in place. The blade is a very fine example still being in mint condition. It retains much of its cross grain. The SA motto is deeply etched and has all of the dark frosting in the backgrounds of the letters. The reverse blade is in the same great condition. It is horizontally stamped with the maker’s name, “Gebr. Heller”. This is a different maker than the Heller Brothers firm that used the anchor as a logo. The blade shoulders perfectly meet the lower cross guard contours. A great, early SA dagger!
