Prior to 1936, Third Reich edged weapon manufacturers proudly placed their logo (also known as a maker mark) on the reverse of their blades. In 1935, manufacturers reluctantly began to replace their logos with the codes assigned to them by the RZM Office. The RZM or Reichszeugmeisterei der NSDAP was the official regulatory agency that oversaw the production and distribution of insignia, uniforms, equipment, etc. of the Nazi Party. The RZM code was used on political blades only and were not used on military blades. Maker marks continued to be used on Army, Navy and Luftwaffe edged weapons until blade production ceased in 1941 (swords) and 1942 (daggers).
The absence of a maker mark or RZM code does not have a bearing on authenticity. For some yet unknown reason, some authentic blades contain neither a maker mark nor RZM code. Others, containing both a logo and RZM code, are presumed to have been made during the transition from the logo to the RZM code.
The following is a list of known edged weapon manufacturer's RZM codes taken from Collecting the Edged Weapons of the Third Reich by Tom Johnson who has kindly allowed me to use this information from his best selling series. Logos were also taken from this series as well as Tom Wittman's book Exploring the Dress Daggers of the German Army. Tom has also gracioulsy allowed me to use the logos from his book.
Just as some firms were assigned more than one RZM code, I believe that some firms were never assigned one. For example, if a firm only made edged weapons for the Wehrmacht, they would not require one. This is a work in progress...
| Code | Logo | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| M7/1 | Gebrüder Christian, Christianwerk | |
| M7/2 |  |
Emil Voos Waffenfabrik (Also M7/1166) |
| M7/3 | Kuno Ritter | |
| M7/4 | August Müller KG | |
| M7/5 |  |
Carl Julius Krebs |
| M7/6 |  |
H. & F. Lauterjung |
| M7/7 | Hermann Konejung | |
| M7/8 |  |
Eduard Gembruch |
| M7/9 |  |
SMF Solinger Metallwaffenfabrik Stoecker & Co. |
| M7/10 |  |
J. A. Henckels |
| M7/11 | E. Knecht & Co. | |
| M7/12 |  |
WMW Waffenfabrik Max Weyersberg |
| M7/12 (Dupl.) |
 |
Carl Robert Kaldenbach |
| M7/13 | Arthur Shuttelhöfer & Co. (Also 534) |
|
| M7/14 |  |
P. D. Lüneschloss (Also 1053) |
| M7/15 | Carl & Robert Linder | |
| M7/16 | Justus Brenger & Co. | |
| M7/17 |  |
A. Werth |
| M7/18 |  |
Richard Abr. Herder |
| M7/19 | Edward Wüsthof (Dreizackwerk) | |
| M7/20 | Ernst Mandewirth | |
| M7/21 | Hermann Schneider | |
| M7/22 | Wilhelm Weltersbach | |
| M7/23 | Carl Halbach | |
| M7/24 | Reinhard Weyersberg | |
| M7/25 | Wilhelm Wagner | |
| M7h/25 | Jostes & Co. | |
| M7/26 | Jacobs & Co. (Also M7/29, M7/118 and 324) |
|
| M7/26 (Dupl.) |
 |
Carl August Meis GmbH |
| M7/27 |  |
Pumawerk (Lauterjung & Sohn) |
| M7/28 | Gustav Felix, Gloriawerk | |
| M7/29 | Jacobs & Co. (Also M7/26, M7/118 and 324) |
|
| M7/29 (Dupl.) |
Klitterman & Moog GmbH | |
| M7/30 | Gebrüder Grafrath | |
| M7/31 | August Merten Mw. | |
| M7/32 | Robert Muller | |
| M7/33 |  |
F. W. Höller |
| M7h/33 | P.u.A. Duenzer | |
| M7/34 |  |
Rudolf C. Jacobs |
| M7/35 |  |
Wilhelm Halbach |
| M7/36 |  |
E. & F. Hörster |
| M7/37 |  |
Robert Klaas (Also M7/1051) |
| M7/38 |  |
Paul Seilheimer |
| M7/39 | Franz Steinhoff | |
| M7/40 | Hartkopf & Co. | |
| M7/41 | Rudolf Schmidt | |
| M7/42 |  |
WKC Waffenfabrik GmbH Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co. |
| M7/43 |  |
Paul Weyersberg & Co. |
| M7/44 | F. W. Backhaus | |
| M7/45 |  |
Karl Böker |
| M7h/45 | Ottersbach & Co. | |
| M7/46 |  |
Emil Gierling |
| M7/47 | Paul Ebel | |
| M7/48 | Otto Simon | |
| M7/49 |  (SA Daggers) (SS Daggers) |
Friedrich Herder A. S. |
| M7/50 |  |
Gebrüder Heller, G.m.b.H. |
| M7/51 |  |
Anton Wingen, Jr. |
| M7/52 |  |
Herbertz & Meurer |
| M7/53 | Gustav Weyersberg, Nachf. | |
| M7/54 | Gottfried Müller | |
| M7/55 | Robert Herder | |
| M7/56 | C. D. Schaaf | |
| M7/57 | Peter Lungstrasse | |
| M7/58 | Louis Perlmann | |
| M7/59 | C. Lutters & Co. | |
| M7/60 |   |
Gustav L. Koller |
| M7/61 | Carl Tillmann Sohne | |
| M7/62 | Friedrich Plucker Jr. | |
| M7/63 | Herder und Engels G.m.b.H. | |
| M7/64 | Friedrich Geigis | |
| M7/65 | Karl Heidelberg | |
| M7/66 |  |
Carl Eickhorn (Also 941) Top left: 1933-34 Top right: 1934-35 Middle: 1935-41 Bottom: post 1941 |
| M7/67 | Gottlieb Hammesfahr | |
| M7/68 |  |
Tigerwerk Lauterjung & Co. |
| M7/69 | H. A. Erbe AG | |
| M7/70 | David Malsch (Also 1164) |
|
| M7/71 | Hermann Hahn | |
| M7/72 | Karl Robert Kaldenbach (Also M7/12) |
|
| M7/73 | F. und A. Helbig Also M7/163 and 1163) |
|
| M7/74 |  |
Friedrich August Schmitz |
| M7/75 | Heinrich Böker und Co. | |
| M7/76 |  |
Herbeck und Meyer |
| M7/77 | Gustav Schmeider | |
| M7/78 | Hermann Linder Sohn | |
| M7/79 | C. Bertram Reinh. Söhn | |
| M7/80 |  |
Gustav C. Spitzer (Also 1197) |
| M7/81 (Dupl.) |
Karl Tiegel | |
| M7/82 | Gebrüder Born | |
| M7/83 | Pluemacher Sohn | |
| M7/84 | Carl Schmidt Sohn | |
| M7/85 | Arthur Evertz | |
| M7/86 | Kuno Liemscheid & Co. | |
| M7/87 | Malch & Ambrom | |
| M7/88 |  |
Juliuswerk - J. Schmidt & Sohn |
| M7/89 | Ernst Mandewirth | |
| M7/90 | Eickelnberg und Mack | |
| M7/91 | Carl Malsch-Spitzer (Also 1221) |
|
| M7/92 |  |
Peter Daniel Krebs |
| M7/93 | Ewald Cleff | |
| M7/94 |  |
Gebrüder Bell |
| M7/95 |  |
J. A. Schmidt & Sohn (Also 1222) |
| M7/96 |  |
Rich. Drees & Sohn |
| M7/97 | F. Koeller & Co. | |
| M7/98 |  |
Ernst Erich Witte (Also M7/183) |
| M7/99 | Franz Weinrank | |
| M7/100 | Franz Oils und Söhne | |
| M7/101 | Fritz Weber | |
| M7/102 | Franz Pils und Söhne | |
| M7/103 | Josef Hack | |
| M7/104 | Ludwig Zeitler | |
| M7/105 | Rudolf Wurzer | |
| M7/106 | Georg Kerschbaumer | |
| M7/111 |  |
Heinrich Herder |
| M7/112 |  |
Carl Wusthof (Gladiatorwerk) |
| M7/114 |  |
Hugo Linder C. W. Sohn |
| M7/116 | Franz Frenzel | |
| M7/118 | Jacobs & Co. (Also M7/26, M7/29 and 324) |
|
| M7/163 | E. & A. Heilbig Also M7/73 and 1163) |
|
| M7/183 | |
Ernst E. Witte (Kroneck) (Also M7/98 |
| M12/2 |  |
Joseph Wolf Waffenfabrik |
| Unknown RZM Codes | ||
| unknown | Aesculap | |
| unknown | Asso | |
| unknown |  |
Alcoso Alexander Coppel |
| unknown |  |
Peter Altenbach |
| unknown |  |
Argenta-Gesellschaft |
| unknown |  |
Alcoso Werke Solingen |
| unknown |  |
Axt und Haverfabrik |
| unknown |  |
Walter Bahel |
| unknown |  |
Rich. Balke & Söhne |
| unknown |  |
Fritz Barthelmess |
| unknown |  |
Albert & Heinrich Bassat |
| unknown |  |
Friedrich Baurmann & Söhne |
| unknown |  |
Gebr. Becker |
| unknown |  |
Beckmann |
| unknown |  |
Carl Bender |
| unknown |  |
Julius Bodenstein |
| unknown |  |
Ernst Bruckmann |
| unknown |  |
Rudolf Bückel |
| unknown |  |
Rhaastert & Bull |
| unknown |  |
Eduard Becker |
| unknown |  |
Wester & Butz |
| unknown |  |
Clemen & Jung |
| unknown |  |
Curdtsnachf |
| unknown |  |
Ernst Dirlam |
| unknown |  |
Eugen Haering |
| unknown |  |
Albert Dorschel |
| unknown |  |
Ebonsmann |
| unknown |  |
Fridericus |
| unknown |  |
Rob. Giersch |
| unknown |  |
Ernst Grah |
| unknown | |
Gebrüder Heller |
| unknown |  |
Wilhelm Hoppe |
| unknown |  |
Gebr. Krumm |
| unknown |  |
F. W. Jordan |
| unknown |  |
Justinius Werk |
| unknown |  |
H. Kolping |
| unknown |  |
Wilhelm Krieger |
| unknown |  |
Gebr. Kugel B. Fink (I think) |
| unknown |  |
Carl Fr. Kuhrt |
| unknown |  |
Johann Leupold |
| unknown |  |
Louper |
| unknown |  |
E. Luttges & Co. |
| unknown |  |
Henkel & Müller |
| unknown |  |
Gottfried Muller |
| unknown |  |
Joseph Münch Brotterei |
| unknown |  |
Carl Pauls |
| unknown |  |
P. D. Witte |
| unknown |  |
Perfectum |
| unknown |  |
Hugo Rader |
| unknown |  |
Ernst Hugo Rassae |
| unknown |  |
Eur Reich Schweina |
| unknown |  |
C. Schliep |
| unknown | |
Gustav Spitzer |
| unknown |  |
F. von Brosy Steinberg |
| unknown |  |
Gebn. Torley |
| unknown |  |
Adolf Völker |
| unknown |  |
Waffenhammer |
| unknown |  |
Wagner & Lang |
| unknown |  |
Thomas Weiputz |
| unknown |  |
Gottfried Weyersberg |
| unknown |  |
Is. Wolfepte |
| unknown |  |
Carl Zander |
| unknown |  |
unknown |
| There also exist codes that do not conform to the normal RZM pattern. These lack the M7/ designation and are only found on SS daggers. The year of manufacture is normally found following the 3 or 4 digit code. For example, 941/38 would indicate a dagger made by the Carl Eickhorn firm in 1938. Sometimes the SS runes follow the year of manufacture such as 941/38/SS. This list is by no means complete. | |||
| 120 | unknown | ||
| 121 | unknown | ||
| 188 | unknown | ||
| 235 | unknown | ||
| 324 | Jacobs & Co. (Also M7/26, M7/29 and M7/118) |
||
| 534 | Arthur Shuttelhöfer & Co (Also M7/13) |
||
| 807 | unknown | ||
| 941 | |
Carl Eickhorn (Also M7/66) Top left: 1933-34 Top right: 1934-35 Middle: 1935-41 Bottom: post 1941 |
|
| 1051 | |
Robert Klaas (Also M7/37) |
|
| 1052 | unknown | ||
| 1053 | |
P. D. Lüneschloss (Also M7/14) |
|
| 1163 | F. A. Helbig (Also M7/73 and M7/163) |
||
| 1164 | David Malsch (Also M7/70) |
||
| 1166 | |
Emil Voos Waffenfabrik (Also M7/2) |
|
| 1189 | unknown | ||
| 1196 | unknown | ||
| 1197 | |
Gustav Spitzer (Also M7/80) |
|
| 1198 | unknown, possibly WKC (M7/42) | ||
| 1204 | unknown | ||
| 1211 |  |
E. Pack & Sohn | |
| 1221 | Carl Malsch-Spitzer (Also M7/91) |
||
| 1222 | |
J. A. Schmidt & Sohne (Also M7/95) |
|