Yes I do understand this is a standard dagger- I may have typed wrong in the fact that They can be worth $2500 or higher ( I was not meaning this one is rare or may have belonged to someone important) I was just generally quoting they can be worth alot depending....
as far as the case - there are no marking or evidence it came with the dagger- It indeed was hand made and is very old- prolly as you stated was for display and storage purposes.
Some info I found on it...
" Introduced in 1933, this political dagger was awarded to all members of the SS. Although the standard dagger is quite common, it is a highly sought after collectible due to the notariety of the SS.
Manufacturers This dagger was manufactured by at least 14 firms in order of rarity (common to most rare): Kober, Shuttelhofer, Ed Gumbruch, Bertham Reinh, E.P. & S, Boker, Klass, Eickhorn, Herder, Gottlieb-Hammesfahr, Jacobs, Looper, WKC, Klittermann & Moog, and Puma. This order of rarity is an estimate derived from an analysis of old dealer sales lists. The possibility of other makers not listed here exists.
Construction Early daggers exhibit nickle silver fittings (identified by their dull, matte finish when allowed to age), a rust-blued or "anodized" scabbard that was often coated with a clear topcoat of laqueur. Later versions exhibit a painted scabbard and plated fittings. All vintages exhibit an ebony or a black-stained grip, a NAZI eagle (nickle silver on early models, aluminum on some later models), and a circular grip insert depicting silver SS runes. Blades are marked on the obverse with the SS motto "Meine Ehre HeiĆ??t Treue" which roughly translates "My Honor is my Loyalty."
Rarity- Common
Variations While many manufacturers produced this dagger type, there are very few standard variations that exist. One notable variation concerns the motto. Two manufacturers of this dagger pattern used an exclamation point after the motto on the obverse of the blade - Jacobs most often, and extremely rarely, Klittermann & Moog.
Warnings Many collectors and dealers erroneously call this dagger the "enlisted" model. This is not correct. It is simply the early model dagger before Himmler commissioned artist Paul Casberg to redesign the SS dagger (resulting in the Chained version). Of course, regulations proscribed when an SS man (officer or enlisted) was entitled to upgrade his dagger to the chained version. "
Thanks for your comments and replies
, John