Bronze SA Sports Badge – Type 1 (1934–1935) – Bonner Kunstabzeichen

An authentic German Sturmabteilung Sports Badge (SA-Sportabzeichen) in bronze, representing the highly sought-after Type 1 variant manufactured between 1934 and 1935. The obverse displays a crisp, prominent high relief featuring a Roman sword pointed upward, overlaid with a dynamic mobile swastika, entirely enclosed by a dense oak leaf wreath. The reverse showcases extensive die-stamped markings distributed across the swastika arms and the blade, including the distributor's name: BONNER KUNSTABZ. BEDARF BONN/RH. Running along the spine of the sword is the official ownership declaration: EIGENTUM D. CHEFS D. AUSBILDUNGSWESENS. On the lower rim of the oak wreath, the early six-digit serial number 100 778 is stamped. The badge is struck in solid bronze, retaining its heavy pre-war build. The original mounting setup remains entirely complete and functional, utilizing a long, thin vertical pin with a round cross-section attached to a block hinge and a standard lower catch hook. The entire surface possesses a genuine deep golden-bronze patina with natural darkening inside the detailed foliage recesses, verifying its uncleaned historical integrity. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Country of origin: Germany (Bonn am Rhein)
Manufacturer (markings): Bonner Kunstabzeichen / Bedarf Bonn a. Rh.
Badge Type: Type 1 (Early award period 1934–1935)
Grade: Bronze
Ownership text: Eigentum d. Chefs d. Ausbildungswesens
Serial number: 100 778 (die-stamped)
Material and technique: Solid bronze, die-struck construction
Condition: Excellent, hardware intact, no repairs, sharp details and crisp marking

Historical context:
The SA Sports Badge was instituted on November 28, 1933, by SA-Stabschef Ernst Röhm to promote physical fitness and military readiness within the NSDAP paramilitary branches. Early pieces (Type 1) featured the specific designation of the Chief of Military Training (Chefs des Ausbildungswesens), a position held by Friedrich-Wilhelm Krüger after the Night of the Long Knives in 1934. Production of this first type ceased in 1935 when the award was reorganized into an official national decoration, making these early numbered pieces from specialized makers like the Bonn workshop highly regarded by militaria experts.