Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition example of the German Red Cross (DRK) Enlisted Man / Non-Commissioned Officer Hewer, complete with its original scabbard. The hewer has a blunt tip and edge, as it was intended for combat medics, who would make more use of the Sawback blade, which could be used to cut wood for splints. The heavy blade could however be used for chopping if sharpened, similar to the U.S. Hospital corps "bolo" knives of WWI.

The alloy hilt mountings are in very good shape, still retaining most of the original nickel plating. There is some light overall oxidation, and there are little pinprick bubbles over most of the surface, giving it a pleasing aged look. The crossguard features an oval boss on each side, with the obverse featuring an eagle with half-opened wings and a raised out mobile Swas (hook cross) on his breast. The bird clutches a "Geneva cross" in his talons. The grip plates are bakelite, with the top plate being checkered and the bottom plate being smooth. Both are in great shape, and are retained by the original nickel plated steel screws and slotted bolts, though they have lost the plating and oxidized. The crossguard still has the original leather buffer washer around the blade, which is in very good shape.

The blade of this hewer is the classic saw back type, and is in excellent condition, showing just a bit of light staining and dried grease. The factory final polish grind crossgrain is still present throughout the blade. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The edge is not sharpened, and there are no signs of actual use on the blade. It also has not been majorly cleaned, so the crossgrain is still strong. Under the cross guard the blade is marked GES. / GESCHÜTZT, for Gesetzlich Geschützt (Protected By Law), indicating that this knife was a trademarked design.

The scabbard is in very good matured condition, still straight with no dents we can feel. The black enamel finish is still retained at about 80%, however it shows a lot of checking and crazing due to age, and also is bubbling up due to oxidation of the steel body. It is a single piece design, where the steel "fittings" are actually part of the scabbard body. There are two "dome head" screws on the top fitting to retain the scabbard runners.

A very nice example of a WWII DRK Hewer with an excellent blade, complete with the original scabbard. Ready to add to your collection!

Specifications:

Blade Length: 10 1/2"
Blade Style: "Hewer" with Sawback
Overall length: 15 5/8“
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 11"

History of the German Red Cross (DRK)

The DRK, "Deutsches Rotes Kreuz" (German Red Cross), a voluntary civil assistance organization originally instituted in 1864, was officially acknowledged by the Geneva Convention in 1929. In December 1937 it gained status as a legally recognized organization by the NSDAP. As with other essential services in Third Reich Germany, it came under control of the NSDAP in late 1938 under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior's Social Welfare Organization.