Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German pre-WWII RAD enlisted hewer, or Haumesser, manufactured by Carl Eickhorn of Solingen and complete with its original scabbard, rare bullet style hanger, and matching belt loop. It is a particularly desirable and unusually complete setup, retaining matching Fürth issue numbers on the hewer and scabbard, early genuine stag grip plates, solid nickel alloy fittings, the deeply etched Arbeit adelt motto, early Carl Eickhorn double oval trademark, and a 1937 dated Assmann made hanger set with matching RAD acceptance markings.

The hilt and scabbard fittings are of solid nickel alloy construction and appear to have originally been silver plated. Substantial portions of that finish remain, now showing a blue gray oxidized tone in places. The curled quillon retains some original darkening in the recessed grooves, while the hilt overall has developed an attractive speckled patina from age and service. Wear through the plating is visible on the beak pommel and at the end of the quillon, exposing the nickel base metal beneath. There is also some denting to the rear of the handle.

The reverse of the hilt immediately above the crossguard is issue marked:

Fü 1083

The same number appears on the top of the scabbard throat. The matching markings identify the hewer and scabbard as a numbered set that was issued together.. The marking Fü stands for Fürth, a regional supply and issue office (Beschaffungsamt) located in Bavaria, Germany.

The grip plates are genuine stag and are the larger early type. Both remain fully intact with strong natural color and only minor wear from service. The plates are secured by nonmagnetic nickel alloy screws and spanner nuts, which remain in very good condition with age related oxidation and no obvious evidence of recent removal.

The heavy bolo style blade has a matte factory finish with a single narrow fuller on each side. It shows definite service use, including small edge dents and chips, scattered old oxidation peppering, oxidation along the spine, and areas where staining was cleaned away in the past. Some original matte finish remains, but much of the surface now shows swirl marks from earlier cleaning.

The obverse carries the deeply etched RAD motto:

Arbeit adelt

meaning “Work Ennobles.” The etching remains crisp and still retains some of its original factory darkening.

The reverse ricasso is etched with the RAD triangle acceptance mark above:

GES. GESCH.

for Gesetzlich Geschützt, indicating a legally protected design.

Beneath this is the early Carl Eickhorn double oval trademark used circa 1934-1935. It features the seated squirrel facing the viewer’s left above C.E., surrounded by the inner oval, with:

CARL EICKHORN
SOLINGEN

within the outer oval. According to J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this company was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn, and is arguably the most famous of all Solingen makers. Not only could the family trace their history back 500 years, but they could also demonstrate involvement in the hardening and grinding industries for the same period. Truly the nobility of Solingen Edged weapon dynasties. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers.

The steel scabbard shell remains straight and retains portions of its early black anodized style finish. The surface shows fading from use and past cleaning, together with scattered light oxidation, but no major rust or structural damage.

The upper and lower scabbard fittings are nonmagnetic solid nickel silver alloy and were originally silver plated with darker contrasting finish applied in the recessed areas. Much of this contrast has worn away, though the reverse of the lower chape still clearly preserves a brighter finish on the RAD insignia.

The lower mount features the characteristic RAD shovel with lined surfaces and a smooth mobile swas centered on the spade, flanked by wheat shafts. The border is decorated with raised beaded circles. The upper mount repeats the beaded border and includes deeply stamped RAD scroll decoration with lined recessed backgrounds.

All four cheese head retaining screws remain present.

The rare bullet style hanger is in very good service used condition and is accompanied by its matching belt loop, an especially difficult accessory combination to find complete. The black finished leather shows age related wear and finish deterioration but no major tears or structural damage. The belt loop has some localized finish flaking.

The plated steel hardware on both pieces is identically marked with the barred A over A & S trademark of F. W. Assmann & Söhne of Lüdenscheid. To the right of that is the RAD triangle acceptance mark above:

37

indicating 1937 issue or acceptance. The matching Assmann and RAD markings on both the bullet hanger and belt loop strongly support that they were made as a corresponding set.

The plating on the hardware remains well preserved overall, though it has developed some greenish age toning and scattered oxidation where the finish has worn through.

With its early Carl Eickhorn manufacture, matching Fü 1083 hewer and scabbard issue numbers, genuine stag grips, strong Arbeit adelt motto, early 1934-1935 double oval trademark, original scabbard, and especially rare 1937 dated Assmann bullet hanger and belt loop set, this is an unusually complete and highly appealing RAD enlisted hewer. The worn plating, handle denting, blade edge damage, oxidation, swirl marks from past cleaning, scabbard finish loss, leather wear, and localized hardware oxidation are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in an RAD edged weapon, Carl Eickhorn maker, early German labor service, Assmann hanger, or advanced German WWII edged weapon collection.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edged Clip Point Hewer
Overall length: 13 3/4“
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 10 1/2"

The basis of the RAD, Reichsarbeitsdienst, (National Labor Service), dates back, at least, to 1929 with the formation of the AAD (Anhalt Arbeitsdienst) and the FAD-B (Freiwillingen Arbeitsdienst-Bayern). Shortly after AH’s appointment as Chancellor in Jan 1933, the NSDAP consolidated all labor organizations into the NSAD (Nationalsozialist Arbeitsdienst), a national labor service. It served as an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy, militarize the workforce and indoctrinate it with NSDAP ideology. It was the official state labor service, divided into separate sections for men and women.

On June 26 1935 the NSAD was officially re-designated RAD. Originally personnel serving with RAD wore a variety of earlier FAD/NSAD belt buckles until February 15TH 1936 when new pattern belt buckles for Officer’s and EM/NCO’s were introduced to provided uniformity in dress.