Original Item: Only One Available. This is an very good service used condition example of the German Red Cross (DRK) Enlisted Man / Non-Commissioned Officer Hewer, complete with its original scabbard and leather belt frog. 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 mounts on this example retain about 50% of the original nickel plating, with the sides of the grip and the pommel missing most of the original plating, while the cross guard still retains most. This definitely looks to be a hewer that saw a good amount of use. 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 still crack free and showing light wear. They are retained by the original screws and steel slotted bolts, which show oxidation. The crossguard still has the original leather buffer washer around the blade.

The blade of this hewer is the classic saw back type, and is in very good condition, showing scattered very light staining on both sides. The factory final polish grind crossgrain is still present throughout the blade, thought cleaning has made it faint in areas. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The edge is not sharpened, so it was not used for chopping, but the sawback definitely shows some wear and what looks to be wood or dirt between the teeth. 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 good condition, looking to have seen long service during the war. The steel body of the scabbard is still straight and dent free, however the black enamel finish has checked and crazed extensively, leading most of it to flake away. there is still some remaining, but most of the scabbard shows an oxidized patina with some signs of peppering. The nickel plated steel fittings are still present, with all four retaining screws present. The plating on the throat fitting is very well retained, while the chape is missing the plating on the back. The scabbard is held in a very good condition black leather frog, which features aluminum rivets. The stitching is mostly intact, however the finish has worn to a brown color in many areas.

A very nice service used example of a WWII DRK Hewer, complete with the original scabbard and frog. 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.