Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely service used example of a very rare German Red Cross (DRK) Officer's Dagger, complete with its nickel plated scabbard. Unlike the more commonly found EM/NCO Hewer, these daggers have a double edged spear point blade, which is actually fairly sharp near the tip. These were worn by officer's, and not intended for the utility use of the hewer, so they utilize more standard German WWII Dagger construction, with a tang fully enclosed in the grip.

This example has suffered some damage over the years, with the crossguard langets broken off on both sides. The oval bosses on the crossguard extend on the langets, so the bottom portion is broken off on both sides, with part of the original DRK Eagle insignia still present. It also has a black celluloid grip, not the orange we are used to seeing, and the scabbard is missing the throat fitting on the top. The alloy hilt mountings still retain most of the original nickel plating, though there is definitely some patination, and the hilt is loose on the tang, probably due to damage to the crossguard. We can see that the nut in the pommel was tightened in the past, but in spite of this it is still loose.

The blade of the dagger, originally nickel plated, had this finish removed below the ricasso, and was then sharpened for actual use, which would definitely explain the condition of the hilt. It now displays overall oxidation staining on both sides, as well as some damage to the blade from improper sharpening. The blade is unmarked, as almost all DRK Officer Daggers will be. These were contract purchased and awarded directly by the DRK, so maker makers were not used. The original leather blade buffer is missing.

The scabbard is in good condition, with the steel body showing a sizable dent on the rear about 2/3 of the way down. It still retains the nickel plating well in most areas, with some wear and oxidation on the pebbled panels on both sides. As mentioned previously, the throat is missing, though the securing piece for the tip is still inside, so it does stay on the blade relatively well.

A very interesting service used example of a Red Cross Officer's dagger, which looks to have seen some real use during the war! Ready to research and display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 7/8"
Overall length: 14 1/2”
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 10 3/8”

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.