Original Item: Only One Available: This is very nice service used example of the extremely rare Model 1937 RAD Führer Haumesser (Officer/Leader's Hewer), complete with original plated steel scabbard, and a lovely worn aluminum hilt. It was produced by the well-known Solingen-based firm of ALCOSO, a highly desirable maker of this rare dagger/hewer.

This lovely piece shows some wear to the hilt, which has worn off most of the original antiqued plating. It looks to have been cleaned a lot during service, and there is a bit of a mottled patina to the aluminum. The pommel features the noble eagle looking to the viewer's left. The details to the eye, brow and beak are exceptional. The reverse of the head has the four decorative accents that give the viewer the feel of feathering, and there is a similar accent under the chin.

The "ferrule" portion of the grip has the accent grooves that are set on about a 30 degree angle running the right to left direction. The crossguard features the two quillons that ride outward and curl at the ends. The reverse is plain, while the obverse center area depicts the RAD logo. It is a lined spade, having a superimposed, raised mobile swas (hook cross) in the center. Below, the shovel is bordered at the bottom with two wheat stalks positioned on 45 degree angles. The celluloid grip plates are a pleasing off-white color, looking almost like aged ivory, and show just a bit of light wear, with no chips, cracks, or other damage. The original plated steel securing screw is still present in the left side grip, however it has lost the plating and now is oxidized.

The blade is a bright example, however it definitely has been polished or buffed in the past to remove staining and oxidation. These would originally have a brushed "matte" finish, however that is now all but gone, except under the langets of the cross guard. There are visible areas where there were water stains in the past, now polished away. The blade is slightly curved, with a lovely curved "clip-point" (bowie) style tip. The blade still looks quite nice, with the usual thin fuller at the top, and an acid-etched RAD Motto: Arbeit adelt (Work Ennobles). This motto still retains some of the original texture, but the darkening is completely worn away.

The reverse ricasso is etched with the trademark Alcoso used from 1936-1940. It depicts the scales with the firm's initials, ACS interspersed. Above is the firm's name in an arc, ALCOSO, and below the town of business, SOLINGEN, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany.

Alcoso is a trade name of Alexander Coppel & Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik (Steelwares Factory), located in Solingen, the legendary German "City of Blades." According to J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, the company was a major manufacturer of edged weapons and tools from the end of the 19th century up until the WWII period. Unfortunately, as NSDAP-control increased, brothers Carl Gustav and Dr. Alexander Coppel, the Jewish owners of the firm, were forced out. In 1936 the firm had been "Aryanized", and started using the name ALCOSO to hide the Jewish family name. By the end of 1936 the brothers were ejected from their Solingen offices, and by 1940 the brand trademark initials ACS were changed to AWS to reflect the change in ownership and name: Alexander Coppel Solingen to Alcoso-Werk Solingen. Carl Gustav Coppel committed suicide in Solingen in 1941, and Dr. Alexander Coppel was arrested in 1942 and sent to Theresienstadt Prison camp, where he died August 5th 1942. The factory itself was destroyed by Allied bombers in November 1944.

The steel scabbard shell is straight throughout, showing no major dents or bends. It still retains much of the original plating throughout the surface, which was probably originally partly or totally darkened with oxide. It has been cleaned over the years, which has removed some of that, but it still has a great tarnished look in many areas. The pebbled central portion was originally blackened and then polished to give a great effect. The front upper area features the line-decorated RAD curls. Below are 45 degree angle-positioned wheat shafts, a motif that is repeated on the drag. The reverse upper and lower panels are plain. The throat still retains the two retaining screws on the thinner sides of the scabbard, and the simple hanging clips are still intact.

This is a very nice service used example of a rare hewer/dagger, which is sure to appreciate in value over the years. These are very hard to come by, especially with aluminum hilts and ALCOSO is a well-known maker. A worthy addition to any WWII Edged weapon collection!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edged Clip Point Hewer
Overall length: 15 1/4“
Crossguard: 2 3/4”
Scabbard Length: 10 3/4"

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.