Item:
ONSV23PCS56

Original German WWII RAD Labor Corps M1937 Officer's Dagger by E. Pack & Söhne with Chipped Grip & Scabbard

Item Description

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

This lovely piece still retains much of the original plating on the hilt, possibly silver over nickel, with other areas worn to bare aluminum. The remaining plating is now well patinated with some bubbling, giving it a really lovely look. 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, though both are missing chips and chunks at the rear seam where the scales meet. The celluloid unfortunately becomes brittle over time, so cracking is very common. The original securing screw is still present in the left side grip.

The blade is a bright example, with a subtly brushed finish, and a curved "clip-point" (bowie) style tip. It is quite nice, with the usual thin fuller at the top, and a very nice acid-etched RAD Motto: Arbeit adelt (Work Ennobles). This motto retains almost 100% of the factory blackening in the letters. The blade does not really show any use, with just a few specks of light staining. This is a really nice example, with the full factory final polish. The reverse ricasso is matching etched with the RAD triangle positioned above the abbreviation, GES. GESCH., for Gesetzlich Geschützt (Protected By Law), indicating that the hewer is a trademarked design.

The reverse ricasso is stamped with the simplified trademark logo of Ernst Pack & Söhne, which is in excellent condition. It shows their trademark "Young Siegfried wielding a hammer" Logo, with the address underneath:

(Jung Siegfried Logo)
E. PACK & SÖHNE
SOLINGEN

Per J. Anthony Carter's book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this firm used this trademark on Army Officer swords during before the war and during the early years. They mostly made daggers so there is not as much information regarding the swords. The company survived the war, until it was sold in the 1960s to another knife company from Solingen, and the maker mark continued to be used into the 1990s.

The steel scabbard shell is mostly straight throughout, except there is a "door closure" style dent on both sides of the bottom wider portion, which does not interfere with sheathing the blade. There is still some of the original plating intact, with much of the scabbard now showing a faded blued patina. 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 really great and rare hewer/dagger, which is sure to appreciate in value over the years. These are very hard to come by, especially with such an excellent blade. 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.


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