Original Item: Only One Available. This is a nice "salty" service used early HJ Fahrtenmesser (trip knife), marked on the blade by blade by the desirable maker Lauterjung & Sohn PUMA-Werk of Solingen. This early HJ Knife looks to have seen much use, and was captured during the war by a USGI, who placed it inside a WWII issue U.S. Navy Mk.1 scabbard, which fits it quite well. We rarely see HJ knives with this much service use, and we hope it served the Allies well after it's capture.

The knife shows significant wear and oxidation, with the original nickel plating on the hilt almost completely worn away, with just a bit on the end of the guard and tip of the pommel remaining. If the blade had an acid-etched Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!) motto, it is long worn away. The Bakelite grip plates are closely checkered and in very good used condition, showing no cracks or major damage, and are retained by nickel rivets with dressed obverse heads. The HJ insignia is also in very good condition with the original plating worn down to the brass base metal, and with the enamel almost fully intact. The bakelite shrinks slightly over the years, which is why the emblem on this example is no longer resting level, confirming authenticity.

The blade of this example is in good service worn condition, showing much cleaning and sharpening, which has reduced the length and width of the blade somewhat. It is typical of the early period up until 1936, and has a thinner blade with no raised ricasso, and also no RZM codes. The edge is still quite sharp, though it is somewhat curved now due to how much it has been sharpened.

On the rear of the blade, there is a clear Puma's Head Logo over PUMA in a diamond over SOLINGEN (faint), the trademark logo of Lauterjung & Sohn, Puma-Stahlwarenfabrik / Puma - Werk of Solingen, Germany, the legendary "City of Blades". This is a known producer of SS, SA, and NSKK daggers during the Pre-WWII period and after. This company was originally founded on a small scale in 1796, Nathanael Lauterjung officially opened a cutlery and knife making workshop in Solingen during 1855. After his death, the name was changed and registered as "Puma-Werk", to avoid confusion with the other Lauterjung-owned workshops in Solingen. For more information, please see J. Anthony Carter's work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The design of the knife is registered with the German trademark office, indicated by the GES. GESCHÜTZT stamped under the trademark logo, which is short for Gesetzlich Geschützt (Protected by Law). The original leather blade buffer is still present and in very good shape.

The scabbard is the early MK 1 version, very similar in construction to the M8 scabbard for the M3 fighting knife, with a thermoplastic impregnated cotton fabric body, metal throat, and canvas frog and securing strap. The front of the throat is marked U.S.N MK.1, and the rear is marked NORD - 8114 B.M. Co. with a stylized V P logo. The NORD number is for the US Navy contract it was produced under, which was delivered between March 1945 and May 1945. It was manufactured by Beckwith Mfg Co. a division of Victory Plastics. Scabbard is in very good condition, with no damage or major wear, just some wear to the finish on the metal fittings.

A very nice well-used HJ Knife with an early pattern blade, captured by a USGI and possibly put into service for the Allies. A fantastic display piece!

Approximate Measurements:
Blade Length: 5 1/8"
Blade Style: Single Edged Knife.
Overall length: 9 1/4”
Crossguard: 2”
Scabbard Length: 6" + Belt Frog

AH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ (AH Jugend) was formed officially in 1935, and with the exception of NSDAP ideology indoctrination was very similar to the Boy Scouts. Beginning at about the age of ten years, both boys (AH Jugend) and girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel) were enlisted in the Party-run organization. The boys only were given HJ Knives after having passed minor exams. The knives had nickeled hilts with black checkered grip plates. The obverse plate was fitted with an enameled HJ swas insignia. Through 1937, these knives were etched with the motto of the organization, Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!). Examples produced after this date were made with plain blades usually bearing an RZM marking.

The HJ Leaders were professionals in charge of the training and NSDAP education of the German Youth. They wore a special dagger consisting of silvered hilt fittings with blue-black leather-covered scabbard. The grip was composed of tightly wrapped silver wire, over a wood base. The pommel cap featured an HJ diamond on top, complete with swas. The upper scabbard fitting portrayed an open-winged HJ eagle with swas cut into the bird's chest. The blade was etched with the HJ motto, Blut und Ehre!