• Seller GTD

  

  RAD Leader Man’s Hewer [WKC]. (Lot: 1458)

  A rare example of edged weaponry created specifically for the leadership echelon of the Reichsarbeitsdienst, the Reich Labour Service. Initially, both junior and senior RAD personnel were issued the standard RAD hewer. It was only in 1938 that a separate RAD leader’s dagger was introduced specifically for commanding officers, immediately establishing it as a distinct category of status weapon.

  The distinguishing feature of this example is its smaller dimensions and more refined execution compared to the standard hewer issued to enlisted and junior personnel. The dagger was worn on a special leather hanger, emphasizing its designation as officer’s equipment. The blade bears the traditional RAD motto “Arbeit adelt” (“Labour Ennobles”), expressing the ideological foundation of the organization. The piece was manufactured at the production facilities of the renowned German firm WKC, attesting to its high quality of craftsmanship.

  $ 3,245 fee: 22.5%
• AlexMP GTD

  

  RAD Enlisted Man’s Hewer [Edward Wusthof]. Stamp – Ges. Gesch.. (Lot: 1421)

  The dagger remains in very good collector’s condition. All metal fittings retain their original natural patina. The blade preserves its original factory finish, has never been sharpened, and retains its original factory geometry. The scabbard still has its original factory paint finish with no evidence of repainting.

  The Model 1934 hewer was the standard edged weapon of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD). Prior to the introduction of a separate officer’s hewer in 1938, this model was used by both junior personnel and the leadership of the organization. Following the adoption of the officer’s pattern in 1938, the Model 1934 hewer remained the weapon of junior personnel, and the distinction between hewer types came to correspond with service ranks.

  This example was manufactured by Edward Wusthof, a German edged weapons producer based in Solingen, which produced hewers and daggers for the Reich Labor Service (RAD) during the Third Reich period. The company specialized in the manufacture of high-quality bladed weapons characteristic of the Solingen arms-making tradition.

  The piece bears the marking “Ges. Gesch.,” an abbreviation of the German “Gesetzlich Geschützt” (“Protected by Law”), indicating patent protection of the item or its components within German territory. This marking was widely applied to Third Reich edged weapons, predominantly on daggers and dirks of party and paramilitary organizations, denoting patented design features of hilts, scabbards, or decorative elements. The presence of the original marking attests to the authenticity of the piece and its manufacture during the period when German patent legislation was in effect; this constitutes an important attributional indicator for collectors.

  $ 1,495 fee: 22.5%

Sold at Blitz price