HJ Hitler Youth Dagger – E. Gierling Solingen

Product Description: This HJ Hitler Youth Dagger is a very desirable piece. This is a top quality, early production dagger, by a rare maker. The blade on this one is a real stunner. It has an absolutely untouched look, with full original crossgraining on both sides (which is hard to photograph). The desirable early “Blood and Honor” etching is crisp. The blade shows no evidence of ever having been re-tipped or even sharpened. There is some light pitting evident near the tip. The ricasso bears the seldom seen maker mark of E. Gierling in Solingen, which is nicely etched. The blade buffer pad is intact. The handle on this dagger is superb. The hilt fittings are pristine, with 99% of the original plating remaining, even where the retaining strip goes around. The grip plates and enamel HJ diamond show no damage. This dagger is complete with its original scabbard, which shows only minimal wear to the original factory applied glossy black enamel paint, and no dents or other damage. The leather fittings on the scabbard are intact and functional with all of the original surface present. It would be tough to find a nicer representative example of a HJ Hitler Youth Dagger. The condition rates as excellent plus plus.

Historical Description: The Hitler Youth Knife (Hitlerjugend Fahrtenmesser) was introduced in the summer of 1933, shortly after the Nazi seizure of power in Germany. It was produced by a multitude of manufacturers and could be purchased from authorized shops for a price of 4 Reichsmarks. It was used not only as a dress sidearm, but as a functional camping tool, and these were commonly sharpened by their original owners. The earliest examples bore the motto of the Hitler Youth, “Blut und Ehre!” (Blood and Honor), etched on the blade. The blades on these early knives were marked with commercial manufacturer logos. They had nickel silver handles, and anodized metal scabbards. The use of the etched motto was discontinued in August 1938. Later HJ knives had nickel plated steel handles, painted scabbards, and the maker logos were replaced with an RZM code along with the year of manufacture. There are also transitional types that still have the etched motto but have dates on the blade ricasso. Manufacture of these knives is believed to have ceased around 1942. All HJ knives have the diamond emblem of the Hitler Youth on the handle.

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