RAD Leaders Dagger – Gottlieb Hammesfahr

Product Description: A desirable and hard-to-find RAD Leader’s Dagger produced by Gottlieb Hammesfahr of Solingen-Foche, featuring the distinctive pyramid maker mark on the reverse ricasso—a rarer manufacturer for this dagger type. The blade is excellent ++, with the “Arbeit adelt” motto remaining crisp and deeply etched, showing strong contrast. The aluminum hilt fittings retain much of their original detail, though most of the silvered finish has lifted over time. The RAD emblem on the crossguard and the eagle’s head pommel show sharp definition, with light age patina in the recessed areas adding character.

The grips are intact with only a minor 1/3 inch hairline crack on one side. The original scabbard accompanies the dagger and shows light wear and some denting, along with traces of its original blueing to the paneling. The scabbard’s ornamental detail remains well-defined, and both throat screws and hanger rings are present and secure. Uncleaned and untouched, this is a highly collectible example of a RAD Leader’s Dagger from a scarce maker, offered in excellent overall condition.

Historical Description: The Reichsarbeitsdienst (National Labor Service, RAD) was a compulsory labor organization formed by the Nazi Party in 1934. A new dress dagger was instituted in the same year, to be worn by all members of the Reichsarbeitsdienst for dress and formal wear. As the RAD was a labor organization, this was made in the form of a “Hewer,” with stag grip plates, and a heavy, rugged blade similar to a utilitarian tool, although it was not intended for this purpose. The large scabbard was engraved with the shovel and wheat organizational emblem of the Reichsarbeitsdienst. The blade of the RAD Hewer was etched with the organizational motto “Arbeit adelt” – Labor Ennobles. Originally, all personnel of the Reicharbeitsdienst were to have worn the same model of hewer, though there were some production variations. In 1938, a new pattern of hewer was introduced to be worn by RAD officers. It was smaller, with a smaller grip that featured silvered fittings and an eagle’s head pommel. The RAD organizational emblem was moved to the crossguard on the officer pattern hewer. Today, as with all ceremonial regalia of Third Reich organizations, original Rad hewers are eagerly sought after by collectors.

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