Red Cross EM Hewer

Product Description: This is a very appealing, all-original and complete example of a Red Cross EM Hewer. This one is extremely nice. The blade is in better than excellent condition, with very visible crossgraining. All of the sharp teeth to the saw back of the blade are in perfect condition. It does have some scattered graying and spotting, as well as the common surface scratches and light runner marks. The ricasso is stamped “Ges. Geschützt” indicating a trademarked design. The fit of all of the components on this is perfect. The hilt is alloy based, and heavily nickel-silver plated. It shows minor patina but the plating is in great condition overall, are surfaces are clean and smooth. The bakelite grips are perfect, all four screws are intact and show no signs of having been messed with. The brown leather buffer pad is also intact. The steel based, black enamel painted scabbard looks great! It retains over 95 percent of the original satin finish paint, and it remains completely dent free! The scabbard fittings are solid nickel-silver, with a patina that matches the grip perfectly. This one is complete with a fine, near-mint original black leather frog. The frog shows only traces of age and wear and is crisply stamped “H,” presumably a manufacturer marking. It’s an attractive, complete Red Cross EM Hewer featuring everything one wants to see with these.

Historical Description:  The German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, DRK) was given organizational status by the Nazi Party in 1938. As with all official organizations, it fell under the auspices of the NSDAP; the DRK fell under the German Ministry of the Interior.  In 1938, a special and unique edged weapon, the “Hauer für Mannschaften” (known to collectors as the Red Cross EM Hewer) was introduced for enlisted personnel of the DRK. It was a blunt-pointed tool, with one cutting edge, and one saw edge on the blade spine. It was intended not only as a dress dagger for ceremonial and formal wear, but as a practical knife for preparing splints, casts and bandages.The purpose of the blunt tip was to avoid violating Geneva Convention prohibitions against medical staff carrying offensive weapons. Unlike most German blades intended for dress purposes, the Red Cross EM Hewer was not a private purchase item, but was issued from unit stocks as needed. Officers in the DRK wore a different dagger. Manufacture of the enlisted hewer ceased in 1940.

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