Product Details
GOTTLIEB HAMMESFAHR, SOLINGEN,
A GERMAN ENLISTED MAN'S REICHSARBEITSDIENST (RAD) HEWER,
circa 1938, with heavy hatchet-shaped 9 3/4in. blade etched with the motto 'ARBEIT ADELT' (work enables) on the right hand side and the makers mark together with 'RADJ' within a triangle on the left hand side, solid nickel-silver cross-guard and hilt, stag-horn scales (fixing bolt nearest pommel missing) and 'eagles-beak pommel (blade with signs of sharpening, backstrap of hilt dented and bruised) TOGETHER WITH its original metal scabbard with nickel fittings (some denting and discolouration to chape, losses to black painted portion)
Provenance: In 1934 the RAD Enlisted Mans Hewer was authorized for wear by RAD career officers and NCO's on formal occasions. It was designed by Paul Casburg and based upon an old German wood cutting hatchet. The hewer had a practical use as well as being worn on dress occasions. The hilt on early daggers had a solid nickel base or brass and heavy silver plated finish coated with a clear lacquer. Later made daggers went to a low grade steel although still strong enough to handle heavy work loads. The blade is made of carbon steel and of such a standard it could be used as an axe or chopping tool if needed unlike most German daggers from the period. The scabbard was made from a base of thick sheet metal steel. It was then oxide finished and clear coat lacquered on early daggers. Later made examples were finished with a lead-based black paint. The upper and lower fittings were made of a nickel base on earlier examples where as later made fittings were of low-grade steel with a nickel-plating. Obviously some transitional pieces exist, such as offered here. The design on the scabbard is a knot swirling ornamentation embossed onto the top fitting with the chape sporting the organisation emblem, a spade head with a swastika embossed onto the centre within two ears of barley radiating from the spade handle. Each fitting is held in place with screws. The throat is a separate piece set into the scabbard with riveted runners. The Hewer was not available by private purchase but issued from local battalion bases as required. Each Hewer had a unit abbreviation and serial number as well as the RAD'S triangular proof mark. Post 1936, this practice stopped. Production ceased during 1942. See Lot 367 for further information on the RAD.
Estimate £400-600