In House Shipping:
The German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, DRK) was organized by the NSDAP in 1938. They worked closely with the local populace to handle air raids and gas attacks, and coordinated first aid efforts with police and fire brigades. As with most German organizations during WW2, they were paramilitary in nature, and DRK enlisted men wore military style uniforms and carried impressive "hewers" as a mark of rank and status. The hewer was more than just ceremonial, it had a practical purpose for preparing splints, casts, bandages, and litters. It featured a cutting edge, a heavy sawback spine, and a blunt tip to adhere to the Geneva Convention, which outlawed medical staff from carrying combat weapons. The DRK EM hewer ceased being made in 1940, and its impressive size and overt Germanic design made it a favorite war souvenir among US Army troops in the ETO. This German WW2 Deutsche Rotes Kreuz DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Dagger is in Very Good Condition, with some light sharpening to the blade edge, a few very small nicks in the lower blade edge, some light scratching, scabbard wear, and spot patina at each side of the blade, some light patina to the guard, some light scratching to the left handle scale, three small nicks in the back right edge of the handle tang, some scattered edge nicking and spot patina to the pommel, and with some light overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the dagger is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features a bright 10 3/8" square tipped fullered blade with a heavy sawback spine, sports the classic spread wing eagle and red cross insignia embossed in a roundel at the elegantly figured guard, and is simply stamped "GES. / GESCHUTZT" at the ricasso, which translates to a patented item. The maker's mark on these daggers is usually found on the tang under the handle scales; we have not removed the scales to look for that stamp, and it may or may not have an additional maker's mark. The dagger boasts the original black plastic handle scales secured by two metal screws, with the left scale being smooth and the right scale being checkered, carries an elegant nickel plated metal full guard, tang, and flared pommel, and exhibits the original "pebbled" brown leather "bumper pad" at the blade/guard join. It's complete with the original German WW2 DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Scabbard in Very Good Condition, with some drying, stiffening, crazing, and spot scuffing to the leather frog, some crazing and scattered scratching to the black painted body, some light spot patina to the metal throat, some scattered dark patina to the metal end tip, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with absolutely no dents, cracking, or other damage. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 90% of the original black painted finish on the body, bears the original screwed-in nickel plated metal throat piece and end tip, and mounts the original black leather frog at top, with the letter “B” stamped in inverted fashion at its upper back. The set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 Deutsche Rotes Kreuz DRK Red Cross EM Hewer Dagger.