In House Shipping:
The Hitler Youth was established in 1933, replacing the traditional German Boy Scouts, with the intention of indoctrinating German boys with the principles of the Nazi party. It also was meant to prepare those boys for military service; they were schooled in hiking, camping, woodcraft, rifle handling, marksmanship, athletics, camaraderie, and competition, all with a backdrop of strict military discipline. The goal was to create obedient, self-sacrificing, combat ready Germans who wouldn't hesitate to die for Führer and Fatherland. For general use in the field, members of the Hitler-Jugend were issued well made "Hitler Youth" knives for cutting wood, knife throwing, and all of the other creative ways boys could think of to use knives. There are many period photographs of boys in the HJ using their Hitler Youth knives for throwing into trees in obvious competition with one another. Early examples carried the expectedly strident Hitler Youth motto "Blut und Ehre!" (Blood and Honor) etched along the right side of the blade. An RZM mark was added to the maker’s mark in 1936, and the etched motto was dropped in 1938, meaning any pre-RZM etched motto examples were only made from 1933-35. This German WW2 HJ Hitler-Jugend H&F Lauterjung Pre-RZM “Blut und Ehre!” Etched Motto Hitler Youth Knife is in Very Good Condition, with a bit of rounding to the blade tip, some light sharpening and slight nicking to the blade edge, some grinding along the left side of the blade edge, some scabbard wear at each side of the blade, some light verdigris to the handle scale rivets, some light loosening to the Hitler Youth insignia within its setting in the middle right handle scale, as is commonly encountered on these knives, some light spot scuffing to the swastika design within that insignia, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features a bright 5 3/8" drop point blade etched with the Hitler Youth motto "Blut und Ehre!" along the right side, which remains highly legible, sports the classic red and white Hitler Youth enamel diamond insignia inset at the middle right handle scale, and is stamped along the middle left side of the blade with its maker, “H&F. LAUTERJUNG / W. / SOLINGEN”, above “GES. GESCHUTZ”. The lack of an RZM mark and presence of the etched motto denotes manufacture from 1933-35. It boasts the original, crisply checkered black plastic handle scales secured by two domed metal rivets, carries the original downward swept nickel plated metal half quillon, matching nickel plated metal pommel, and the original brown leather "bumper pad" at the blade/guard join, and is complete with the original German WW2 HJ Hitler-Jugend Hitler Youth Scabbard in Good Condition, having lost much of the “grip” from the throat, meaning the knife will slide right out if held by the tip of the scabbard with the handle pointed toward the ground, missing the handle retention strap and the metal rivet that secured it from the upper belt hanger, a complete tear to the middle back belt hanger, rendering it non-functional, some scattered drying, scuffing, and surface tearing to the rest of the belt hanger, a few very small spot dents at the upper right front body, some light scratching, finish abrading, and spot patina to the body, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with absolutely no cracking or other damage to the tough steel construction. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 85% of the original black painted finish on the body, bears the original (though non-functional) black leather belt hanger, and the set is a fine example of a very rare, original German WW2 HJ Hitler-Jugend H&F Lauterjung Pre-RZM “Blut und Ehre!” Etched Motto Hitler Youth Knife.