M38 DRK Red Cross Hewer Dagger
Price: Sold
Description: The hewer features an approximately 10-1/2″, (26.6 cm), long, broad, squared, blunt tipped, nickel/silver plated, drop forged, steel construction blade with deep, wide, fullers, a staggered, saw-toothed, edge, a large, flat, ricasso and a full length, including the hilt, of roughly, 15 5/8″, (39.6 cm). The blade is in superb, clean condition being marked ‘Ges.Geschutzt’ on reverse ricasso with its black leather washer remaining intact. The cast alloy construction, cross guard, languets, and pommel all have a matte, nickel/silver plated finish. The hewer has molded, black, bakelite grips held in place by two, countersunk screws. The obverse grip features a repeating, diamond grooved pattern and the reverse grip is smooth with a hairline crack across the upper screw. The hewer comes with its original, black lacquer painted magnetic sheet metal scabbard with matte, nickel/silver plated top and bottom fittings. Both the top and bottom fittings are secured to the scabbard by two, small, dome headed screws. Complete with original frog. A very clean, above average example..
BACKGROUND: The DRK, “Deutsches Rotes Kreuz” (German Red Cross), a voluntary civil assistance organization originally instituted in 1864, was officially acknowledged by the Geneva Convention in 1929, and in December of 1937 it was legally recognized by the NSDAP, becoming controlled by them a year later under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior’s Social Welfare Organization. Due to its non-combatant status, it had to conform to the international Geneva Convention, which directed that its members not carry any weapons, including edged weapons. As a result, the DRK Subordinate’s hewer, introduced in 1938, was designed with a squared tip to preclude its classification as a weapon, allowing its wear in the field. It was worn by the ranks of “DRK-Anwärter” to “DRK-Haupthelfer”.
