Red Cross Leaders Dagger & Knot
Price: Sold
Description: This Red Cross Leaders piece is in excellent overall condition and comes in a period original wool transport bag. The nickel plating throughout the hilt remains excellent with NO flaking. The large cover nut at the top of the pommel. The cross guard is a fine example, having the plain raised oval image on the reverse, with the obverse featuring the Red Cross eagle with raised swastika on his chest and clutching a Geneva Conference Cross. The obverse of the grip is a pleasing dark orange color with the reverse just a little less dark which is common for these.Overall the grip is in perfect condition. There is a silver officer style portepee that appears original to this piece being tightly tied in place, common among these daggers. The Pommel screw remains un-molested and although the dagger is tight, has loosened one-turn. Again since the dagger is tight we have left it as found. The scabbard is straight throughout. It has crisp pebbling to the dual panels on both sides. The plating is 100%. The smooth carrying bands feature the ramps with the rectangular shaped clearance holes. The throat is retained by two dome head side screws. The blade remains in pristine condition being completely bright and having all of its original cross graining and except for a few small age spots is perfect. Unmarked as are nearly all these daggers and the ricasso reflects the bright nickel-plated surface of the blade. The leather washer in-situ. Comes in an original period wool transport cover that may very well be original to it. A great example of this dagger.
Background: The DRK, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross), was a civil assistance organization under auspices of the Ministry of the Interior. Due to its non-combatant status, it had to conform to the international Geneva Convention which directed that members not carry any weapons, including edged weapons. As a result the DRK Subordinates hewer was designed with a squared blunt tip, to preclude its classification as a weapon and allow its wear in the field. The DRK Leaders dagger, with pointed tip, however was classified as a weapon and could only be worn as a dress dagger, when not in the field. The DRK Leaders dress dagger was introduced in 1938 for wear by ranks of DRK-Wachtführer to DRK-Generalhauptführer.
