Founded officially in 1934, the RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) or Reich Labor Service was instituted as a "make-work program" to help alleviate the depression of Germany in 1934. It was similar to the WPA and other programs initiated by President Roosevelt in this country. German men (and women, to a lesser degree) were taught the merits of drilling, digging, bridge and road building, not to mention National Socialism. From 1939 onward service in the RAD was absolutely compulsory.

RAD Officers and men initially wore the same edged weapon, a large Hewer with stag gripped plates. In 1938, RAD Officers wore a scaled-down hewer. It has silvered fittings with eaglehead pommel top. The crossguard features a shovel over wheat shafts, with a superimposed swastika. The weapon is fitted with white celluloid grip plates. The silvered scabbard has curled design decoration at the upper and wheat stalks at the lower. The center area features a pebbled panel. The matte-finished, Bowie-shape blade is etched with the RAD motto, Arbeit Adelt.

RADALL #47981C Early RAD EM Hewer by Carl Eickhorn

This fine hewer is of early production having the solid nickel hilt. The hilt mounts are in great condition still having a fine crispness to the ferrule area.

The grip plates are in perfect condition featuring fine lighter colored brown stag with good grain and golden edges.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout having fairly good original paint. The obverse paint is still about 95 percent showing a little bit of age here and there but still good. The reverse paint is only about 50 percent showing some wear to the paint at the bottom areas where the hewer would have rubbed against the wearer’s leg or hanger. The scabbard mounts are in nice condition. There is some minor age to the curls on the reverse. This bottom fitting shows no dings or dents which is unusual considering the heaviness of these pieces.

The blade features the matte finish and has the Bowie style tip. The blade shows only the most modest of age still being in near mint condition. The motto is nicely etched and has about 90 percent of the original darkening in the backgrounds. The reverse ricasso is etched with the RAD triangle over Gesch Gesch. Below this is the early small double ovals which contain the firm’s name and location Carl Eickhorn Solingen. Inside is a serrated tail squirrel.

A nice basic example here.

Excellent Plus. $1,095.00

RADALL #47956 Early RAD Hewer By Ed Wüsthof

This hewer has the early solid nickel hilt and shows a nice even patination across it. The crossguard is nicely done with the darkening still in the groove enhancements and ends in a curl.

The grip plates are very fine stag being masterfully cut hand having coffee color depths with lighter graining at the top on the obverse and a lighter stag throughout on the reverse.

The scabbard is straight throughout. The scabbard shell has its original paint. The paint shows some age and usage but it is not bad and very evenly spread throughout with no bad parts. The scabbard mounts have a fine matching patination across their surfaces. The screws are all in place on this example.

The blade has the matte finish with the Bowie style tip. There is some minor age staining on both sides of the blade but it is not bad and does not detract from the piece. The labor corp motto is deeply etched and has about 90 percent of the darkening in the backgrounds. The reverse ricasso is matching etched with an RAD triangle over Gesch Gesch. Below this is the double ovals which enclose the firm’s name and location Ed Wüsthof Solingen and in the center is the trident logo.

A decent early RAD hewer.

B>Excellent. $950.00

RADALL #47908 RAD EM Hewer By Ed Wusthof

This RAD hewer is in first rate condition. It is one of the early examples having the solid nickel hilt. The hilt has very fine silvered finish still being 100 percent. The crossguard still has the darkening in the accent lines including the curled quillon.

The grip plates are outstanding stag. They are fit by a master and feature good grains having coffee color brown in the backgrounds. The edges and the top of the grains have a nice golden color.

The scabbard shell is in very choice condition having 100 percent black paint. It is possible that this scabbard was repainted but if it was it is a outstanding totally professional job and does not detract in the slightest. The scabbard mounts are also in nice condition. The four screws are all in place.

The blade is as nice as they come. It has its fine matte finish throughout and is in virtual mint condition. The labor corp motto is deeply etched and had about 98 percent of the original darkening in the backgrounds. The reverse has the RAD triangle positioned over Gesch Gesch and below are the dual ovals which enclose the firm’s name and location Ed Wusthof Solingen. Inside is the trident logo.

An extremely nice RAD hewer that would go well with any collection.

Excellent Plus. $1,395.00

RADALL #48297C RAD Enlisted Man's Hewer W/ Period Leather Scabbard - Ed Wüsthof

Well collectors, just when we think we have seen everything in this exciting hobby, a new variation pops-up. This RAD example is an early piece having solid hilt mounts. The mounts have been period nickel-plated, as have the scabbard mounts and blade. The hilt is in excellent condition showing a little modest age in a few places, but basically all this tells us is that this is an original piece. The ferrule edge remains crisp and there is still most of the blackened backgrounds within the accent trim lines on the cross guard. The grip plates are a fine stag, showing almost no wear to the fine brown and coffee-color grains. The grip plates are retained by screw and spanners, which also reflect the nickel-plated surfaces. A fine hilt here.

The scabbard mounts are also in fine condition with no denting to the lower example. The upper mounts reflect the usual line-decorated RAD curls and have the border circles at the lower edge. The same border of circles appears at the upper edge of the lower scabbard mount. These mounts reflect the same period nickel-plated surfaces as the hilt. Looking at the mounts with a loupe shows years of usgae signs and surface scratches. What is really interesting on this Hewer is the fact that the normal steel scabbard shell has been substituted with an example wholly constructed of a brown leather. The leather is absolutely period having nice grains and still remaining in fine condition. The reverse seam is also flawless and professionally accomplished. This work has been done by a true period expert, as the leather supports the weight of the scabbard mounts on its own. The mounts are securely retained by the four scabbard screws.

The blade is the standard Bowie shape, but instead of the usual matte finish, it too, has been period nickel-plated. The plating is still perfect throughout, retaining the fine depth of the RAD motto, "Arbeit adelt". The reverse of the blade has been marked with the RAD triangle, "Ges Gesch" and below is the trademark. The mark consists of the two ovals which contain and name and location of the maker, "Ed Wüsthof / Solingen". In the center of the ovals is the trident logo.

A most interesting period RAD here that once again shows that there were always individuals that had to have something more important-looking than a standard weapon, despite regulations. It is possible this piece was worn by an ealry RAD Leader, prior to the introduction of the RAD Officer model in 1937.

Excellent Plus, Plus. $1,850.00

RADALL #47104 RAD Officer with Blade Motto on Reverse No Maker

This RAD example has beautiful hilt toning to the silvering. The silvering is still in near full mint condition and is quite beautiful showing off the noble head of the eagle looking to the viewer’s right with his large brow over his eye and well formed beak. The reverse head has the usual four curved accent grooves. The ferrule has the 45 degree angle positioned grooves running around it. The crossguard features the lined spade with raised plain mobile swastika positioned over the two wheat shafts.

The grip plates are quite beautiful having turned an ivory color. The obverse grip has the tiniest of hairliners just at the point where it meets the center strut of the hilt. The silver grip screw features matching patina and looks unturned.

The scabbard is flat out mint. It is a real beauty having all of its silvering throughout and having all of its detailed RAD curls at the top with the wheat shafts below. They are the style that touch each other. The lower portion of the scabbard also has the touching wheat shafts. The center pebbled panel has outstanding blue backgrounds being completely mint. The same is true on the reverse. The reverse of these officer scabbards are plain. The throat is retained by two flat head side screws.

The unmarked blade of this example is in immaculate mint condition. The interesting part about this dagger is the fact that normally the motto of the RAD Arbeit Adelt reads from the crossguard toward the tip. On this example the motto reads from the tip towards the crossguards. I do not have an explanation for this. It is possible that this dagger was ordered this way as perhaps the owner was left handed or whatever. The motto is completely crisp with 100 percent of its blue in the backgrounds of the letters. It is also interesting to note that the throat of the dagger has also been installed to accommodate the backward positioning of the blade. This to me precludes any kind of factory error as they would have realized the error at the time the throat was installed as the throat also is upside down. A very curious piece here must have some explanation as it is completely original. I guess we never see it all in this hobby and this is a great piece for those of you out there that like odd things albeit original.

Mint. $2,895.00

RADALL #37105 RAD Officer's Dagger – Alcoso

This RAD Officer's Dagger has good, toned silver hilt; almost all of the silvering is still intact, and what wear there is confined only to the high spots. The bird head is an excellent depiction, with a stern brow over the eyes and a good looking beak. The bird has the four engraved feather striations on the back, and the ferrule area has the 45 degree angle decorative grooves.

The crossguard is a fine example, featuring quillon arms that extend outward into downward curls. The center area depicts the RAD logo; a lined spade with a plain swastika superimposed in the center. The spade rests between two detailed wheat stalks.

The grip plates are real beauties, having toned to a desirable off-white color. They are in excellent condition and retained by a screw in the reverse that is still silvered.

The scabbard is about as nice as you will ever find. This scabbard has 100% of the silvering and most of the original lacquer. There are some patinated areas where air has gotten under the silvering giving it an interesting look that collectors in the know will recognize. The pebbled panels have the original factory darkening in the backgrounds. The scabbard has the RAD curls at the top, being nice and crisp, and beneath these curls are two wheat stalks being the style that do not touch. The same wheat stalks are depicted on the lower scabbard beneath the panel. The scabbard is equipped with two nicely made carrying bands, and the throat is retained by two flat head style screws.

The blade of this dagger is in choice condition, being forged in the matte finish. This blade shows only some in-and-out marks, and overall is still in mint condition. The RAD motto, “Arbeit Adelt”, is etched into the surface of the blade. On the reverse is the trademark used used from 1937 through 1939, consisting of a set of scales with the firm's initials, “ACS”, interspersed within them. Above the scales in arched block letters is the name of the firm, “Alcoso”, and below is the location city of “Solingen”.

This is an extremely nice RAD Officer's Dagger that will go well in the collection of those that are seeking highest quality weapons.

Excellent Plus, Plus. $3,395.00

#34498C Czech RAD Officer's Hewer (?) - WKC

This RAD Hewer is a real anomaly, and for those that like to use their brain, it is a most interesting original Third Reich artifact. The Officer's Hewer has an enlisted man's style hilt, and has an officer's blade with RAD Offficer's scabbard. Studying the edged weapon, it appears to have been definitely worn during the period. It also balances perfectly on a 45 degree angle, when held by the upper hanging ring. It is my belief that this hewer was made especially for an RAD leader that may have been assigned to Prague or one of the districts in Bohemia, and Moravia.

The hilt of the hewer has been lightly trimmed on the crossguard area around the lower quillon. This trimming or thinning of the area makes the hilt flow much nicer with the scabbard, and is a good touch. The ferrule and beak area at the pommel appear to be the same as a standard RAD hewer. The crossguard area does not appear to have ever had the darkening in the grooves. The plating throughout the hilt is maybe 60-70%, showing wear in the areas where one would expect it to be, enduring usage from the original wearer's hand. Instead of the normal stag plates, the officer's option has been accomplished through the installation of ivorine or celluloid grip plates. These grip plates have been masterfully cut and fitted and are an exact mount to the countersunk area, precisely matching the edges of the beak pommel and upper ferrule. The grip plates have age toned to an ivory color, and remain in perfect condition. Both plates are retained by screw and spanner hardware, in the normal RAD EM manner. Inserted into the obverse grip plate, is an enameled Hitler Youth insignia, the type of which was used in Czechloslovakia. The insignia has perfect enamel, except for the 3 o'clock diamond point, where there is a small chip. The insignia consists of the black enamel swastika within a silver diamond which is inlaid in a shield shaped device, having red enamel edges with white center. This enamel shield is slightly loose, an indication that it is pinned through the obverse grip.

The scabbard is a standard RAD officer example, with the exception that it does not have any screws that retain the throat. The silvering is still nearly 100% throughout the scabbard, having just a couple of tiny lifts toward the lower chape area. The scabbard features the standard RAD curls at the top with a pair of wheat shafts below, which are the type that touch eachother. There are matching wheat shafts on the lower portion of the scabbard. The pebbled panels appear on both sides, and they are the type that have a slight blue color to their background. This scabbard is in nice condition throughout. The right edge has the two carrying brackets which are in the shape of an ear.

The blade is the officer's type, and it is in choice condition, still being mint. The blade is equipped with the two fullers, one which runs on either side of the blade. The RAD motto "Arbeit adelt" is precisely etched and retains 100% of its original background darkening. The reverse of this beautiful blade is etched with the knighthead trademark, beneath which are the initials of the firm and its location, "WKC Solingen". There is the slightest of sharpening that appears on the lower side of the obverse blade, and just a little bit on the reverse side towards the end. Otherwise, this blade is in mint condition. A most interesting edged weapon here, and a great example for those of you out there that want something that is non-standard. It is amazing as we travel through the decades of this hobby, that we still seem to turn up never before seen items.

Excellent Plus. $1,995.00