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 Roosevelt in this country. Young men served a six month program of camp life, while taught the merits of drilling, digging, bridge and road building. 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 shafts 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 #30816 Early Numbered RAD Hewer - Carl Jul. Krebs
This ultra early piece is produced of the heaviest base metal having a silver plated surface throughout. The silvering has not been cleaned since the war and has patinated very nicely. The beak of the pommel is still nice and crisp and the ferrule areas with the backstrap also show crispness. The crossguard has a curved quillon at the bottom and the original factory darkening still appears to be in the dual grooves. The reverse of the ferrule is stamped with the marking “Bn 185”. This same stamping appears on the throat of the scabbard. This would be indicative of the battalion number to which this hewer was assigned. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. This early shell has an anodized finish. Later examples were painted. The anodizing appears to be thinning a little around the handhold position but I would say it remains in about 60-70%. This shell is fitted with matching silvered nickel mounts. These mounts are very heavily patinated. The upper mount has the RAD S curls which are nicely lined. The edge of the mount is beaded where it meets the scabbard shell. The same is true of the edge of the lower mount. Both sides of this mount are engraved with a lined spade having a mobile swastika in the center. The swastika is plain nicely contrasting with the lines in the spade depiction. This spade is placed between two wheat shafts. The lower mount shows a little bit of usage but no drop dents or problems. These mounts are retained by flathead style RAD screws which are all in place. The bowie style blade has the usual matte finish. The blade is still quite crisp along the edges and is etched with the Labor Corps. slogan “Arbeit adelt”. There is a small amount of the original darkening still in place on the letter backgrounds. This blade grades at about excellent to excellent plus. It shows only modest age. The reverse is matching etched with the RAD triangle which is above the patent pending words, “Ges. Gesch.”. Below this is a double oval which has the firm’s name and location contained within, “Carl Jul Krebs Solingen”. Inside is a crown positioned over the letter “K”. A very nice early example here which is extremely heavy indicative of its quality.Excellent Plus. $1495.00
- RADALL #30483 Early Numbered RAD Hewer - Carl Eickhorn
This early example is produced of heavy solid nickel base metal with silver plated surfaces. The hilt is in excellent condition having good crispness to the pommel beak. The ferrule also is smooth throughout and has crisp edges. The crossguard has the quillon with upper curving teardrop. Most of the original darkening is still contained within the twin grooves. The obverse ferrule has two small holes that seem to have been purposeful so that something may have been retained in these but whatever it was it is now gone to time. The reverse ferrule is deeply stamped with the accountability marking, “Br. 212”. There is a matching stamping on the scabbard throat. The grip plates of this example are a very fine stag. The stag has dark brown and tan backing with lighter tones at the grained surfaces. The grip plates are retained by screw and spanner hardware which appear to have been out maybe once. The scabbard shell is straight on the reverse having a small bb style ding on the obverse at about the center. The scabbard shell retains its original black paint. This paint shows quite a bit of usage and chips here and there. The paint remains at about 60-70% throughout. The matching scabbard mounts retain their silvering. The lower mount has good surfaces and does not appear to have been ever dropped. The upper mount has the complicated RADS curves stamped into the surfaces with lined centers. The lines show just a little bit of modest wear. There is a bead pattern that runs along the edge that meets the scabbard. The lower mount has an identical bead pattern. This mount is stamped with a lined shovel having a mobile swastika in the center. The shovel is placed between two wheat shafts. These scabbard mounts are retained by RAD screws. These screws are all there and are not buggered. The blade of this piece is the typical matte finish type. It shows a little bit of age in the surfaces and has turned slightly gray. The etched Labor Corps. slogan is still crisp and has maybe about 30% of the original darkening in the backgrounds. This blade only grades at about excellent. The reverse ricasso is etched with the RAD triangle and beneath is the patent pending words “Ges. Gesch.”. Below this is the early 1933-35 Eickhorn trademark. This trademark traps the firm’s name and location in its ovals. The logo though is beginning to wear and only slightly more than half of it is visible but it is certainly enough to tell the maker name as well as the vintage of the logo. A good early example here which could be cleaned up with a slight amount of work as this piece is all there.Excellent. $1395.00
RADALL #30446 RAD EM Hewer – Ed Wüsthof
This early hewer is in fairly nice condition and is complete with the original short strap style hanger. The hilt fittings are a nickel-plated brass and are still extremely crisp. The beak and the ferrule have fine lines which show no age at all. The quillon arm cross guard also has all of the original darkening still in the grooves. This is a sign of a little-used piece. The grip plates are genuine stag and they, too, show little usage. These plates are very impressive, being cut and fit by an expert. The edges are an appealing golden color and the obverse and reverse front areas have appealing tan and dark brown colors in the recesses of the grains. The plates are retained by screw and spanner hardware and both screw heads are unturned and are positioned in north and south groove points. An exceptional hilt here! The scabbard shell is the standard steel base type and, unfortunately, the paint did not hold up as well as the nickel parts did. This original paint has quite a bit of age spidering in both sides and it probably rates at about 90%. This paint could clean up if someone wanted to work with it. The scabbard mounts are also in choice condition like the hilt fittings. The mounts have the RAD curl design at the upper area and the spade with swastika positioned over wheat shafts at the lower mount. Both mounts have pearl designs which run along the edges where they meet the scabbard shell. All of the original darkening is in the backgrounds of these designs. The lower mount has good, clean surfaces with no hits and both mounts retain the original unturned flathead style screws. Attached to the clamp at the upper mount is the original short leather hanger. This hanger is a brown color leather still in good, serviceable condition. It is kept closed by a round buckle with hasp and there is also a short strap which retains the leather to keep it tight. There is little wear to the strap, which is another indication that this RAD hewer was not worn a lot. The blade is still fairly crisp, although there is some age in the surfaces. It is in the form of a few very light stains which are noticeable in the backgrounds. The motto is still crisp and has about 99% of the original darkening in these backgrounds. All in all, this blade grades between excellent and excellent plus. The reverse ricasso is matching etched with the RAD triangle and beneath this is the patent-pending words “ges.gesch.” Below this is the logo, consisting of double ovals which trap the firm’s name and location “Ed. Wüsthof Solingen”. Inside is a three-pronged trident. A nice RAD here which, with a little work on the blade and maybe some polishing to the paint, could come out even nicer. Good potential here.Excellent Plus Plus. $1,395.00(#072610)
RADALL #30449 RAD EM Hewer – Carl Eickhorn
This RA EM hewer is of mid-period construction. It features nickel-plated hilt fittings. These hilt fittings are still extremely crisp and other than just a tiny bit of bubbling along the left side strap, the plating is perfect. The beak is sharp and the quillon arm still has all of the darkening in the lined backgrounds. The grip plates have been cut and installed by a master. These genuine stag plates are quite beautiful, having golden edges. The center areas of both plates match nicely, having good raised grains and tan and black backgrounds. The grip plates show little to no usage. These plates are retained by screw and spanner hardware. The lower screw looks like it has been turned a couple of times where as the upper screw appears still virgin. The steel shell is straight throughout and other than some hand wear to the edges, this paint is nearly all there. The obverse and reverse do have all of the paint, showing only the most modest of age but the factory luster is still there. A nice shell here! The scabbard mounts are also beauties, both being in perfect condition. The upper mount has the complicated RAD curls which have horizontal lines running throughout the center of each of them. The lower mount features the stamped shovel with mobile swastika resting between two wheat shafts. There is a pearl design which decorates the edges of both mounts where they meet the shell. The original blackening is still intact in the depths of the recesses. The reverse upper mount has a little bit of green mold which will easily come off if desired. This mold is the residue left where the mount rested against the leather bullet hanger. The mounts are retained by the original flat scabbard screws which all look unturned. The blade of this example is nice and crisp, showing only the most modest of age in the surfaces. It really grades in near mint condition, however. The Labor Korps model is deeply etched and has about 95% of the original darkening in the backgrounds. The reverse ricasso is matching etched with the RAD triangle positioned over the patent-pending words “ges.gesch.” Beneath this is the Eickhorn logo used from 1935-41 consisting of a seated squirrel holding a downward pointing sword. This is a very fine example here and would be difficult to upgrade.Near Mint. $1,595.00
RADALL #30048 Early Numbered RAD Hewer - Carl Julius Krebs
This fine early RAD hewer is of initial production. All parts are extremely heavy and solid throughout. The surfaces are all heavily silver plated and there is a fine patination that has built up throughout the hilt and scabbard mounts. These hilt mounts still remain good and crisp especially around the spine area. The crossguard appears to still have all the darkening in the decorative grooves. The grip plates are extremely good looking showing some wear to the edges of the stag but the grains are all there having a pleasing golden and tan coloration. The edges of these grip plates have all turned an antique gold. The plates are retained by two screws with spanner nuts. These screws do not appear to have been turned. The reverse of the ferrule area is deeply stamped with the identification numbers used by the RAD early on, “Fü 1074”. This same matching number is deeply stamped into the scabbard throat. We feel that this Fü stamping is an abbreviation for Führer, which of course means leader. This would mean that the carrier of this example would have been an officer as RAD officers wore the same hewer as the enlisted men until the officer’s model came out in 1938. The scabbard of this example is straight throughout. It has good original black paint although there is quite a bit of wear to the edges of both sides and some scratches in the surfaces. Overall this paint is probably about 70-75%. The scabbard mounts match the deep patination of the hilt. The upper mount has the complicated RAD curls with lined definition. At the bottom mount there is a spade positioned between two wheat shafts also having lined decoration. In the center of the spade is a double scribed mobile swastika. Both the upper and lower mount have pearl designs along the edge where they meet the scabbard shell. The original silvered RAD screws are in place and appear unturned. The blade of this example is the matte finish variety. It still has crisp edges to the spine and the surfaces show some nominal usage signs but nothing that is severe. There looks like there was an old attempt to do some sharpening to the blade but most of this has also worn away. The original blade motto is still crisp and deep and appears to have about 95% of the original darkening in the backgrounds. This blade easily grades excellent plus, plus. The reverse is matching etched with the RAD triangle as well as the patent pending words, “Ges. Gesch.”. Beneath this is the double ovals which contain the firm’s name and location, “Carl Jul Krebs Solingen”. Inside is a crown positioned over the capital letter, “K”. A very fine early example here of highest quality and in an untouched “as found” state.Excellent Plus. $1395.00
RADALL #30133 RAD Hewer - Ed Wüsthof
This Wüsthof example is of early to mid-period construction. The mounts are a steel base having very fine nickel-plated surfaces. The hilt plating is in absolute perfect condition and all edges remain crisp. The darkening in the two decorative lines of the quillon seems to be mostly all there. The grip plates are outstanding pieces of antler each still having crispness to its surfaces. The brown and gold colors remain in the lower recesses and the upper grains are gold matching the edges of the grip plates. These fine plates are retained by two screws and spanners both of which do not appear to have been removed. An outstanding hilt here! The scabbard shell is straight throughout. It has original black paint which is still bright and in good condition. The surfaces have suffered some scratches and age crazing, the back side probably being better than the obverse. The paint though rates at about 85-90%. The scabbard mounts are also nickel-plated types and they still have nearly all of the black backgrounds in the stamped designs. The upper mount has the complicated RAD swirls while the lower mount has the spade with swastika positioned between two wheat shafts. Both of these mounts have pearl designs which run along the edges which touch the shell. The original screws are all in place and are in good condition. The blade of this example is extremely crisp along the spine area. It is the typical matte finish surface and other than some very minor stains in the blade this example is in near mint condition. The RAD motto is crisp and has 100% of the background in the backgrounds. The reverse ricasso is matching etched. There is an RAD triangle and below this is the patent pending words, “Ges. Gesch.”. The trademark is below and consists of double ovals which contain the firm’s name and location, “Ed. Wüsthof Solingen”. Inside is a three-pronged trident. A very fine example in a good state of preservation.Near Mint. $1595.00
RADALL #30093 RAD Hewer - Carl Eickhorn
This RAD hewer is of mid-period construction. It has not been cleaned since the war but it is easy to see that the original plating is still all there and is bright beneath the thin patination. The hilt section retains its sharp edges throughout and the decorative grooves to the crossguard quillon still seem to have the blackening in the backgrounds. The grip plates of this example are a more tan color stag. They are still crisp throughout having yellowy edges. These grip plates are outstanding and are retained by the original screw and spanner hardware. The screws do not appear to have been turned. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. This shell has excellent original black paint. This paint still has the original luster and does not appear to have sustained much wearing time as it is unusual to see one of these hewers with such good original paint. This paint is about 99%. The scabbard shell is equipped with matching nickel-plated mounts. These mounts at the upper feature the complicated rope-like RAD designs and at the lower there is a spade positioned between two wheat shafts having a mobile swastika in its center. Both mounts are equipped with pearl designs which run along the edges where they meet the shell. These scabbard mounts are retained by the original RAD screws which are all there and are unbuggered. The blade of this example is a fine matte finish variety. There are some tiny traces of some long ago sharpening in the edges but you have to look hard to see it. The rest of the blade really looks good having crisp spine and fine crisp etch. This etch has all of the darkening in the letter backgrounds except on the “l” and “t” at the end of the word “Adelt”. This blade still grades in a near mint state. The reverse ricasso is matching etched with the RAD triangle, the patent pending words, “Ges. Gesch.” and the 1935-41 Eickhorn squirrel logo. This squirrel retains a downward pointing sword and has the firm’s name and location beneath the animal, “Eickhorn Solingen”. It is difficult to fine a good conditioned RAD however this one should fill the bill.Near Mint. $1595.00
RADALL #29511C RAD Officer Dagger with Orange Grip Plates - Alcoso
This early piece is very heavy and substantially produced. It is quite interesting, as it is equipped with grip plates which may have been white at one time, and now have turned completely orange on the obverse, and more of a tangerine on the reverse. The Alcoso corporation also sold RAD miniatures which same effect occurs with the grips on these pieces. At any rate, the grip plates both are in absolute perfect condition, and are retained by a heavy patinated silver screw in the reverse. The pommel is in the shape of a mobile eagle head looking to the viewer’s left. The silvering has not been cleaned on this piece for a number of years, so sit has a fairly dark patination. All of the silvering is still there on this eagle top. There is good detail to his brow, eyes, and beak. The ferrule below has decorative lines that have the original darkening in the recesses. The silvering is also perfect here, as it is on the symbol strut plate between the grips. The crossguard, too, has perfect silvering, having crossguard arms that are in swirls at the quillon ends. In the center there is a lined shovel that has a mobile swastika superimposed. The shovel is positioned over a pair of wheat sheafs. A very fine interesting hilt here. the scabbard is also a fine item, having patinated silvered surfaces. The obverse is in good condition throughout, having only a little slight lifting toward the bottom chape. The reverse has a little more serious pimpling below the surface, but no silvering is really gone. It just gives it a freckled appearance, particularly on the reverse portion where the shell is smooth. The upper portion has the RAD curls, and below are the two wheat sheafs that are positioned downward toward each other on a 45 degree angle. These are the type that do not touch. The same sheafs are at the bottom area and they rise upward instead of downward. The panels are still relatively crisp. The throat is retained by two flathead silvered screws, which are unturned. The blade of this example is a real beauty. It is in the matte finish, and easily is in full mint condition. It has the bowie-style end and a good crisp fuller. As is usually the case with Alcoso RAD blades, the motto does come into the fuller. The motto, “Arbeit adelt”, is crisp and 100% of the darkening in the backgrounds. The reverse of the blade has the scales trademark with the firm’s initials interspersed, “ACS”. Above the scales, in block letters, in an arch shape, is the firm name “Alcoso”, and below, “Solingen”. Once again, this hewer is very heavy in hand, which would indicate to me that the hilt section is probably a brass base. An extremely good looking rare piece here, and a great item to display next to an Alcoso RAD ¾ size miniature. You just do not see these orange gripped examples.Excellent Plus, Plus. $2,795.00(#083110)
RADALL #28985 RAD Hewer - Carl Eickhorn
This RAD Hewer is in very fine condition, having a nice even patination across its surfaces. This hewer is one of the later examples produced with nickel plated mounts. The spine, ferrule, and crossguard of the hilt are still as crisp as the day they were made. The original blackening is still in the crossguard arm, complete with a swirled upward quillon end. This plating is still absolutely 100%. The grip plates are an outstanding stag, having very pleasing tan and brown colors. The grains of the stag are also still crisp, indicating very little, if any, usage to this hewer. These grips plates are retained by screw and spanner hardware. They appear unturned. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. The original paint is about as nice as you will see. There are a couple of craze marks in the obverse and one minor chip in the reverse, but overall, this paint rates at least at 98% and still retains its original luster. The scabbard mounts are a matching dull nickel plate over steel base. There are no dings or problems anywhere in these mounts. The obverse has the RAD complicated swirl designs on both sides, and below, is a beaded pattern that follows the border of the mount where it meets the scabbard shell. The lower chape mount features a spade placed between two wheat sheafs on both sides. This spade is horizontally lined and has a plain mobile swastika in the center. Like the upper mount, this border is also lined with beaded designs. The four original flathead screws are in place and are unturned. The large blade of this example is the bowie shape, and it has a crisp “as-new” spine. The blade has a very fine matte finish, which still remains in near perfect condition. The RAD motto, “Arbeit adelte”, looks like it was etched yesterday, being absolutely crisp and having 100% of the black background. This blade is easily in mint condition. You really don’t see many nice RAD hewer blades, as most of them were partially used in the field for purposes other than just looking good. This one is the exception. The reverse of the blade has an etched ricasso which is also new-like. It features the RAD triangle over the patent pending words, “Ges. Gesch.”. Below this is the 1935 through 1941 Carl Eickhorn trademark. This trademark is still as dark as the day it was performed. A really great hewer here. If you have been waiting for just the right piece, I’m sure that you would be well-pleased with this example.Mint. $1,795.00
RADALL #28797C RAD EM Hewer - Ed Wüsthof
This RAD Hewer is a real beauty and is in almost new condition. It is probably a mid-period example, as the hilt fittings are nickel plated, but you would never know it looking at them. They are as fresh as the day the plating was done, and the plating is easily 100%. The ferrule area has very crisp spine, and the crossguard is also beautifully done with good with good swirl to the quillon. The grip plates are a very fine original stag. This stag has outstanding grains in the surfaces, with varying shades of tan and brown with golden edges. This beautiful stag grip is retained by nickel plated screws, with matching spanner hardware. The screws do not appear to have been turned, and they are both positioned at the 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock level. An outstanding hilt here! The scabbard shell is also a real beauty. The shell has original black paint that is still factory bright and really looks great, with only one or two age cracks in the surfaces. This paint is in mint condition. The shell is fitted with matching nickel plated scabbard mounts. The upper mount has beautiful RAD curl designs, still having all the blackening within the background. The lower mount has the RAD shovel which has a lined surface, and in the center is a mobile swastika having plain surface. Two wheat sheafs flank the handle of the shovel. These designs appear on both sides of the scabbard mounts. In addition, both upper and lower mount have a pearl border where the mounts meet the scabbard shell. The lower mount has two flathead aluminum-style screws which retain it. The upper mount has only one screw on the left side and never had provision for the other screw. (I have seen this before on RAD hewers). The throat of this example is a nickel type and it is stamped “Fü.50 7”. Since this throat is of all nickel, it probably was reused from an earlier piece because the original holes can be seen in the sides of the throat. Seasoned collectors out there will also vouch for this technique being used with RAD hewers. As I have said above, I’ve seen this method used several times in the past. The blade of this example is absolutely pristine. It is in the Bowie shape, and still has extremely crisp back spine. The RAD slogan, “Arbeit adelt”, is a perfect etch and has all of the original darkening. The reverse of this mint blade has the RAD triangle, and below it the patent words “Ges.Gesch.”. Below this is the logo of the double ovals. They enclose the firm’s name and address, “Ed Wüsthof, Solingen”. Inside is a 3-pronged trident. An extremely fine RAD, being in about the best condition you will see.Mint. $1,695.00
- RADALL #26729 RAD Officer Dagger - WKC
This RAD Officer
is a good, untouched dagger. The hilt area reflects a very dark
patination over the silvering. Unfortunately, some of the silvering
has come off around the bird’s head area and also a little
on the left side strap. The plating remains at about 90% on the
reverse pommel and only at maybe 50% on the obverse and the top
reverse. There is not much that can be done about this and it
is a characteristic flaw that we frequently see in RAD daggers.
The eagle’s head, though, is a fine example, having still-crisp
eyes, brow, beak and the feather notches at the reverse head.
The ferrule has all of its plating and is also very crisp regarding
the decorative lines which swirl around its surface on a 45 degree
angle. The grip plates make up for a lot on this piece, as they
are a fine, darker cream color and remain in totally perfect condition.
The silvered retaining screw appears to have been never removed.
The scabbard of this dagger is a beauty. It is completely straight
throughout and easily has 100% of its original silvered surfaces.
Most of the silvered areas still have frosted finish, but there
is some black patination which has penetrated under the lacquer.
This gives it a nice mottled look we are all familiar with. The
pebbled panel below still retains all of its original black/blue
factory surfaces. The curled designs at the top are absolutely
perfect. The two wheat shafts at both the top and the bottom,
which are formed in a “v’ design, are the style that
touch. RAD Officer daggers do not have these designs on the reverse.
The scabbard throat is retained by two flathead style screws which
have never been removed. A choice, perfect-conditioned scabbard
here. Another great feature of this dagger is the blade. This
blade is still factory bright, having all of its cross graining
in the surfaces. Unlike most of the producers, WKC chose to finish
their blades in a bright surface rather than the matte finish.
The Labor Corps. motto also is a sight to behold. It is crisp
and easily has 100% of its original darkening. This great blade
is in full mint condition. The reverse ricasso is matching etched
with the knight head trademark. Below is the firm’s initials
and location “WKC Solingen”. A choice dagger here, which
would sell for much more, were it not for the flaking to the hilt.
It is priced accordingly.Excellent Plus, Plus. $1,795.00