The Red Cross Officer and Social Welfare Patterns were instituted in 1938. The hilts are produced of a pot metal base, having muted nickel-plated surfaces. The crossguard features an ovaled medallion which portrays a Red Cross eagle. The bird is a closed-winged design, clutching a Red Cross symbol in the talons. A vaulted swastika is superimposed on the bird's chest. The grip is a celluloid variety being a yellow color, usually toned to varying orange shades. The scabbards are steel with matching nickel plating over pebbled panels. There are two variations. Those with rectangular-shape eyelets on the carrying bands are Red Cross, while those having round holes in the eyelets are Social Welfare. Blades are not found with maker-marks.

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1.  RCALL #30822 Red Cross Officer Dagger

   This Red Cross officer dagger has a lot of character to it as the grip reflects the time the dagger has been around by its varying color tones found on exposed areas and also on areas covered by its original portepee. At any rate, the mounts of this dagger are fine nickel plate throughout. The nickeling is in excellent condition. The pommel has a fine crisp edge to the top and the cover net is still in place showing a couple of in and outs but not too bad. There is one minor scratch on the pommel top where some careless person somewhere along the line thought he would tighten up the piece and slipped with the screwdriver a little. At any rate, it is not a big deal. The crossguard is a beauty having the plain oval disk featured on the reverse and on the obverse the disk portrays a vaulted eagle with its wings half closed and pointed downward. Vaulted out of the bird’s chest is a mobile swastika and he carries a cross in his talons. The area surrounding the eagle is nicely pebbled to give relief. As mentioned above, the perfect conditioned grip of this example is multi color toned. On the obverse which must have been facing outward these many years the grip has turned a pleasing light orange color. On the reverse it is still a lighter yellow egg yolk color. On the areas where the portepee covers the lighter yellow color has remained. If there is anyone out there that doubts that there is no such thing as an orange grip best to look at this particular piece as the proof is in the pudding. The portepee is tied in the official Red Cross manner. This knot shows a little bit of age and only the slightest of wear. The scabbard is straight throughout and still has very crisp pebble panels. The reverse of this scabbard is stone mint whereas the obverse is nearly mint having just the slightest age on the lower carrying band. These bands are the crisp edge type which probably are characteristic of the maker of this example but since these are always unmarked we do not really know who they were. The throat of this choice scabbard is retained by two nickel dome head screws which are unturned. The blade is as nice as they come. This choice blade is completely mirror bright and has all of its crossgraining. It has the nickel-plated surfaces which are smooth on the ricasso area. The new like black leather blade buffer is in place. A very fine example here which has lots of nice character.

   Mint Minus. $2,295.00

2.  RCALL #30818 Social Welfare Officer Dagger

   This Social Welfare officer dagger shows a little bit of usage but it is still in nice condition and is very collectible. The nickel-plated mounts are in good condition throughout. The pommel has a couple of mild wearing signs but the plating is still there. The cover nut is in excellent condition only looking to have been out maybe once. The crossguard is a beauty having the plain oval on the reverse and the obverse oval portrays a half closed winged eagle with a vaulted swastika on his chest. The eagle clutches a cross in his talons and the area around the bird is nicely pebbled to give relief. The grip is a nice pumpkin orange color on the obverse being just the slightest tad lighter on the reverse. The original 42 cm aluminum portepee is in place in the Red Cross tie. This knot shows some age and mild usage but it is still in good condition having only a little fray where it crosses the left crossguard quillon end. There are a couple of hairliners that appear at the bottom of this grip but they are mostly covered by the portepee. The scabbard of this example has good crisp pebbling to its panels. The bands have the ramps with round holes instead of the rectangular holes which designate this example as Social Welfare. The throat is retained by two dome head nickel screws. This scabbard shows only the most modest of age. The blade is still nice and bright. This blade appears to have been cleaned up by someone not too long ago. It retains its good graining but does show that there may have been a couple of mild flaws in the surfaces. The job though to clean it up was well done and the blade now easily rates in a near mint state. The ricasso retains its nickel-plated surfaces. The black leather blade buffer is in place. A good example of a difficult dagger to find these days.

   Excellent Plus. $2195.00

3.  RCALL #30745C Red Cross Officer Dagger

   This Red Cross officer still has a good crisp edge to the pommel top. The plating is in excellent condition showing only the most modest of age. The cover screw has been out a few times and has about 50% of the original nickel plating. The crossguard is in excellent shape having a good plain oval depiction on the reverse and an obverse oval depicting a half closed winged eagle with vaulted mobile swastika on its breast. This bird clutches a cross in its talons. There are a couple of mild freckles on the top of this crossguard but the rest of it is in excellent condition. The grip is in perfect condition being a slightly darker orange on the obverse than on the reverse. The scabbard has good crisp pebbled panels and the bands are the style that have smooth edges. This scabbard has excellent plating showing little age and the throat is retained by two dome head nickel screws. The blade of this example is nice and bright throughout and appears to have most of its original crossgraining. There is one small nick on the lower edge but other than this the blade is in near full mint condition. The ricasso retains its nickel plating. The original black leather blade buffer is in place. A good collectible Red Cross officer here.

   Excellent Plus $1795.00

4. RCALL #30563 Red Cross Officer Dagger

   This Red Cross officer is a very fine piece still having original dull nickel finish that these daggers were supposed to portray. The pommel is a fine example having just the slightest wear to the plating on the upper edge but it is nothing. The upper pommel is in choice condition throughout and the cover screw does not look as though it has ever been turned. It is rare to see this on these Red Cross daggers. The crossguard is a fine example with perfect nickeling. The reverse oval is the plain type and the obverse oval contains a closed winged eagle looking to the viewer’s left and having a vaulted mobile swastika on its chest. The bird carries a cross in his talons. The grip of this example is an appealing popsicle orange color. It is even toned throughout and has no chips or any problems. The scabbard is straight throughout. The scabbard bands are the rounded type. The scabbard’s panels are perfect and crisp having nearly 100% plating throughout. The throat is retained by the two domehead style side screws. This piece was made by a rarely seen producer of Red Cross officers. The way this can be known is that this was the single producer who used a screw at the lower left tip which kept the leg weight in place. For those who collect Red Cross “types” this is a very difficult version to find. I have only had two or three of these with the lower screw retainage and I have had many, many Red Cross officer daggers over the years. A pretty neat thing here as we used to wonder why the screw was there. A lot of us thought that maybe it was to let moisture out of the scabbard or some other dumb thing until we finally realized it held the weight in place. The blade of this dagger is nice and bright throughout. It retains its needlelike tip and easily has 100% of the original crossgraining. The ricasso area reflects the shinier nickel-plated finish. The new like black leather washer is in place. A very nice Red Cross officer’s dagger here.

   Mint Minus. $2,195.00

5. RCALL #30538C Red Cross Officer Dagger

   This Red Cross Officer is about as nice as you will ever see. It has very fine nickel plated mounts and they have a nice semi-dull finish. The plating throughout the pommel, cross guard and scabbard is 100%. The pommel has good, crisp edges and the covering screw at the top looks like it may have been out once. It is quite rare to see this. The cross guard is also an outstanding example, the obverse and reverse both depicting an oval design and on the obverse, there is a closed-wing eagle which is clutching a cross in its talons. Raised out of the bird’s breast is a mobile swastika. The bird looks to the left and has downward half-open wings. The depiction is as nice as you will see on one of these Red Cross officer daggers. The grip of this example is a dark egg yolk yellow color and it is uniform throughout the obverse and reverse. This grip is in totally perfect condition. The scabbard is also a beauty, having 100% plating and extremely crisp pebbled panels. The carrying bands are the smoother edged type and they, too, are in choice condition, ending with ramp-like mounts which are used to attach the hangers. The throat of this example is retained by two dome head nickel screws. As we would hope, the blade is just as nice as the outside. This blade is mirror bright and has 100% of the original cross graining in the surfaces. The tip is needlelike and the ricasso area reflects 100% nickeled finish. A full mint blade here. The blade is protected by a newlike black leather washer. If you are looking to find a Red Cross Officer, you cannot upgrade, this one should do the trick.

   Mint. $2,395.00

6. RCALL #30116 Red Cross EM Hewer

   This Red Cross hewer is in fairly nice condition, having good nickeling to the hilt fittings. There is some minor age noticeable in the surfaces in the form of freckling but it is not bad. There is a mild amount of wear to the sharp edges of the pommel but most of it remains. The side struts are in good condition, as is the cross guard. The obverse displays an oval which features a half-closed wing eagle clutching a cross in its talons. There is a mobile swastika vaulted out of the bird’s breast area. The reverse oval is plain. The Bakelite grips are in perfect condition. The obverse has checkered surfaces and the reverse is smooth. These grip plates are retained by screw and spanner hardware. The screws do not appear to have been turned. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. This shell has fairly good original black paint. There are some nominal scratches here and there but the original paint is certainly about 95%. The lower mount is a nickel plated type and it is the form that is without screws, probably being put on while it was heated. The upper mount is in good condition and is retained by two dome head nickel screws. There is a frog on this example. The frog looks original to this piece, being a black color and showing some nominal age. This frog would clean up nicely, however, with a little bit of black shoe polish. It is the style that is retained by four rivets. The rivet at the left upper portion is missing the front half of the hardware. The reverse of this frog is stamped “Jkh41”. The blade is still fairly bright but it does have some smudge in the surfaces on both sides. The smudging covers maybe about 40% - 50% of the blade. A lot of this could be cleaned up if someone wanted to work with it. The sawback is nice and sharp. This blade grades at about excellent to excellent plus. The original black leather washer is in place. Not a bad Red Cross hewer here, and it is priced accordingly.

   Excellent. $750.00

7. RCALL #29879 Red Cross Officer Dagger

   This Red Cross officer was recently purchased from the family of a veteran by myself. The dagger has never been cleaned, it has never been in a collection. This dagger has the usual nickel-plated mounts. They are still in the dull matte finish and would come up nice if you would like to clean them, or left alone they would be fine also. The plating appears to still be 100% throughout the pommel and the crossguard. The cover nut over the pommel has been out a couple of times but it is still in good condition. The crossguard portrays an oval image with a raised out half open-winged bird which looks to the viewer’s left. The bird has a vaulted swastika on his breast and clutches a cross in his talons. The grip is a nice lemon yellow color probably just about the same color tone it was when new. This grip is in totally perfect condition. The scabbard is straight throughout and has a fine matching dull patination. This scabbard appears to have all of its plating intact and also will clean up should someone wish to do this. The bands are the type that have fairly sharp edges. The pebbling to the panels is still nice and crisp. The throat is retained by two dome head nickel screws. The blade of this example is in choice condition. It is completely mirror bright throughout and has 100% of the original graining. The tip is still needlelike and the ricasso of this mint condition blade is a nickel-plated type. The original leather washer is in place having done a great job protecting this blade. A nice “virgin” Red Cross officer here.

   Excellent Plus, Plus. $1595.00(#072610)

8. RCALL #29356 Red Cross Hewer

   This Red Cross Hewer still retains its fine bright nickel fittings. The nickeling appears to be 100% throughout. The pommel has a good crisp edge and there is even lacquer still remaining throughout this fitting. The side straps also have lacquer. The crossguard, also lacquered, depicts an oval in the center with a raised-out half-closed winged eagle. The eagle clutches a cross in its talons, and there is a swastika vaulted out of the chest area of this eagle. The grip plates of this example feature checkered variety on the obverse, and the reverse plate is smooth. These plates are in perfect condition, and are retained by screw and spanner hardware. There is a little rust to the upper screw, and the lower screw is still has all of its plating. These screws do not appear to have been out of this piece. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. Its original period black paint is still mostly bright, but it does have quite a bit of spidering in the surfaces. I would say that the paint, all in all, is about 98%, but would clean up some if someone were to work with it. The nickel scabbard mounts nicely match the condition of the hilt. Both mounts are retained by nickel flathead side screws. There is also a frog attached to the scabbard. This black frog is in good condition, showing some mild usage, and being constructed with aluminum rivets. The lower right rivet has gone to time, but the other three are in place. This Red Cross frog is not marked on the reverse. The blade of this example is as nice as you will ever see. It is completely bright throughout and has 100% of the factory crossgraining. The tip is blunted to conform with the Geneva Convention, and the spine has an extremely sharp sawback, which was a simulation of cutting a splint in the field. It only strikes me funny as to the blunted tip being acceptable, but nobody seemed to notice the deadliness of this sawback, which could cut your head off with one stroke. At any rate, a beautiful blade here, which is protected by a new-like tan leather buffer. The ricasso on the reverse is marked, “Ges. Gesch.”. A nice example here.

   Excellent Plus, Plus. $1,095.00

9. RCALL #29506C Red Cross Hewer

   This Red Cross Hewer has good plating to the hilt. There is no lifting and the plating only shows the most modest of age. The pommel cap is still fairly crisp around the edges. The crossguard is in good condition, having the obverse oval disk. This oval displays a half-open winged eagle, which looks to the viewer’s left and clutches a cross in his talons. There is a raised-out mobile swastika on the eagles’ breast area. The grip plates are in good condition, being of black bakelite material. The obverse example is checkered, whereas the reverse grip plate is smooth. They are both retained by screw and spanner hardware. The screw heads are rusted, but are both pointing north-to-south. They do not look to have been removed. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. The original paint does have some spidering and also some lifting, with rust evident in the surfaces. This paint rates at about 90%. The scabbard shell has matching nickel mounts. The nickel mounts are retained with unbuggered flathead screws throughout. There is a good black leather frog. The frog shows only mild usage, being 4-rivet construction with all rivets present. This frog is stamped “B” on the reverse. The blade of this example is nice and bright, having the blunted tip and the sharp sawback spine. The blade has most of the original graining still showing, and it easily grades in near full mint condition. The reverse ricasso is stamped “Ges. Gesch.”. The original black leather blade buffer is in position, doing a good job. A good collectable Red Cross hewer here.

   Excellent Plus. $895.00 (#110409)

10. RCALL #28169 Red Cross EM Hewer

    This Red Cross EM Hewer is really an outstanding example. The hilt retains all of its nickel plating. The pommel edges are still extremely crisp, and even these areas have their plating intact. The cross guard area is in choice condition, featuring a half-closed wing eagle which looks to the viewer’s left and has a cross in his claws. There is a vaulted swastika coming out of the bird’s breast. The reverse area also has all of its plating. There is a minor sign of age here and there in the form of minor cracks in the plating but nothing is missing. The grip plates are the black Bakelite variety, the obverse being crisp and checkered and the reverse being smooth. These plates are retained by nickel plated screws and spanners. The two heads are facing from east to west. The scabbard is a fine, straight shell. The original black paint is amazing, being nearly 100%. This paint also still retains its original luster. It is rare to see a paint that is nice. The lower mount is a nickel plated type being in perfect condition. It is pressed into place being the type without screws. The upper fitting is just a nice, having 100% nickeling and held in place by two dome head side screws. The black frog is a real beauty, being in mint condition. This frog is retained by four aluminum rivets and it is stamped with a “H” on the reverse. The blade of this example is nice and bright throughout and on the obverse would be in mint condition. The reverse has some very minor stains in the surfaces and I am sure that if someone wanted to clean it a little bit, these would come out. In both cases, the cross graining all seems to be there and the sharp sawback edge is crisp and threatening. This fine blade has been protected by the in-place brown leather washer. A very nice Red Cross hewer here.

    Mint Minus. $1,295.00

11. RCALL #28153 Red Cross Hewer

    This Red Cross hewer is in good overall condition. The plating is all intact throughout. The pommel is still nice and crisp. There is a little bit of bubbling in the plating surfaces on the obverse but it is nothing and there is no plating missing. A nice looking pommel here! The cross guard is also in good condition, having all plating intact. The obverse features the oval disc having a half-closed winged eagle looking to the viewer’s left with a vaulted mobile swastika on its breast. This bird clutches a cross in its talons. The grip plates of this example are black Bakelite being checkered on the obverse and smooth surfaces on the reverse. Both grip plates are in perfect condition. These plates are retained by screw and spanner hardware. The screw heads are both pointing in the nine o’clock to three o’clock direction. The scabbard shell is straight throughout. It does have a couple of tiny “bb” type dings, but they are pretty shallow and don’t amount to much. The original black paint has a few scratches and some signs of age, but overall, it is about 95% and still retains most of its original brightness. The scabbard shell is complete with a lower fitting which is pressed into place and the upper fitting is retained by dome head side screws. These fittings are in good shape with full plating. The original black leather frog is in place. This frog shows only normal wear and is still in excellent condition. It is a four-rivet type construction and on the reverse it is stamped with the capital letter “H” at the lower area. The blade of this hewer is a sawback variety in fine condition. The reverse of the blade is easily in near full mint condition, having all of the cross graining. The obverse is very near this state, showing only the most modest of age. As is the case with these hewers, the tip is blunted in order to conform with the Geneva Convention. There is no maker mark on this blade, but the reverse ricasso is stamped with the patent pending words “Ges. Gesch.” The black leather washer is in place. A very nice hewer here!

    Excellent Plus, Plus. $1,095.00

12. RCALL #28154 Red Cross Hewer

    This Red Cross hewer is in outstanding condition throughout. The nickeling to the hilt fittings is about as nice as you will ever see. It is not only 100%, but it also has most of the original frosting throughout the fittings. Even the edges of the sharp pommel top still have all of their plating. The cross guard is nice and crisp, featuring the half-closed winged eagle facing to the viewer’s left. This bird has a mobile swastika vaulted from his chest. He clutches a cross in his talons. The reverse oval is nice and crisp, also having all frosting intact over the nickel plating. Even the side struts have most of the original frosting. Nice! The grip plates are the black checkered variety on the obverse and on the reverse they have a smooth surface. These plates are in totally perfect condition and they are retained by screw and spanner hardware with screws pointing to approximately the one o’clock to seven o’clock marks. Beautiful hilt here! The scabbard shell is straight throughout. The original black paint is excellent, being almost 100% and only having a few scratches and signs of carrying. This paint also retains its original factory brightness. The lower scabbard mount is the style which is pressed into place. The upper mount has a throat which is retained by two dome head side screws. These mounts both have 100% nickel plating. The blade of this example is as nice as you will see. It has the deadly sawback on the top which was representative of the Red Cross man’s ability to cut a splint in the field. The tip of the blade is blunted in accordance with the Geneva Conference regulations for medics. The blade has all of the cross graining and a mirror finish on both sides. This blade is easily in full mint condition. It would be extremely beautiful were it not for the sawback top edge, which has the opposite effect of medically treating someone. This great blade is protected by a brown color leather washer still in choice condition. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the patent pending markings “Ges. Gesch.” About as nice of a hewer as you are likely to encounter.

    Mint Minus. $1,195.00

13. RCALL #27698 Red Cross EM Hewer

    The Red Cross EM hewer is a fine looking example still having nearly all of the frosted finish preserved over the fittings. There is a factory lacquer substance which has coated and protected these fittings. The pommel is still nice and crisp throughout its flared edges and the cross guard depictions are also in good condition. The oval obverse cross guard depicts a half-closed winged eagle which looks to the viewer’s left. The bird has a raised out swastika on his breast and he clutches a cross in his talons. The reverse oval is plain. In the case of this example, it does appear as though the original owner may have scratched his initials into the center area. It looks like it could be “we” but I can’t be sure. The grip plates of this example are in good condition throughout. They are the black Bakelite type. The obverse is checkered and the reverse is smooth. These plates are retained with steel screw and spanner hardware. This hardware has a light coating of rust on its surfaces. The scabbard is straight throughout. This shell has good, original black paint showing some spidering in the surfaces, but the paint is still nearly 100%. The lower scabbard fitting has minor age in the surfaces but it is nothing. This fitting is retained by two flat head side screws. The throat is in place and nicely matches the condition of the hilt fittings. This throat is retained by two flatter head side screws. There is a black leather frog attached and it is the style which is retained by four aluminum rivets. I do not see any markings on the reverse of this frog. The frog shows some mild usage but still grades at about excellent plus. The blade of this example is a fine one. It is still nice and bright and has all of its original graining in the surfaces. The saw back is sharp and threatening. Other than just a little bit of minor smudge here and there, this blade is still in near full mint condition. It has been protected by an in-place brown leather blade buffer. A good Red Cross hewer here.

    Near Mint. $1,195.00

14. RCALL #27768 Personalized Red Cross EM Hewer

    This Red Cross hewer has excellent frosted finish throughout the fittings and the original protective lacquer is still mostly all there. The nickeling to this example is 100%. The pommel remains nice and crisp, as does the cross guard. The side plate on the right side of the hewer has an engraving which would relate to the owner’s original Red Cross assignment. Stamped into the side plate is “825” and the city name “Leipzig”. It is rare to see these type of engravings on Red Cross hewers. The oval obverse disk has an excellent presentation of the half-closed wing eagle looking to the viewer’s left and having a raised out mobile swastika on its breast. The bird clutches a cross in its talons. The reverse oval disk is in pristine condition. Unfortunately, there is a small chip in the obverse Bakelike checkered grips down at the bottom area, but it is not noticeable. There is also a small hairline crack at the reverse grip plate on the left edge toward the bottom. The hardware is the usual steel screw and spanner, both of which have some mild rust across the screw heads, but they are unturned and are pointing north to south. The scabbard shell is straight throughout, having good, black original paint. There is some spidering in the paint and there is a small age spot on the obverse lower area. The paint is about 98%. The lower scabbard fitting is also in good condition, being retained by two side screws. The upper throat matches the hilt parts nicely and has two-screw retention. There is an original black leather frog, being the type which is retained by four aluminum rivets. This frog is stamped on the reverse with a “h”. The frog shows only mild usage and a little shoe polish would make it look in mint condition. A fine hewer here, with some interesting aspects with the personalization.

    Excellent Plus, Plus. $995.00