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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.

RCO - 001 - 26328 - Red Cross Officer – No Maker

This Red Cross Officer dagger is in nice condition throughout. The nickel plated hilt fittings are as good as you will see. The plating is 100% throughout. Even the crisp edge, which runs around the pommel top, has full plating. The cover screw looks to have been out a couple of times, but it is still in good shape, with no buggering. The crossguard has good oval discs on front and back. The obverse disc portrays a raised-out, closed-winged eagle, which looks to the viewer’s left, and has a mobile swastika raised out of his chest. This eagle clutches a cross in his claws. The reverse oval has a fine finish to its plain area. These fittings complement the grapefruit-colored yellow grip. This grip is in pristine condition throughout. The scabbard of this piece is nice and straight, having matching excellent nickel plating. The raised pebbled panels are still crisp, and have perfect plating. There is a tiny bit of plating lifting at the left edge of the lower carrying ring, and also a little area below this on the scabbard edge. There is also one tiny lift spot on the back of the upper carrying ring, but this area is nothing. Other than these flaws, this scabbard is in choice condition. The throat is retained by two domehead nickel screws. The blade of this piece is nice and bright, having all of the original crossgraining visible in the surfaces. The ricasso area has the brighter nickel plated surfaces. This blade shows almost no age at all, and easily grades in near full mint condition. The tip is still needle-like, and the brown leather blade washer is in place. Overall, a very fine Red Cross Officer, which would fit nicely into most collections.(#112607)
Near Mint (26328) $1,495.00

RCO - 002 - 26380C - Red Cross Officer – No Maker

This Red Cross Officer is about as nice as you will ever see. The plating throughout this piece is still factory crisp, and very beautiful. The pommel shows no usage whatsoever, and still has a slight frosted look in its surfaces. The edges around the pommel are completely crisp. The cover screw at the top looks like it may have been out once, but there is no buggering, and no problems. The crossguard also has the frosted look to its perfect nickel finish. It is very rare to see this on one of these daggers. The oval disc at the front has a raised-out closed-winged eagle, which looks to the viewer’s left. This bird has a vaulted mobile swastika on his chest, and in his claws he clutches a cross. The reverse disc is plain, and also frosted. The grip is an interesting color, being about the tone of a tangerine on the obverse, fading to that of a grapefruit on the reverse. These color tones result from exposure to light, so judging by this example, the dagger was positioned straight up during its storage life in an attic, or possibly on a veteran’s wall. This grip is in perfect condition. The grip is also decorated with one of the Johnson post-war knots. (I don’t particularly like these knots, but since this piece is on consignment, I can’t take it off.) It consists of aluminum bullion cord, having red specks in the surfaces. The stem and slide are aluminum bullion in “V” designs. The acorn cap and lower structure are of bullion-like yarn. The insert at the bottom is a red velvet. (I have had several Red Cross Officers out of the woodwork, and I have never seen a knot like this on one of them. They always have the standard 42 CM bullion type, so whether knots ever existed in the flesh, is hard to say.) The scabbard of this example is as nice as the hilt fittings. It reflects choice nickel plating throughout, being in perfect mint condition. The bands are the style which are the more rounded type. The pebbled panels remain so crisp, you could almost file your fingernails on them. The throat is retained by two dome head nickel screws, both of which are unturned. As you could hope, the blade is the best you will see also. It is totally mirror mint, having all of its original factory graining in the surfaces. The point is needle-like, and the ricasso area reflects the smooth nickel plated surfaces. The original leather washer is new-like. The nickel areas next to this washer, at the lower crossguard, have a frosted surface. Very beautiful to see here. This dagger is for the fussiest out there, and I’m sure it would go well in an advanced collection. If you have been thinking about upgrading your Red Cross Officer, perhaps this one would work, and I could buy back your old piece! A beauty here!
Mint (26380C) $2,195.00

RCO - 004 - 26508 - Red Cross Officer – No Maker

This Red Cross Officer has fine nickel plating throughout. The pommel is nice and crisp, and has nearly all of the plating along the crisp edge. There is just the slightest of wear at the top left side of this edge. The cover screw looks to have been out maybe once or twice, but there is very little buggering, and it still remains in fine condition. The crossguard is a beauty throughout, with full plating. The obverse oval depicts a closed-wing eagle, which looks to the viewer’ left. This bird has a vaulted mobile swastika on its chest. He clutches a Cross in his claws. The reverse oval disc is also nice, having just the slightest couple of plating lifts along the top surfaces, but it is nothing. The grip is a beauty, being a pumpkin orange color on the obverse. The reverse is slightly lighter, being an egg yolk- yellow. These color differences, of course, come from the grips exposure to light. This grip is in totally perfect condition. The scabbard is also a fine example. It is straight throughout, and it too, has 100% nickel plating with crisp pebbled panels. The bands are the style which are slightly rounded, and the throat is retained by two nickel domed side screws, which are completely unbuggered. This scabbard is in mint condition. The blade is also an outstanding example. It is mirror mint, having all of its crossgraining, with good tip, and bright nickel plated ricasso. The blade washer is a black leather type. A very fine Red Cross Officer here. Mint, Minus (26508) $1,895.00

RCO - 005 - 26979 - RED CROSS OFFICER - NO MAKER

This Red Cross Officer is the style that has the more rounded fittings. These nickel plated fittings have a dull patination throughout and do not appear to have ever been cleaned. The pommel is an excellent example, having full plating and still good, crisp edge. The cover screw appears to have been out maybe once, but all of the plating is also still over these areas. The cross guard features the usual oval which contains a half-closed wing eagle looking to the viewer’s left. This eagle clutches a cross in his talons and there is a vaulted mobile swastika on his chest. The reverse oval disc is plain. This cross guard is also in choice condition throughout. The grip of this example is a fine pumpkin orange color. The rich orange color extends through the reverse, being just a slightly lighter tone. This grip is in totally perfect condition. The scabbard is straight throughout. The bands are the more rounded style and each band is equipped with a rectangular shaped carrying hole. The pebble pattern throughout the scabbard is still crisp. This scabbard exactly matches the dull hilt fittings. The throat is retained by two dome head steel side screws. The blade of this example is as nice as they come. It is mirror bright throughout, having a nickel plated ricasso. The blade itself has beautiful full factory graining and it remains in mirror bright, mint condition. This fine blade has been protected by an in-place black leather washer. A fine dagger here in untouched condition.
Untouched Near Mint. $1,695.00