Technische Nothilfe (TeNo or TENO), literally translated as Technical Help in Need was a German organisation. It was established by members of the TA (Technische Abteilung - i.e. technical unit) of the paramilitary Freikorps GKSD - "Garde-Kavallerie-Schützen-Division".

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1.  TENO #30921C TeNo Hewer - Carl Eickhorn

   This TeNo Hewer has some condition problems, but it also has good parts too, and it is the real deal. The hilt of this example has some bubbling and some flaking around the pommel area of both sides, and also down the backstrap spine and front spine. Overall, the nickel plating remains at about 90%, but the 10% that is missing is not pleasant to look at, but that is the nature of these hewers as the pot metal base did not retain the nickel plating very well if there was a storage problem since the war. The crossguard of this example is still in pretty good shape the front being nearly perfect, while the reverse does show a little bit of bubbling, but no plating loss. The crossguard, obviously, displays the open winged eagle clutching a swastika with TeNo gearwheel superimposed over the center of the swastika. The original factory applied darkening is still in the backgrounds. The grip plates of this example, are in perfect condition. They are a nice off-white celluloid, and they are retained by two screws and spanners. We took a look inside and the grip plates do have the Eickhorn squirrel logo as part of the molding process. The scabbard of this example is straight throughout. It has original paint that has some spidering and some missing areas, but overall it is not too bad. This paint rates at about 95%. The scabbard mounts are the usual nickel plated type, and the upper mount complete with the “U” bracket on the reverse is in excellent condition. The lower mount has just a little bit of bubbling on the obverse and some slight plating loss on the reverse, but it is not bad. These mounts are retained by the original four flathead style RAD screws, and they are all in place. As a saving grace, the blade of this example is really in excellent condition. It has a good crisp spine with narrow fuller. It is finished in the matte style and, quite honestly, it is in a near-mint state showing only the most nominal of smudge on the reverse area only. The blade is an early example, as it is stamped with the 4-digit number, not etched, “1394”. The same matching number is stamped on the scabbard throat. The reverse of this nice blade is dark etched with the 1935 through 1941 Eickhorn squirrel, and above the squirrel etch is the TeNo Eagle clutching a TeNo swastika. On either side of the bird’s talons is the patent pending marking “Ges.Gesch.” The original leather washer is in place. This is not a mint TeNo here, but it is all there and certainly in collectable condition.

   Excellent. $1,995.00(#072610)

2. TENO #30024 TeNO Enlisted Man's Hewer - Carl Eickhorn

   This TeNo enlisted man’s hewer is still in excellent condition. The pommel has a little bit of flaking but it is not really too bad considering the way these things can deteriorate. This example has a little bit of flake at about the 3 o’clock gearwheel and then also some just below the 5 and 6 o’clock area and then two specks of flaking to the left of the larger spot. The under area is good, the top area is good and the reverse area has just a couple of slight lifts as does the back pommel and the spine. The obverse spine is pretty good. The crossguard itself really has no problems at all. I don’t see any flaking here just a couple of areas that show the slightest bit of age but no flakes. The pommel depicts a good sharp gearwheel having the original darkening still around the edges. The crossguard has the Kasburg style open-winged teno eagle. This eagle has great detail to its head, breast feathering, wing feathering and talons. The bird clutches a mobile swastika which has lined surfaces and a superimposed gearwheel over the center with the initials of the organization, “TN” in the center. The “T” initial is formed with a coal hammer. The eagle also still has its original blackening in the backgrounds. The grip plates are a pleasing off-white celluloid. They are in perfect condition throughout. These even toned plates are retained with screw and spanner hardware. The screws do not look like they have been ever out and they are basically pointing north to south. The scabbard shell is straight throughout and has excellent original black paint. In fact, the paint covers at 100%. There is a little bit of age spidering in the obverse side and a little more in the reverse side but none missing. This paint also still retains its factory brightness. The scabbard mounts are the nickel type and they still have quite a bit of the original lacquer remaining to the surfaces. These mounts are in fine condition and are retained by the flat RAD style screws. The reverse of the upper mount is equipped with the U-bracket that would snap to a hanging frog. Unfortunately there is no frog on this example. The blade is a large bowie style example being in matte finish. This blade shows only the most nominal signs of a little smudge, mostly on the reverse, but the blade still easily grades at excellent plus. This blade is stamped, not etched, with the number, “1165”. This same number is stamped into the scabbard throat. A stamped number into the blade surface is an indication of an early made piece, the later examples all had etched blade numbers. This fine blade has a very crisp spine and on the reverse it is etched with both the teno eagle and the 1935-41 Eickhorn squirrel logo. The TeNo eagle is complete with swastika and on either side of the talons the words for patent pending, “Ges. Gesch.” respectively. The original black leather washer is in place. A decent example here in collectible condition.

   Excellent Plus. $3,295.00

3. TENO #29861 TeNo Hewer with Hanger

   This TeNo hewer is in first rate condition having very fine nickel plating throughout the hilt. For the most part the obverse is nearly 100% having only a couple of extremely tiny freckles, one being to the left of the gear wheel, one being above the grip plates and a couple of microscopic flakes to the right of the gear wheel. Other than this though to the eye this hilt looks perfect when held in the hand. The reverse has about the same amount of freckles. The reverse spine has a little more lifting and it is kind of spread evenly from the top area down to the bottom area, but there is little plating that has left the area. The left side also has some tiny freckling but again most of the plating is intact. The blackening is still within the gear wheel on the pommel as well as the crossguard area. The crossguard features a fine open-winged eagle which looks to the viewer’s left. This bird grasps a swastika in his finely done claws. The swastika has borders around each of its legs and in the center has a gear wheel with the letters, “TN” in the center. The “T” letter is made from a hammer. The grip plates are a fine off-white celluloid and they remain in perfect condition having a pleasing ivory color to their surfaces. These grip plates are retained by screw and spanner hardware, the screws having grooves both pointing north to south. A good hilt here! The scabbard shell is straight throughout. This shell has outstanding original black paint which is still 100% and still has a good shine in its surfaces. The paint does show a few spider webs but if anything they just attest to the originality of this paint. The scabbard mounts are the nickel-plated type and they are both in perfect condition. The upper mount has the “U” bracket on the reverse which is positioned there for holding the hanger / frog. These mounts are retained with RAD type screws which are unturned. Attached to the U fitting is the original-to-the-piece frog. The leather to this frog is in excellent condition throughout. The leather strap is all there and even the button hole is still intact. There is an aluminum boss on the other end of the strap. Attached to the leather hanger is an aluminum clip which is stamped, “A” on the reverse representing the producer Assmann who produced this fitting. It is interesting to note that the original wearer of this piece attached some sort of what looks like black electrical tape to the bottom portion of the snap. I guess he wanted to save his fitting from getting scratched up while the dagger was being worn. This tape does not show from the front so I don’t see any reason to remove it. The blade of this example is a choice matte finish type having the bowie shaped tip. This blade is in near perfect condition still having very crisp spine. Other than the most nominal of normal age marks this blade still easily grades in near mint condition. The obverse ricasso is darkly etched with the serial number, “4272”. Looking at the throat of the scabbard the same matching number is deeply stamped in to this area. On the reverse the 1935-41 squirrel logo is darkly etched. The squirrel holds a downward pointing sword and above him is the word, “original” and below is the firm’s name and location, “Eickhorn Solingen”. In the area between this squirrel and crossguard is a matching deep etched TeNo eagle. This eagle looks to the viewer’s left and grasps a gear wheeled swastika in its talons. On either side of the talons respectively are the patent pending words, “Ges. Gesch.”. The original black leather blade washer is in place. This is a good sound TeNo here which will go well in any collection.

   Excellent Plus, Plus. $3,995.00

4. TENO #29493C TeNo Officer Dagger – Carl Eickhorn

   This TeNo officer has recently come from the collection of a good friend of mine who unfortunately passed on from a heart attack. He was only 47 and this particular piece was his pride and joy so I’m sure that the next person who owns this piece will be glad that its past owner not only cherished it but kept it in the condition that the dagger deserves. This piece is nearly completely flake free. The nickel plating to the pommel and crossguard is about the best you will see and still be genuine. This pommel has the double rings on both sides and in the center there is a gear wheel which was the logo of the TeNo organization. This plating throughout the pommel is probably 99%. The original factory darkening is also in the recesses of the rings as well as applied to portions of the gear wheel. The crossguard has the exact same look and is also virtually flake free. The guard has the curved quillons at the end. In the center it depicts the great looking TeNo eagle which is a bird with open wings. The eagle clutches a swastika in his talons which in turn has a gear wheel superimposed over the center area with the initials, “TN” in the center of the gear wheel. These initials are formed by a hammer at the top and the capital letter, “N” in the center area. It is also interesting to note that the clutched swastika has legs which are double lined with serrations in the center. This subtlety is not noticed with the naked eye but it gives depth to the great look. The bird has complete detail to his eye, beak, breast feathering, wing feathering and even the talons show handwork. A fine TeNo depiction here. The grip though is what really sets this piece off. Most TeNo grips are an egg yolk yellow, not that there is anything wrong with that. This example though has somehow been exposed to enough light over the years to give its grip a very dark orange color, almost red like. It is quite beautiful and a pleasure to view. The reverse of the grip is lighter and at the center area does have the egg yolk yellow color that apparently it has toned down from. This grip presents the seven horizontal ribs and is in complete perfect condition. You will not see a more pleasing hilt. The scabbard of this example is straight as an arrow. These scabbards are longer than most other daggers to compensate for the large blades used in these pieces. This scabbard has crisp pebbled panels throughout both sides. The original factory darkening shows some wear on the surfaces but it is still all there in the backgrounds and also in the places where the hand does not tend to touch such as the lower chape area as well as the upper throat area. The black is also clinging nicely around the areas protected by the scabbard bands. Overall I would grade the blackening of this example at about 85-90%. The bands have the two line decorating and the lower chape has a leaf style edging which is completely unique to these TeNo pieces. All of the darkening is still in place on the obverse and reverse lower leaf. The scabbard throat is the thicker variety we see used by this firm and it is retained by a flatter head single screw in the reverse center. This screw also has all of the factory blackening around its circumference. The throat itself is deeply stamped with the serial number, “2641”. Looking at the obverse blade ricasso the matching number is dark etched in this spot. The blade itself is as nice as you will see. It is completely mirror bright and has a needlelike tip. Easily all of the crossgraining remains on this blade. This blade is in mint condition. It is buffered by a pebbled black leather washer which appears to be pressed in place against the lower crossguard. If you are looking for a nice TeNo officer dagger which has some signs of the period this example should be the one. As I had stated above, my friend that owned this dagger despite the fact that he was a “biker” was probably one of the nicest and gentlest people I have ever known. It will be interesting to see who will receive this important piece of his legacy. I know that it will go to a good home that will appreciate the dagger as much as he did.

   Near Mint. $8,995.00