Original German Pre-WWII Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) Hewer With Scabbard & Frog

Original German Pre-WWII Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) Hewer With Scabbard & Frog

In 1938, the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross) was formally recognized as an official organization of the NSDAP, and with that designation came the introduction of a distinctive edged weapon: the “Hauer für Mannschaften”, the Red Cross Hewer for enlisted personnel. Unlike traditional dress daggers, this utilitarian blade featured a blunt tip, a single cutting edge, and a sawback spine, designed not only for ceremonial use but also for practical field tasks such as preparing splints, bandages, and casts. Issued from unit stock as needed, these weapons were not privately purchased, making them a unique item among German edged weapons of the era.

This is an authentic and well preserved example, complete with its original scabbard and leather frog, and remains in very good to excellent condition overall.

Hilt:
The nickel-plated hilt retains much of its finish, with light age toning, scattered scratches, and minor surface wear. The crossguard features the DRK eagle and cross emblem in an oval medallion, retaining clear detail and definition.

Grip:
The original black synthetic front grip plate features crisp checkering and remains in excellent condition. The rear grip plate is a poorly made postwar replacement, showing an uneven surface and considerable wear to its black finish. Both grip plates remain securely fitted.

Blade:
The heavy sawback blade retains a bright finish, with well-defined saw teeth, a pronounced fuller, and visible original crossgrain. Scattered gray spotting and light surface marks are present on both sides. It is marked “Ges. Geschützt,” meaning “Legally Protected.” The leather blade buffer remains present and intact. Overall, the blade remains in very good to excellent condition.

Scabbard:
The steel scabbard retains most of its original black painted finish, with scattered scratches, small chips, and light surface wear consistent with age. It remains straight and undented, with secure metal fittings showing light age toning and handling wear.

Frog:
The original black leather frog remains supple and fully intact, with solid stitching and secure rivets. The leather shows surface creasing, light scuffing, and minor finish wear, but remains in very good to excellent condition.

This is a solid and complete example of the DRK Enlisted Man’s Hewer, paired with its original scabbard and frog. With its excellent blade, tight grip (even though the rear grip is post war), and iconic sawback profile, this piece is both visually striking and historically significant, a perfect addition for any serious WWII or edged weapon collection.

Note(s):
Portions of the photos have been digitally censored for platform compliance only. The item itself is completely unaltered. Additional uncensored photos are available upon request. Contact us at [email protected], call or text us at (856) 294-9310.

Due to the value of this item, a special handling fee has been included in the shipping cost to ensure it is properly and securely packaged and insured. If the final shipping and handling cost is less than estimated, we will gladly refund a portion of the overage.