Original Item: Only One Available: This German Enlisted Man's RAD Hewer is in very good condition, with lovely plated steel mounts on the scabbard. It also has a lovely USGI inscription on the rear of the blade, which reads To Don & Pat From Dad, which looks to have been added with an engraving pen or something similar during the war. We unfortunately do not have any further information on this inscription.

The crossguard has a fine, curled quillon, and it appears as though some of the the original darkening is still present the grooves of the quillon. The nickel plating on the hilt has flaked away in areas, and shows bubbling overall, so it was definitely used and/or exposed to the elements. The steel has oxidized where the plating has worn away, giving it a great service used look.

The grip plates on this example are genuine stag, and look to be the larger earlier type. The stag shows only minor wear from its years of usage and gives this antler a great, attractive appearance. Both plates are fully intact and have a great color. The stag plates are retained by non-magnetic solid nickel screws and spanner nuts, which have suffered weathering and oxidation over the years. They do not show any evidence of being turned any time recently.

The very good condition blade is the heavy bolo style, being produced in a brushed matte finish, with single fuller on both sides. It shows scuffing and some runner wear, as well as light oxidation staining on a good amount of the surface. It has not been sharpened, but we can see scuffs on the blade indicating that it may have been used. The etched markings however are still crisp and clear. The etched Arbeit adelt (Work Ennobles) motto on the obverse is still visible, with just a bit of overall fading of the factory darkening. The reverse ricasso is matching etched, with the RAD triangle positioned above the abbreviation, GES. GESCH., for Gesetzlich Geschützt (Protected By Law), indicating that the hewer is a trademarked design.

Beneath this is the "losenge" style logo of Carl Julius Krebs, Kronenkrebs-Stahlwarenfabrik, an oval trademark logo with a CROWN over K, surrounded by CARL JUL. KREBS / SOLINGEN over 1237. This version of the trademark was specifically used on pre and early war examples of the RAD Enlisted and Officer's daggers. Later war produced examples of the RAD edged weapons had the simplified "Crowned K" over Solingen, per J Anthony Carter's work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS. This maker was founded in 1866, and continued trading long after WWII. This maker was founded in 1866, and formally registered with Solingen authorities in 1899. They continued trading long after WWII.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout and has most of its original black enamel paint which is showing some age. There is a lovely pattern of checking and crazing apparent, with areas having flaked off, allowing the steel to oxidize. The scabbard mounts are steel plated with what looks to be nickel over a brass flash coat, which is still retained on both mounts, showing some age and wear through to the different plating layers.

The lower mount depicts an RAD shovel, with lined surfaces, having a contrasting, smooth mobile swas (hook cross) in the center of the spade. This spade rests between two wheat shafts. The mount is decorated along the borders with beaded circles. The same beaded circles appear on the border of the upper mount, and above these are the RAD curls. These curls are deeply stamped, having good lined backgrounds. The mounts are retained by 4 "cheesehead" screws, which are all present and in good condition.

A very nice USGI personalized early example of a pre-war RAD EM/NCO Hewer by a desirable Solingen maker, complete with scabbard and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 ¾"
Blade Style: Single Edged Clip Point Hewer
Overall length: 14 ⅞“
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 10 ½"

The basis of the RAD, Reichsarbeitsdienst, (National Labor Service), dates back, at least, to 1929 with the formation of the AAD (Anhalt Arbeitsdienst) and the FAD-B (Freiwillingen Arbeitsdienst-Bayern). Shortly after AH’s appointment as Chancellor in Jan 1933, the NSDAP consolidated all labor organizations into the NSAD (Nationalsozialist Arbeitsdienst), a national labor service. It served as an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy, militarize the workforce and indoctrinate it with NSDAP ideology. It was the official state labor service, divided into separate sections for men and women.

On June 26 1935 the NSAD was officially re-designated RAD. Originally personnel serving with RAD wore a variety of earlier FAD/NSAD belt buckles until February 15TH 1936 when new pattern belt buckles for Officer’s and EM/NCO’s were introduced to provided uniformity in dress.