RAD officer

[777]

New lesson, thank you wags. The blade construction (flat upper part) allows the logo to be stamped, however the vast majority of makers decided to etch their logos. Etching if done separately is much more time consuming process comparing to stamping, but if the logo was etched simultaneously with the motto, the time was saved.

[sokol]

Original dagger, I had the same TM. I think the early period of production.
Best,
Andrew

[Serge M.]

Wags,

That's a new one for me, never seen that logo before & I'm glad you brought it to my attention. It's always good to keep learning I do dig those "fat man" hewers, not sure myself if they're period but I'd like to think so.

Aside from the logo on the blade in question, what do you think of it's motto? Doesn't look acid etched to me at all. Maybe photo etched, maybe something else but it looks as if the letters are flush with the rest of the blade.

That edge is interesting too but I suppose it could have been humped up by a goober trying to sharpen it or some such nonesense.

Billy,
I personally have not examined a stamped logo Krebs Leader varient, but IMO that
motto is period. I recall talking with a couple guys about this and at the time it seems the consensus was the blade logo's and motto's were different then anything else encountered. Also some were found with mottos on the reverse and some with no mottos.
Ron W. has an interesting story about these that he encountered from a Vet who was in the factory and brought out a box with numerous examples. Perhaps he will chime in if he sees this thread.

Great for all to see that when someone with your veteran Hobby experience says "That's a new one on me". Let's us all know that even with many years of experience in the hobby there is still something that we find out about that exisited but we had not seen.
Witty, told me the same thing when a super-rare 1941 Railroad Protection Leader dagger walked into his shop recently. He first thought it was a 'fantasy' piece, he never seen one in over 40 years in the hobby.

-wagner-

[Anton]

Thanks for interesting discussion