DRK Hewer for review

[Darth2a]

I've been eyeing one of these for a long time and got a chance to pick one up for reasonable money. I can't find a maker's mark (did these have them?), but it seems in very nice shape with an intact frog.

Thoughts most appreciated!

[Darth2a]

One more...

[Almost Samurai]

What was the purpose of the rounded tip of the blade? Looking at the scabbard it looks to have been made that way. I'm new to this edged piece.

[Darth2a]

What was the purpose of the rounded tip of the blade? Looking at the scabbard it looks to have been made that way. I'm new to this edged piece.

It was not a "weapon", and thus could be carried by the DRK.

[Almost Samurai]

It was not a "weapon", and thus could be carried by the DRK.

Very Interesting, learning something new everyday! Thanks.

[Reichsword]

Nice correct hewer, Darth. DRK daggers never have a makers mark.

[Craig H]

To my knowledge these were only made by Robert Klaas or PDL . If you take the grips off , there may be a makers mark there . An easier way Is to check If there are screws retaining the lower scabbard fitting . I believe Klaas scabbards had the 2 screws holding the fitting on and PDL were press fit . (no screws)

[NikiT]

Nice correct hewer, Darth. DRK daggers never have a makers mark.

Hi.
Whats the marking on the blade under the round shield they usually have? I've seen few with marking Ges. Geschützt or something like that.

BR
N

[Gozzy90]

I have a near mint one with Ges. Gesch near the top of the blade under the crossguard (can’t remember exactly where it is) also my frog has a makers name and stamped 1938.

Looks like you’ve got a nice Hewer, one thing I noticed is I’ve never seen a scabbard in such pristine condition. Maybe a repaint at some point? If you turn the scabbard over and look at the bottom fitting 95% of the time you’ll see the nickel plating lifting there, good sign of authenticity .

[M.E.E.]

There will be a Ges Gesch which is in effect patent pending. This one looks to be made by Klaas. Both PDL and Klaas have features that are very distinct to each other and this one has all the Klaas features even though it looks like the scabbard doesn't have screws (I could be wrong from the camera angle). I have a tiny write up here http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/dagger...-hewer-711581/ with side by sides of PDL and Klaas and just some of the ways to tell the difference in makers. Nice hewer.

[tobau]

To my knowledge these were only made by Robert Klaas or PDL . If you take the grips off , there may be a makers mark there . An easier way Is to check If there are screws retaining the lower scabbard fitting . I believe Klaas scabbards had the 2 screws holding the fitting on and PDL were press fit . (no screws)

Correct.Klaas ones have a stylized crane bird on the tang.

[F J STEPHENS]

Drk hewer

Gentlemen,

Yes, Klaas and PDL (Luneschloss) are the most common (and virtually only) tang markings found on the DRK Hewer - however, my 1941 Eickhorn Catalogue has some supplementary pages which show various daggers - and among which is a page relating to the DRK leaders dagger and the hewer.

So I do suspect that out there the Eickhorn manufactured DRK does exist - its just that we have never identified it !

Frederick J. Stephens

[JohnZ]

Good point, Frederick. How would we know since there are no maker marks on these daggers?

John

[rbminis]

Two screws in the lower scabbard fitting should indicate a Klaas product.
This is the maker's mark that you should find beneath the handle slabs.
Ralph.

[M.E.E.]

Gentlemen,

Yes, Klaas and PDL (Luneschloss) are the most common (and virtually only) tang markings found on the DRK Hewer - however, my 1941 Eickhorn Catalogue has some supplementary pages which show various daggers - and among which is a page relating to the DRK leaders dagger and the hewer.

So I do suspect that out there the Eickhorn manufactured DRK does exist - its just that we have never identified it !

Frederick J. Stephens

I got into a pretty good discussion of DRK here http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...&highlight=drk about DRK hewers, Social Welfare and Red Cross officers daggers and this catalogue was brought up, it also shows a Diplomat Dagger which Eickhorn never manufactured.

There are three designs for the rundels and eagles on DRK/Social Welfare. Highbrow which are exclusively marked Klaas. Big Red Cross/no legs which are marked Klaas and small Red Cross/legs which are only marked PDL or no marker (but in no screw scabbards). Could have Eickhorn purchased some DRK hewers as a middleman maybe, but it seems very unlikely they have manufactured any unless they did an exact copy of the PDL. I have at this point recorded about 600 different DRK/Social Welfare blades and they have all have fallen into these 3 types. There are many more design features to distinguish the 2 but legs and cross are the fastest ways.