Original German WWII HJ Knife with Motto by F. PLÜCKER JR circa 1937 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available: A very nice pre-war HJ Knife (HJ knife) marked on the blade by Solingen blade maker F. PLÜCKER JR. This HJ Knife is a solid example of the type, with a handle that is nickel-plated over a steel base. The plating still remains in nice condition, with over 80% still intact and shiny. The acid-etched motto Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!) is present and partly legible but the original dark etched finish and part of the logo has been worn off from cleaning and use.

The Bakelite grip plates are closely checkered and in perfect condition, retained by nickel-plated rivets with dressed obverse heads. The HJ insignia is also in good condition, and is well retained in the grip panel.This enamel looks great with bright colors of red, white, black, and gold. Only a bit of the white  enamel is missing at one of the corners, as the insignia has partly shifted, raising that portion above grip level.

The scabbard shell the typical tapered example with original paint. The paint is still bright and rates at above 90%. There is a bit of checking in the lacquer, with just a few small scratches, as well as two significant dents on the rear of the scabbard near the tip. They do not interfere with the fitting of the knife. The leather hanger and belt loop are unfortunately completely missing, haven broken off near the rivets, most likely long ago.

The blade of this example is solid, and is typical of the period 1936-1940. It has a thicker blade with a high ricasso, and has both a maker mark and an RZM code designation. The presence of the motto places this dagger in the earlier portion of this period.  On the reverse the blade Is maker marked:

F. PLÜCKER JR
SOLINGEN – GR

Friedrich Plücker Jr. was a knife making business, located in the Grafrath borough of Solingen, the legendary “City of Blades” in western Germany. The blade definitely saw use in service, as it has been sharpened multiple times, and has been polished as well to remove oxidation. The blade still has a nice tip, though the blade shape has a bit less “belly”, so it has probably been ground down a bit to remove a nick. The blade is currently fairly sharp

The reverse of the blade is marked next to the maker with an RZM circle, with the code M 7/62. The Reichszeugmeisterei, or RZM, was was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles. The M7 in the code stands for knives/daggers, contractor 62 is the code for Friedrich Plücker Jr.. The original leather blade buffer is in place, though it is cracked and worn.

A very nice HJ Knife in fine collectible condition!

AH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ (AH Jugend) was formed officially in 1935, and with the exception of NSDAP ideology indoctrination was very similar to the Boy Scouts. Beginning at about the age of ten years, both boys (AH Jugend) and girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel) were enlisted in the Party-run organization. The boys only were given HJ Knives after having passed minor exams. The knives had nickeled hilts with black checkered grip plates. The obverse plate was fitted with an enameled HJ swas insignia. Through 1937, these knives were etched with the motto of the organization, Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!). Examples produced after this date were made with plain blades usually bearing an RZM marking.

The HJ Leaders were professionals in charge of the training and NSDAP education of the German Youth. They wore a special dagger consisting of silvered hilt fittings with blue-black leather-covered scabbard. The grip was composed of tightly wrapped silver wire, over a wood base. The pommel cap featured an HJ diamond on top, complete with swas. The upper scabbard fitting portrayed an open-winged HJ eagle with swas cut into the bird’s chest. The blade was etched with the HJ motto, Blut und Ehre!