Original German WWII Early Nickel-Plated HJ Knife by Emil Voos with Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice early HJ Knife (HJ knife) marked on the blade by maker Emil Voos, Waffenfabrik of Solingen. This early HJ Knife is a solid example of the type, which has the grip and blade completely nickel plated. Usually only the steel grip would be plated, but on this example, the entire knife is. This may be original, or the owner may have had it plated after graduating from the HJ as a memento.

The Bakelite grip plates are closely checkered and in excellent condition, retained by solid nickel rivets with dressed heads. The HJ insignia is also in very good condition with only a bit of wear, and with the enamel almost fully intact. The bakelite shrinks slightly over the years, which is why the emblem on this example is slightly  loose, confirming authenticity. It may have been secured with some double sided foam tape, which is why it can be pressed inward.

The scabbard shell the typical tapered example with original paint. The black enamel paint is is somewhat worn, and and rates at around 50%. There is checking and crazing in the lacquer, with flaking and a bit of oxidation. The last inch or so has almost all the paint missing on the front. However there are not major dents or other issues. The leather belt loop is intact, and shows light wear, with a good working snap on the retainer loop. The leather is a bit dry however, and a chunk on the end of the retainer loop has cracked off.

The blade of this example is solid, and is typical of the early period up until 1936. It has a thinner blade with no raised ricasso, and also no RZM codes. It is now fully nickel plated, and was polished and cleaned before plating, so none of the factory machining marks show through. There are a few tiny dents on the edge, but nothing else of note. Some of the nickel plate has oxidized, and now the steel is visible in areas.

The reverse is stamped with the Emil Voos trademark logo with a “Serpent around a stump”, between the makers initials and location:

E.V.S.
(Serpent Trademark)
SOLINGEN
GES. GESCHÜTZT

Emil Voos, Waffenfabrik, also known as a Spezialfabrik für Jagd- und Sportmesser (Special Factory for Hunting and Sporting Knives), was a Solingen-based knife maker founded in 1925. The “Serpent-and-Stump” logo under the E.V.S. initials was used on HJ Knives such as this the WWII period, per J. Anthony Carter’s work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS. 

The design of the knife is registered with the German trademark office, indicated by the GES. GESCHÜTZT., which is short for Gesetzlich Geschützt (Protected by Law). The original leather blade buffer is unfortunately missing.

A wonderful HJ Knife with a very nice early pattern nickel plated blade in great 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!