Original German WWII DRK Red Cross EM/NCO Hewer with Frog by Busse dated 1940 – Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of the German Red Cross (DRK) Enlisted Man / Non-Commissioned Officer Hewer, complete with scabbard and 1941-dated leather frog. The hewer has a blunt tip, and edge, as it was intended for combat medics, who would make more use of the Sawback blade, which could be used to cut wood for splints. The heavy blade could be used for chopping, similar to the U.S. Hospital corps “bolo” knives of WWI.

The hilt mounts have over 90% of the original nickel-plating still intact, with some overall speckling, but very little of the base metal alloy visible. This hewer does show signs of use, and there are some dents around the edges of the handle.

The crossguard features an oval boss on each side, with the obverse featuring an eagle with half-opened wings and a raised out mobile swas on his breast. The bird clutches a cross in his talons. The grip plates are bakelite, with the top plate being checkered, and the bottom plate being smooth. They are retained by the original screws and slotted bolts. The crossguard also still has the original leather buffer washer around the blade.

The scabbard is in good condition, though it does show its age. It does not have any dents we can see, but the enamel finish has mostly worn away, leaving a lovely oxidized steel patina. The nickel plated steel fittings are still present, each retained by two screws. The plating is retained very well, with some overall speckling, but no major wear or oxidation of the base metal. The chape does have some dents into the bottom.

The included frog is in great shape, with fully intact stitching, and intact aluminum and galvanized steel rivets. The leather was original finished black, though it has worn a bit in places. The back of the frog has a marking, reading CARL BUSSE / MAINZ / 1940, which is fully legible.

The blade of this hewer is the classic saw back type, and is in good condition. It does show use as well as staining, and it looks like some attempt was made to sharpen the main edge, but these were abandoned. The factory cross grain is no longer visible. Under the cross guard the blade is marked GES. / GESCHÜTZT, for Gesetzlich Geschutzt (Protected By Law), indicating that this knife was a trademarked design.

A very nice service used DRK Hewer, ready to add to your collection!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10 1/2″
Blade Style: “Hewer” with Sawback
Overall length: 15 5/8“
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 11″

History of the German Red Cross (DRK)

The DRK, “Deutsches Rotes Kreuz” (German Red Cross), a voluntary civil assistance organization originally instituted in 1864, was officially acknowledged by the Geneva Convention in 1929. In December 1937 it gained status as a legally recognized organization by the NSDAP. As with other essential services in Third Reich Germany, it came under control of the NSDAP in late 1938 under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior’s Social Welfare Organization.