Original German WWII HJ Knife with Motto by F.W. HÖLLER circa 1937 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available: A very nice early HJ Knife (HJ knife) marked on the blade by Solingen blade maker F.W. HÖLLER. This early 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 95% still intact and shiny. The acid-etched motto Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!) is present and legible but the original dark etched finish has been polished off by 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 with some staining it wiggles slightly to the touch as we like to see. The bakelite shrinks slightly over the years, which is why the grips and motto are somewhat loose.This enamel looks great with bright colors of red, white, black, and gold. Only a bit of the red enamel is missing in the corners.

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. The leather hanger and belt loop are still in good supple condition, though the finish is somewhat worn.. The retainer loop is intact and has a good working snap, though it has some cracking from age.

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.W. HÖLLER
SOLINGEN

The blade has some of the original crossgrain near the ricasso and an intact tip. The blade definitely saw use in service, as it has been sharpened at least once, and has been polished as well to remove oxidation. The blade is currently not sharp. The reverse ricasso is stamped with an RZM circle, with the code M7/37. 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 37 stands for firm Robert Klaas of the Ohligs area in Solingen, the legendary “City of Blades” in Western Germany. It is interesting that the marking on the blade does not match the RZM code. It may be that F.W. Höller was supplying Robert Klaas with blades at the time, or that the code was mis-stamped, as the Höller code is M7/33. Either way, it certainly adds to the interest of this knife.  The original leather blade buffer is in place, though it is cracked and worn.

A wonderful 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!