Germany, HJ. A Member’s Knife, by Eduard Gembruch, c. 1940

(HJ Fahrtenmesser). A late-period HJ member’s knife, measuring 25.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 14 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains some factory-original sharpening to both the tip and lower edge. Appropriately absent an HJ motto, the blade is marked on the reverse ricasso with a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logo and maker code “M7/8” for Eduard Gembruch, with a manufacture date of “1940”. It sits securely within a nickel-plated zink alloy hilt with a hooked quillon and pommel, and with an intact blackened leather buffer pad covering the seam. Two pieces of pebbled black bakelite compose the handle grip, and are fixed in place with dual magnetic metal rivets. Inset into the obverse of the handle is an enameled HJ insignia measuring 15 mm (w) x 25 mm (h). Accompanying the knife is its original scabbard, constructed of a black painted magnetic metal shaft. Riveted to the reverse of the shaft is a blackened leather strap which is fastened into a loop for belt suspension, and which retains a functional snap button on an additional strap to prevent the knife from shifting. A functional catch situated within the throat firmly holds the knife in place during storage. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include running marks and tarnishing throughout the blade, with additional blunting of the tip, as well as the loss of nickel plating to the hilt, scratching of the scabbard, and loosening of the throat catch which renders the knife slightly loose during storage. This late-period example produced by one the most seldom-encountered manufacturers of HJ edged weapons remains in a very fine condition.