Germany, RAD. A Subordinate's Hewer, by Carl Eickhorn

(Reichsarbeitsdienst Hauer für Mannschaften und Unterführer). A well-preserved Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service/RAD) subordinate’s hewer, measuring 40 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 37.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened Bowie-style tip and narrow fullers running the majority of the length of the top edge of each side. Acid-etched onto the obverse is an inscription of “ARBEIT ADELT” (“LABOUR ENNOBLES”) in Fraktur script. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel wielding a sword. The mark is in turn topped by a Reichsleitung des Reichsarbeitsdienstes (RLAD) insignia. The blade sits securely within a one-piece, nickel-plated, magnetic metal hilt with a hooked quillon and pommel. Two pieces of polished staghorn compose the grip, and are secured in place with dual magnetic metal rivets. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a black painted magnetic metal shaft, with nickel-plated magnetic fixtures secured to both the tip and throat. The latter is decorated with double-sided RAD logos, while the former bears double-sided ribbed and knotted decorative imagery. Emanating from the side of the throat fixture is an elongated loop for the accommodation of a hanger which has been lost to time. Concealed within the throat is a functional spring clip to firmly hold the hewer in place during storage. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks to the blade with sporadic chipping to both the top and bottom edges, minor loss of nickel plating to both the hilt and scabbard, and moderate loss of paint to the scabbard shaft. Demonstrating no evidence modifications, it remains in a better than very fine condition.