RAD Enlisted Man’s Hewer [Edward Wusthof]. Stamp – Ges. Gesch..

The dagger remains in very good collector’s condition. All metal fittings retain their original natural patina. The blade preserves its original factory finish, has never been sharpened, and retains its original factory geometry. The scabbard still has its original factory paint finish with no evidence of repainting.

The Model 1934 hewer was the standard edged weapon of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD). Prior to the introduction of a separate officer’s hewer in 1938, this model was used by both junior personnel and the leadership of the organization. Following the adoption of the officer’s pattern in 1938, the Model 1934 hewer remained the weapon of junior personnel, and the distinction between hewer types came to correspond with service ranks.

This example was manufactured by Edward Wusthof, a German edged weapons producer based in Solingen, which produced hewers and daggers for the Reich Labor Service (RAD) during the Third Reich period. The company specialized in the manufacture of high-quality bladed weapons characteristic of the Solingen arms-making tradition.

The piece bears the marking “Ges. Gesch.,” an abbreviation of the German “Gesetzlich Geschützt” (“Protected by Law”), indicating patent protection of the item or its components within German territory. This marking was widely applied to Third Reich edged weapons, predominantly on daggers and dirks of party and paramilitary organizations, denoting patented design features of hilts, scabbards, or decorative elements. The presence of the original marking attests to the authenticity of the piece and its manufacture during the period when German patent legislation was in effect; this constitutes an important attributional indicator for collectors.