A strange weapon....
I apologize if this question is inappropriate for this forum, but i am having a difficult time finding any information, so i thought i'd ask the experts here at gunbroker.
The weapon in question is not a gun, so if that is a problem, go ahead and stop reading...
What i have is a knife, really a saw-blade, of obvious Nazi manufacture. I have been told that it was carried by *female* SS officers, for the purpose of execution only. It is blunt tipped, with one blunt edge and the other edge serrated.
Really, more than serrated, there are alternating saw teeth. The pommel is heavy, and i was told that it was used to bludgeon victims before they were smashed with the saw-bladed edge. The weapon is not in mint condition, but in fact has many scuffs on the pommel, and some extremely resiliant stains on the blade itself. I have the scabbard, which has a belt loop and is slightly scuffed also.
The crosspeice of the weapon features a Nazi eagle on one side, and a blank space on the other, which i assume was for the purpose of concealing allegiance, but i don't know for sure. It is a heavy, unwieldy object, clearly unsuitable for combat.
What i'd really like to know is, does anyone have any more information about this blade, and are there any possible estimates as to it's value? If anyone is interested, i will post pictures within the next day or so.
And if i have come to the wrong place, i would greatly appreciate a redirection to somewhere that will allow me to identify this bizarre and disturbing bit of the 3rd reich.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
M
The weapon in question is not a gun, so if that is a problem, go ahead and stop reading...
What i have is a knife, really a saw-blade, of obvious Nazi manufacture. I have been told that it was carried by *female* SS officers, for the purpose of execution only. It is blunt tipped, with one blunt edge and the other edge serrated.
Really, more than serrated, there are alternating saw teeth. The pommel is heavy, and i was told that it was used to bludgeon victims before they were smashed with the saw-bladed edge. The weapon is not in mint condition, but in fact has many scuffs on the pommel, and some extremely resiliant stains on the blade itself. I have the scabbard, which has a belt loop and is slightly scuffed also.
The crosspeice of the weapon features a Nazi eagle on one side, and a blank space on the other, which i assume was for the purpose of concealing allegiance, but i don't know for sure. It is a heavy, unwieldy object, clearly unsuitable for combat.
What i'd really like to know is, does anyone have any more information about this blade, and are there any possible estimates as to it's value? If anyone is interested, i will post pictures within the next day or so.
And if i have come to the wrong place, i would greatly appreciate a redirection to somewhere that will allow me to identify this bizarre and disturbing bit of the 3rd reich.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
M
0
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Sounds like a Nazi Red Cross Dagger. Post a picture and we'll see. I wouldn't buy into the execution stuff too much. Sounds like some goofball talking to me.
Found this after I wrote;
Check to see if it matches but don't put much faith into the price. In very good condition, I've seen them go for about four.
Nazi German Red Cross Dagger
Address:http://www.antiqueswords.com/bq539.htm Changed:7:39 AM on Friday, February 28, 2003
BTW, for my ID'ing purposes, it was easy to figure since you said it was blunt with sawback and had a blank space opposite the Nazi eagle. Very astute.
He That Pays The Piper Calls The Tune.0 -
Welcome to the FORUM: I believe someone is pulling your chain...I believe what You actually have is a PIONEER Blade..! We here in the USA have what is known as the Army Corps of Engineers...European Country's, Has or Had the PIONEERS...in other words the People who make the Trenchs, Shore up the Bridges, etc, etc, etc... To lighten the load these troops Carried ahead of the Front Lines, They carried Light Carbines or Machine Pistols, Bayonets with the Saw Backed blades instead of a Separate Saw and Bayonet...Most of these Blades were made for the 1st WW...and a small amount for the 2'nd WW...But As far as made for Women in the Nazi Wehrmacht...? NO...The womans place is or was in the Home Raising the der Kinders...or working in Civil Jobs or as Nurses and as We Call'em...Candy Stripers helping Nurses and Doctors..Some small amount were in Factory Labor...History Books make No mention of German Women going to War, except in very limited engagements...and very Few ever Flew in Combat, and that was mostly by accident....Like our own WASP in and during the 2'nd WW....I personally think that whoever told you this story has been watching to many Class B Movies...You make mention of Obvious NAZI manufacture...What gives you the impression that its actually of NAZI Manufacture??? Before the start of the Second World War the Germans either showed the Company of manufacture or were marked with what We refer to 'S' Codes...starting with S1, S2,....etc..Then it went to Letters of the Alphabet..A, AA,Ab,....etc.
The treaty of Versailles in 1918 would not allow Germany to make instruments of War....They could make and supply arms for Police and some small Military Weapons.....When Germany began arming thenselves in the 1930's it was done in secrecy...Finding Copies of the 'S' Codes seems to be in Trickles and Spurts...Until Now..!...I Myself and several Close Friends were privilaged enough several years ago to fall into several Super Rare Printed Copies of the LISTE der Fertigungskennzeichen fur Waffen, Munition und Gerrat...[Secret German 'S' Code printed in Berlin 1944...over 800 pages at My/Our Command...If you actuaqlly have a NAZI item...and send the Code...We can in all probabilty tell You who made it...You evidently have a very interesting Blade...But it was never intended to be used by Women for the Task you discribe.....best....Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
I agree with the Capt. I have one as you describe and it is a German Engineers bayonet. It was made more as a tool than a weapon.While the story you were told is quite dramatic and could be used to raise the price, it is unfortunatly very silly. I have seen them at shows in exc condition for $100-125,but they were still there at the end of the day. Kirk, I can't get to mine now, but I'm sure it had a Swastika on it.If it was Nazi mfg, its just cause they didn't play by the rules. I think it could be a re-stamp.I remember reading somewhere they were of preWW2 vintage -Bob
Gun control is a steady hand0 -
"Books make No mention of German Women going to War, except in very limited engagements..."
I don't know if I can find it but just a short time ago I read a story of large numbers of German women manning Anti-Aircraft guns & searchlights.0 -
A PERSONAL FRIEND WAS IN WWII AND MARRIED A GERMAN GIRL THAT WAS IN AN AA UNIT, ONE OF THE FEW WOMEN AWARDED THE IRON CROSS. A FEW YEARS BEFORE SHE DIED SHE WAS DOWN TOWN AND WAS HASSELED BY A COUPLE OF TEENAGERS, BEAT THE 'H' OUT OF THEM WITH HER CANE. 0 -
Thank you very much, p3skyking. The link you posted goes to a picture of the exact same blade that i have sitting in front of me.
I greatly appreciate all the help and information that has been posted here, as it has allowed me to identify not only the "Red Cross Hewer", but also led me to the proper resources to identify the "Senior Forestry Official's Cutlass" that i have recently inherited.
In regards to the things that i was told about the weapon's uses, i cannot vouch for their truth, by any means. However, i've done a bit of research, and there were a small number of SS officers that were female, at the Ravensbrueck camp, for example. I will admit, however, that it is entirely possible that the stories were made up to make the weapon more interesting, as it has been somewhat of a family treasure for the last several decades.
M0 -
Glad things worked out for you sir. Yes, there were some Nazi women in some of the camps (See "Ilsa, She-wolf of the SS"). Ilsa notwithstanding, I believe most were clerical types. One camps Kommendant's wife had this thing for tattoo's and lampshades, but I understand this was not the norm.
Anyway, as least you know the Gamewarden and the Red Cross dude had no part in that.
He That Pays The Piper Calls The Tune.0 -
Now, if you want to see a good german fighter go and play return to CAstle Wolfenstein. 
Go Army Beat Navy
IF you wanna have fun join the cavalry0
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