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German Scout knife - WWII? era? - Please help I.D.
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:40 pm
by KnifeBrother
Hi all,
I'm curious to find out about a German Scout Knife that has been in my family since the early 1960's (or earlier).
It's very solid with a full blade and metal & leather scabbard.
I can't really read the tang markings except "Solingen German". It has the German war symbol embossed in the handle.
It's probably a reproduction or something similar...I just don't know.
It seems to be well made.
If anyone knows anything about this knife, please share anything that you might have.
No one in my family has any interest in the knife, so I would be open to sell it too.
Thanks,
Knifebrother
Reagan Mackie
Re: German Scout knife - WWII? era? - Please help I.D.
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:57 pm
by bestgear
KnifeBrother wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:40 pmNo one in my family has any interest in the knife, so I would be open to sell it too
to AAPK. Your posts, seeking advice are fine but to offer your knives for sale requires a subscription that can be found here:
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/c ... scriptions
Thank you for joining
Re: German Scout knife - WWII? era? - Please help I.D.
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 1:37 am
by New_Windsor_NY
Whether authentic or reproduction, it is called a Hitler Youth Knife.
There is PLENTY of information on the internet.
A tiny tidbit.....
The Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend) was one of the earliest branches of the NSDAP, beginning in 1922, and comprised of boys ages ten to eighteen. Similar to today's Boy Scouts, the HJ taught physical and outdoors training but also provided a beginning to political indoctrination. Girls on the other hand joined the BMD (Bund Deutscher Mädel), a branch similar to our Girl Guides. In 1933 a knife for the HJ was introduced. Upon earning specific qualifications, the boys were able to wear their very own HJ Knife. Like all German edged weapons, early pieces reflected the highest quality work with the best materials. Early period knives had nickeled steel hilts with black bakelite checkered grip plates. The obverse plate was fitted with an enameled HJ swastika insignia. Through 1938, these knives were acid etched with the HJ motto, "Blut und Ehre!" (Blood and Honor!). Scabbards were made of seamless sheet steel with a riveted leather hanger attached to the back. Later period examples were made with plain blades and usually held an RZM marking, and zinc based hilts. In 1937 the organization adopted a leader dagger for older professionals in charge of training and educating the HJ youth. Wear for each of these was personally approved by Adolf Hitler. Each Hitler Youth Leader dagger was presented in a special red leather presentation case. Hitler Youth Leader daggers had silvered hilt fittings with a blue/black leather covered scabbard. The grip is wood based with tightly wrapped silver twisted wire. The pommel cap featured an HJ diamond to the top. The upper scabbard fitting portrayed an open-winged Hitler Youth eagle with swastika cut into the bird's chest. The blade was always also etched with the Hitler Youth motto, "Blut und Ehre!" (Blood and Honor!).
Re: German Scout knife - WWII? era? - Please help I.D.
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:08 am
by KnifeBrother
Thank you for the response and the information. I am familiar with the "real" Hitler Youth knives.
I was hoping that someone might have some information about the post war or early reproduction knives.
I believe the one that I have is a post war reproduction.
Since Germany was rebuilding in that era, it stands to reason that one or two of the surviving Solingen Germany knife manufactures were involved in reproducing the war era knives. If anyone has any information about those knives and how to identify them, I hope to hear from you.
Thanks you again,
Knifebrother (existing member)
Reagan Mackie
Re: German Scout knife - WWII? era? - Please help I.D.
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:13 am
by Mumbleypeg
Knives like this, and similar with a different design in the handle, are common on eBay. They’re “fantasy” knives, made in Solingen. You can find some listed for sale often (including now).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/204701204169?i ... R8jj4srKYw You can find recent sales in the sold listings by doing an advanced search for “German scout knife”, “German youth knife”, or similar.
Ken
Re: German Scout knife - WWII? era? - Please help I.D.
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:29 pm
by tongueriver
New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 1:37 am
Whether authentic or reproduction, it is called a Hitler Youth Knife.
There is PLENTY of information on the internet.
A tiny tidbit.....
The Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend) was one of the earliest branches of the NSDAP, beginning in 1922, and comprised of boys ages ten to eighteen. Similar to today's Boy Scouts, the HJ taught physical and outdoors training but also provided a beginning to political indoctrination. Girls on the other hand joined the BMD (Bund Deutscher Mädel), a branch similar to our Girl Guides. In 1933 a knife for the HJ was introduced. Upon earning specific qualifications, the boys were able to wear their very own HJ Knife. Like all German edged weapons, early pieces reflected the highest quality work with the best materials. Early period knives had nickeled steel hilts with black bakelite checkered grip plates. The obverse plate was fitted with an enameled HJ swastika insignia. Through 1938, these knives were acid etched with the HJ motto, "Blut und Ehre!" (Blood and Honor!). Scabbards were made of seamless sheet steel with a riveted leather hanger attached to the back. Later period examples were made with plain blades and usually held an RZM marking, and zinc based hilts. In 1937 the organization adopted a leader dagger for older professionals in charge of training and educating the HJ youth. Wear for each of these was personally approved by Adolf Hitler. Each Hitler Youth Leader dagger was presented in a special red leather presentation case. Hitler Youth Leader daggers had silvered hilt fittings with a blue/black leather covered scabbard. The grip is wood based with tightly wrapped silver twisted wire. The pommel cap featured an HJ diamond to the top. The upper scabbard fitting portrayed an open-winged Hitler Youth eagle with swastika cut into the bird's chest. The blade was always also etched with the Hitler Youth motto, "Blut und Ehre!" (Blood and Honor!).
Great write-up; thanks! I noticed the word "obverse" in the text and that led me to remind myself, that it means the "front," at least in coinage, rather than "reverse," so I suppose that regarding knives, obverse would mean the mark side, as opposed to the pile side.
Re: German Scout knife - WWII? era? - Please help I.D.
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 4:21 pm
by New_Windsor_NY
You're welcome.
Re: German Scout knife - WWII? era? - Please help I.D.
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:54 pm
by TrickyRick
I saw one very similar today at flea market mixed in with bunch of asian knives priced at $18.
