Blunt tip on Red Cross Daggers

[Frogprince]

Here is a US Medical Corp bolo knife. It is more of a weapon than the DRC sidearm.

Kirby, The point is well noted. But for myself, I would offer a bit of dialogue from the movie Crocodile Dundee: "That's not a knife" ...... then pulling out large bowie knife ..... THAT's a knife". But unfortunately at the moment I don't have a picture of an entrenching tool to post. Best Regards, Fred

[MAP]

These sidearms are outside of my areas of interests, but the topic did turn up in looking at some political (SA) daggers that were supposed to be connected to
Carl Eduard Herzog von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha, who was (among other things) the "Präsident des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes" circa 1936. 'Cutting to the chase': The DRK was more politically connected than you might think on the surface including being involved with some who had a connection to the KZ's, and even providing funds for the SS(?). With the sidearms themselves IMO just accessories to a uniform, and the saw teeth themselves possibly symbolic of the saw teeth on some bayonets that could also be used to cut splints, stretcher supports, etc. Not that I'm suggesting that they were used as functional tools in field/combat operations. With the blade tip (as was suggested) very likely a symbolic "de-militarization". Best Regards, Fred

I think you (and everyone else) are largely correct. Agree that these were not field weapons like the bolo so not used beyond a dress uniform (and the construction supports this).

My point of my posts however are still based on the original connection (assumption?) that the blunt tip was to signify that it was not a combat weapon or as Kradspam noted to signify no harm (both of which are along parallel lines of reasoning).

As far are the saw teeth, I agree with the others that this was symbolic as well but based again on traditional usage of earlier field used tools such as for making splints, stretchers, etc.

Think of it as a dress version of a Swiss Army knife......

Michael

[big ned]

I still wouldn't like to get whacked around the side of me swede with one though.....

[gerrit]

Its simple:
Medics were not allowed to wear any type of weapons on the battlefields by the Geneve convention rules.
Given the DRK Hewer its blunt tip, made it a tool and not a weapons classification.

Cheers,
Ger

[Danmark]

..... and I always thought that it was for opening cans of limberger cheese ( german smelling salts )

That'd get any wounded man up on his feet!!

[jagdhorn]

Actually , German medics (army troops trained to assist and care for wounded, sick, injured soldiers did carry weapons. In the US, no they didn't. I have enough WW1 photos of Germans wearing pistols, and a few with rifles/carbines.

But the DRK was not on a battlefield (meaning front lines, immediate combat area, while fighting was on going.), just as the US red cross was not on the front lines treating injured troops.

Patrick

[Andrew]

it was always my understanding that the hewer was a field carried tool. the saw back is for cutting small branches or sapling trees, for splints. the chisel point combined with the pommel shape made for a good tool for splitting the branches and saplings by hand, so you get 2 pieces with flat sides for splints. the saw would be much to coarse for bone.

[maximus71]

Here is mine just for the heck of it

[Larry C]

Very Nice John the patina is beautiful

[gerrit]

#Patrick: i quote:
But the DRK was not on a battlefield (meaning front lines, immediate combat area, while fighting was on going.), just as the US red cross was not on the front lines treating injured troops.
Patrick"

lets clearify my post:
The DRK, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross), was a civil assistance organization under auspices of the Ministry of the Interior. Due to its non-combatant status, it had to conform to the international Geneva Convention which directed that members not carry any weapons, including edged weapons. As a result the DRK Subordinates hewer was designed with a squared blunt tip, to preclude its classification as a weapon and allow its wear in the field.

Regards,
Ger