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This page's last update: June 17, 2008
RAD
Here's a superior RAD leader out of an advanced Canadian collection. Mirror bright blade is in sweet shape with just a bit of the lightest gray. No pits, no sharpening no damage and nice dark motto burnish. The maker mark is the mid period Eickhorn. The blade grades NM. The hilt of this example has light wear with 99% of the factory plating intact. It's really clean with some traces of factory lacquer around the hanger loops. There is no lifting anywhere and no bubbling!! The grip plates are nicely fit and are chip and crack-free. The plates are retained by a single unturned screw. The crossguard is beautifully detailed. Scabbard again is dent-free. It has 100% plating. Really a nice example NM
Here's another piece that is Vet buy from a Pa. picker. Blade is in sweet shape with a couple dots where the runners have rested the last 70 years. No pits, no sharpening no damage and jet black motto burnish. The maker mark is the early Pack logo. The blade grades NM. The hilt of this example has light wear and age with minor plating loss to the high areas from honest wear. There is also a bit of the plating lifting to the reverse crossguard and reverse of the pommel. Near impossible to find a RAD leader with perfect plating as these all have a pot metal base hilt. Fortunately there is no pitting and the finish is beautifully retained. The grip plates are perfect. The plates are retained by a single unturned screw. The crossguard is beautifully detailed. Scabbard is the best part of this whole thing. It has 100% plating and the dark pebbled panels that so many like to see. Look at that factory lacquer! The background burnish is intact setting off the silver nicely. A honest piece and a fine example Exc++/NM
A recent vet purchase. This one came from a PA. picker. Blade is in very nice shape with that deep black that everyone wants. There are a few dots of age, a couple scuffs and evidence of where the runner have rested for 70 years. Yes, I'm being anal here cause the blade still rates Exc++. The hilt of this example has wear exactly where I like to see it, to the brow of the eagle head and the crossguard wheat sheaths. There is some minor bubbling again on the pommel but not bad. Near impossible to find a RAD leader with perfect plating as these all have a pot metal base hilt. The grip plates are perfect showing just minor wear and scratches. The plates are retained by a single unturned screw. The crossguard is beautifully detailed. Scabbard is the best part of this whole dagger! Look at that black patina with the "shadow" where the crossguard protected the finish from exposure!!! You just never find them this way anymore. The background burnish is intact setting off the silver nicely. A honest piece and a fine example Exc++
Out of an old collection. This one has some scuff from an old attempt at sharpening, I say attempt cause it's not sharp so the guy gave it up quick. Some monor age and evidence of old cleaning. The motto is still nice retaining much burnish. Blade rates Exc+. The hilt of this example is nice and free from much of the bubbling you often run accross with these pot metal based daggers. There is evidence of honest wear. The grip plates are chip and crack-free showing just minor wear. The plates are retained by a single unturned screw. The crossguard is beautifully detailed with all the black background to the intricate design. 100% of the plating is retained!!. A honest piece and a fine example Exc+/Exc++
Vet purchased, this one has suffered from some storage problems. The blade has suffered some sharpening and gray while maintaining it's original slender elegant shape. This would benifit from a polish. The motto is still nice and dark retaining much burnish. Blade rates Exc. The hilt of this example has some bubbling you often run accross with these pot metal based daggers. There is evidence of honest wear. The silver wash has nicely darkened with the passage of time. The grip plates are chip and crack-free showing just minor wear. The plates are retained by a single unturned screw. The scabbard patina exactly matches the hilt with that "shadow" behind the crossguard where the silver has been protected from the elements. There is some pitting to the finish the worse being on the hanger rings. The throat is retailed by 2 aluminum screws. Nope not mint but with minty pieces going for 2x this it's a very fair buy. Exc/Exc+
Beauty blade show minor age with some gray but overall fairly bright with a nice matte black motto. Unlike some later pieces this etch is perfectly placed and does not run into the fuller. The 2nd style Eickhorn maker mark is correctly placed below the RAD triangle symbol and Ges. Gesch.This blade rates Exc+/Exc++. Nickel scabbard fittings are damage free retaining their factory unturned screws. All the black burnish is intact to the intricate fittings and look at the bottom of the lower fitting, no dents!! Rare to find any more. I do see some evidence of rubbing where the hanger would have been in contact with the upper fitting to the reverse. The scabbard body is painted with period wear in the form of scratches but again honest wear, not abuse. The handle is a beauty with tones ranging from black to light yellow. There is a wee hairliner from the lower reverse spanner nut to the bottom, it's nothing. Really a nicely conditioned piece right from the Vet's estate. Overall rates Exc+/Exc++
$995 Layaway(david)
Here's a very nice example out of an advanced collection. This guy has a passion for the hobby and kept his stuff in "top nick" as my Brit. friends say. Beauty blade shows evidence of cleaning but no damage. This has a nice matte black motto and maker mark. The double oval Krebs maker mark is correctly placed below the RAD triangle symbol and Ges. Gesch. This blade rates Exc++. Nickel plated scabbard fittings are damage free retaining their factory unturned screws. All the black burnish is intact to the intricate fittings. They have been cleaned and sure look great, as time passes they again will patina. The lower fitting has some minor bruises to the bottom from normal period wear. The scabbard body is professionally repainted. I had to look at this awful hard to make this call. The paint is the correct glossy type and near perfect. The handle is a beauty with tones ranging from black to light yellow, it is chip and crack -free being secured with unturned screws and spanners. Finally the reverse of the hilt is marked "1934", In my opinion this is period done. What it means I do not know, but it's always fun to discover these little things. Really a nicely conditioned piece. Overall rates Exc++
$1195
This blade is a killer!! You guys who are aout there faithfully scouring the webs sites for a decent hewer know how rare it is to find a nice blade on one of these!! Nice and bright with a nice matte black motto that collectors love so much. The mid-period Eickhorn maker mark is correctly placed below the RAD triangle symbol and Ges. Gesch. dating this example about 1935-41. This blade rates Mint-. I'm sitting here trying to find flaws and reallyt it's tough to talk down this one. There are some normal witness marks from where the runners have rested for 75yrs. and a dot of 2 of age and a scratch or two. Undented scabbard retains about 90%+ of factory glossy black paint with some crazing, rubs and oxidation from normal period wear. Nickel plated steel fittings are beauties showing some age. The lower fitting amazingly has survived perfectly with no dents. The handle is a beauty you will be happy with. The horn has beautifully aged with multi tones that only time can create. The screws retaining the grip plates are intact and unturned. A nice dagger!! Overall rates Exc++
$1730
Here's one that a favorite picker purchased from the Vet's family a few weeks ago. The really nice thing about this is the Patina!! The whole thing is unmessed with and never cleaned. The very early RAD hewers were silver washed and only these go this black. A year or so later manufacturers went to the lacquer right over the nickel omitting the silver wash. The blade has darkened with time with lots of gray and black areas. The etch too has lightened some. Unlike some later pieces this etch is perfectly placed and does not run into the fuller. The small double oval maker mark is correctly placed below the RAD triangle symbol and Ges. Gesch. I have gone out of my way to show you the worse possible views on this hewer blade. Exc. Scabbard has matching black patina. There is a crease running down both sides of this scabbard body. I was 1/2 tempted to have this fixed but I'm leaving this how I got it. 90% of the glossy enamel paint is intact with scratches and chips. Fittings are undamaged, yes, even the bottom! All screws are intact and unturned. The handle is a beauty without any damage of any kind. The horn has beautifully aged to a nice yellow/orange that only time can create. Included with this is the early one piece hanger/belt loop testifying to the early vintage of the dagger. This hanger was quickly abandon for the heavy bullet type in the 2nd year of production. The leather is dry with some minor age cracks but it's all there and it looks great on this piece! Shoot guys these hangers are $500 each! No not mint but untouched and as returned 60 years ago! Overall rates Exc+
$1295
Blade shows minor age with some gray spots and wear to the motto but overall fairly bright. The early double oval Eickhorn maker mark is correctly placed below the RAD triangle symbol and "Ges. Gesch". This blade rates Exc/Exc+. Nickel scabbard fittings show weare and minor bruises being secured with 4 screws. All the black burnish is intact to the intricate fittings making them jump right out! Rare to find any more. The scabbard body has original paint with period wear in the form of scratches and honest wear, not abuse. The paint is certainly better than 98%. The horn grip plates are beauties with tones ranging from black to light orange. Very nice and you can only get this look when light and time do their magic over 79 years. Both screws and spanners are intact and unturned. Finally the reverse of the hilt and the scabbard throat are unit marked, "MA817". The stamp is in the same font and size. In my experience pieces so marked were owned by the RAD unit and loaned out to the guys for dress events and special occassions. When you consider the nature of RAD service it was for only required for 9 months and most guys, being of simple means, did not want to buy their own hewers. They are found mismatched as often as not. Overall rates Exc+
$984