Hitler Youth Leader Dagger by RZM M7/36

German WWII > Edged Weapons > Hitler Youth and DJ Knives > Hitler Youth Leader Knives

Early Model 1937 - Hitlerjugend Dolch für Führer by RZM M7/36 - E. & F. Hörster & Co. of Solingen. The plated blade on this one looks wonderful. The “Blut Und Ehre!” motto and “RZM M7/36” maker mark are both crisp and beautifully executed. The plating gives the blade a beautiful mirror like finish. The fit is nice and tight and the tip comes to a perfect point. The blade rates NM. It shows scratches from the runners and minor staining. The original brown leather buffer pad continues to remain intact. The sheet metal based dark blue grained leather covered scabbard is in excellent shape as well. The leather has some scuffs to the mid-point and typical bumps yet retains 95%+ coverage and a near perfect seam. The fittings are all steel based, nickel-silver washed and burnished. They continue to hold some of their original factory lacquer to the crevasses. The fittings display beautiful detail with a decorative rope pattern on each and that elegant Hörster textbook style Hitler Youth eagle to the top. The reverse single throat retaining screw remains intact. The aluminum based upswept crossguard nicely displays the decorative burnished rope pattern to the exterior. The grip is wood based and covered in a dual twisted wire wrap which is loosely secured to the top with two brass rivets to the steel pommel cap. The ferrule and pommel features that same burnished rope pattern. The very top features the correct HJ emblem. This one came with a modified hanger assembly. The correct HJ leader hanger clip marked “M5/10 RZM” and “D.R.G.M.” and D-Loop. Based on construction I believe this to be one of the earlier leader daggers. Never been in a collection.

Purchased form the Veteran’s son (Brown, NY) who states: “[He] Served in the U.S. infantry during WW 2” and "He was a Sergeant with the 4th Armored Division". I was able to find only one Brown (Lt Col) in the 4th Armored Division. Here is a minor phrase about his service, Brown's Awards and a Certificate.

This piece has all of the Hörster textbook features, as described in pages: 901-907 of The Collector’s Guide to Hitler Youth Knives by Nathan Hogle.