108 - Hitler Youth hiking knife Heinr. Böker Solingen with code “RZM M7/75” and scabbard, 1930s

Hitler Youth hiking knife Heinr. Böker Solingen with code “RZM M7/75” and scabbard, 1930s Hiking knife with scabbard. Bright single-edged blade without motto, at the base of the blade from top to bottom the Böker tree as maker’s mark, the lettering “HEINR. BÖKER & CO.” above “SOLINGEN”, the mark of the Reichszeugmeisterei “RZM” in a circle and the marking “M7/75”. Crossguard and pommel of nickel-plated steel, the grip scales black, chequered; the diamond in the front grip scale is missing, dark red remains in the recess. With the black lacquered sheet-metal scabbard with belt loop, retaining strap and press stud. Age-appropriate condition, the blade with grinding marks, scratches and spots, the fittings stained, the scabbard with large losses of lacquer, the leather heavily rubbed and cracked. L. 25 cm, blade length 12.5 cm The code “M7/75” is a maker’s abbreviation of the Reichszeugmeisterei system, with which the approved manufacturers of equipment were registered from 1934; it stands for the firm Heinrich Böker & Co. in Solingen. Blades that bear the full maker’s name in addition to the RZM mark belong to the transitional production of the years around 1936 to 1938; from about 1938 only the RZM code was stamped. The tree at the base of the blade is the trademark used since the 19th century by the house founded in 1869, which still ranks among the best-known Solingen cutlery manufacturers today. Until about 1940 the hilts of these knives were made of steel and nickel-plated; only in the late production did most makers change to nickel-plated cast zinc.