UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons HJ Edged Weapons Forum Can Diamond be Replaced?

I purchased an HJ that had been "denazified" years ago.
If I could locate a suitable replacement is it possible
to put another diamond in with out removing the grips?

From my experience the first problem you will have is trying to find a genuine HJ insert to fit your dagger. They were made with a two pronged (split pin) type piece on the rear of the insert and on the grip should be the diamond shape recess with a slot in the centre. The split pin was pushed through the slot with the grip off the dagger and then spread out on the reverse. The grip would then have been attacged to the hilt with the 2 steel or aluminium rivets.I think the only way you could attach an insert to your grip without removing the grip would be to glue it in but it is whether you would be happy with this as it would not have the trademark 'wiggle' which was just the insert moving whilst being held in place by the 2 metal prongs.
It is difficult to remove HJ grips from a dagger as they are very brittle and can easily break when you would come to replacing them with new rivets.
Hope this helps anyway and good luck.
Ian

I guess this is a problem for a lot of
those that collect the HJ........
To glue the diamond in just wouldnt
be "right"......And I dont think I
want to risk damaging the grip plates
by trying to remove them........
I guess I will just live with it..
It "is what it is" or maybe I will
find a diamond and display it with the
knife as a separate piece....Thanks Ian
Best reguards........Dave

Well, many of the original HJ hat/member pins will work if you remove the pin from the back. If you glue it in with rubber cement, it still wiggles somewhat, and the process is reversible. I have fit original pins back into the grip without removing the plates. The trick is you have to shorten the prongs, then insert them in the slot and press down...the prongs generally want to go to either side anyway. If the prongs are too long, they just bend when you try to push the diamond into the slot. Best of luck, John

Try to use hitler jugend membership badge...

Lukas.

I have done the same thing a few years ago & it worked out perfect with the wee wiggle

Try finding a hj knife with a knacked blade with good daimond for a parts peice but remember there is a small daimond on early knifes & a larger daimond on later hj knifes.

Good Luck

Good ideas.....I may try useing a membership pin.....

I found a good authentic diamond but it is the early

small type......Wont fit.......Thanks to all.....Dave

Please post pics of your dagger. Many daggers made in the 1950's and 1960's are now appearing as de-nazified daggers !

For what it's worth, Reddick has decent repro's of the diamond, but no mention of the size.

Interesting, I have a HJ bayonet(long) that I had x rayed. It did show some form of fixing that excluded glue, but did not "wiggle"

This "wiggle" is not evident on all period pieces and I think the lack of it can exclude many genuine items. In all cases we must inspect the rest of the parts, blade, grip, scabbard etc etc etc and most importantly providence.

Absolutely Spock! many quality HJ knives have no wiggle because they are put together very tightly. Not all that wiggles is correct, and all that does not wiggle is wrong. You have to look at the whole picture.

Here are pics.........Thanks....Dave

Has a membership pin?...in handle for diamond....I have had it

out and it is marked rzm M5/6 on back..........

Original would be better!.........thanks....Dave