Description
This Sword belonged to Army Hauptmann Wilhelm Kuppers and comes with documentation. No maker. Although unmarked, photographs of this pattern hilt appear on page 73, upper & lower right hand side of “Swords of German 1900/1945″ by John R. Angolia as Clemen und Jung unattributed lion head pattern. Brass hilt shows light wear to the well detailed lion head pommel without glass eyes, floral/geometric motifs on body-strap and knuckle-bow, and open wing eagle on obverse langet. Eagle is facing to his left as found on early Third Reich swords and dates the sword to the 1935 time period. Black celluloid grip shows light surface wear with no cracks or chips and is complete with tight triple twisted wire wrap. Wide, curved, plated, double-etched Reichswehr pattern blade measuring 32 1/4″ in length grades excellent ++ showing only minor surface wear with no lifting or nicks to cutting edge but with one small crimp at the tip of the blade. Blade is complete with tan leather blade buffer pad. Obverse blade features a 14 1/4” long etch panel consisting of floral and geometric motifs, a horse’s head, and mounted Cavalryman on etched background flanking a central etch panel inscribed in raised gothic letters, “Friedr. Wilhelm Kuppers” inside raised border. Reverse blade features a 14 1/4″ long etch panel consisting of floral and geometric motifs and military equipment flanking a central panel with raised facsimile of an artillery piece with mounted crew. Obverse panel retains 100% of the light gray background frosting while the reverse panel was produced without factory frosting. Spine of blade features a laurel leaf motif running the length of the etched panels. Dent-free steel scabbard with stationary suspension ring retains approximately 85% of black enamel showing surface wear/crazing with some scuffs to the enamel. Documentation included with the sword indicates that Hauptmann Kuppers was born in Hamburg/Rhein on 6 October 1896, served in WWI and was recalled for duty as a Reserve Officer in WWII. He served in Poland, Holland, and Russia Artillery Group Montebourg within the Fortress of Ostek which was the key defensive position within the Fortress of Cherbourg. For days after the allied invasion, Major Kuppers delayed the U.S. assault on Cherbourg until he was forced to surrender on 26 June 1944 and taken captive by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. Superb Third Reich double-etched personalized sword with full documentation. Exc+/Exc++
