Description
No maker. Gilted brass, deluxe hilt fittings show surface wear to highlights with portions of the matte, honey-gold, factory gilting remaining in the recesses of the pommel, ferrule, knuckle-bow and folding handguard with Imperial eagle and “WRII” cipher. Fittings feature heavily chiseled pommel and knuckle-bow with raised motif of Knight’s helmet, breastplate, shield and sword flanked by oak and laurel leaf sprigs raised, stippled border on folding handguard. Black, rayskin covered grip shows minor surface wear with brass WII cipher pinned to the obverse grip, and is complete with twisted triple silver wire wrap. Straight, plated, double-fullered, double-etched blade measuring 26 ¾” in length grades EX++ showing light surface wear/runner marks with no speckling or lifting, but with minor sharpening to the cutting edge which has not damaged the etched panels. Obverse blade features a 9 ¾” long frosted panel with raised floral and oak leaf motif flanking the central 3-line presentation, “Zur Erinnerung an der Weltkrieg 1914 – 1916. (In Remembrance of the World War) in raised Gothic letters. Reverse blade features an 8 5/8” long frosted panel with raised floral and oak leaf motif flanking the central personalization, “Leutnant Eldag.” In raised Gothic letters, and is complete with brown leather blade buffer pad. Dent-free, steel scabbard retains approximately 90% of the original black anodization showing surface minor wear/crazing and is complete with both unturned retaining screws. Attached to the hilt is an original Officer’s sword knot in EX+ condition showing dark age patina to the silver bullion acorn. Research in the Imperial German Ranklists does not reveal an officer named “Eldag”, however more detailed research in German archives may uncover the original owner. Nice M-89 Infantry Degen with presentation/personalization inscriptions. EX+
