Description
No maker. Although unmarked, an illustration of this rare pattern sword appears on page 104 of the of the 1908 Anniversary Edition of the “Masterbuch der Waffenfabrik Carl Eickhorn Solingen” as Pattern Nr. “533”, “Feuerwehr-Säbel für Elsass-Lothringen”. In addition, a photograph of this page from the Musterbuch appears on page 229 of Collecting the Edged Weapons of Imperial Germany by LTC (Ret.) Thomas M. Johnson and Thomas T. Wittmann. Ornate, Nickel-silver hilt fittings show light surface wear/age patina to the oak leaf/floral embellished backstrap, pommel cap, ferrule and D-pattern knuckle-bow/cross guard. The obverse langet features the raised coat-of-arms of Alsace-Lorraine within a shield beneath an Imperial fire helmet with a floral motif coat-of-arms mantle while the reverse langet features raised crossed torches. Black ray skin grip is perfect with no rips or tears and complete with tight, triple-twisted silver wire wrap. Straight, plain, plated, single fullered blade measuring 31 ¼’ in length, grades EX+/EX++ showing light surface wear/runner marks , with minor gray speckling but, no nicks to cutting edge and is complete with original white leather blade buffer pad. Dent-free, nickel-plated scabbard with two suspension bands/rings retains 100% of the plating showing only light surface wear with no speckling or lifting and no damage to the drag. The ultra-RARE portepee grades EX++ showing light wear/age to the black woven cord with age patina to the red-flecked gold slide/stem and gold crown/acorn with red woven acorn insert. Included with the sword is the illustration from the above referenced 1908 Eickhorn Sales Catalog as well as a color photocopy of an original print of the coats-of-arms of the states of Imperial Germany including Alsace-Lorraine. Nice example of a RARE sword with ultra-RARE sword knot. EX+/EX++.
