Description
Beer stein with script Alpina above Solingen (Hans Kolping, Alpina-Werk) TM. As stated on page 254 of The Sword And Knife Makers Of Germany 1850-2000 Volume 1 by the late Anthony Carter, “…many of the deep sea diver’s knives were made by Kolping… others have been catalogued as being marked Alpina Solingen.” The solid brass hilt and brass tube pattern scabbard show light surface wear/age patina with two depressions to the scabbard approximately 1” below the lower edge below the integral brass suspension strap. A similar example of this knife, but with serrated blade, is pictured on page 300 of Collecting the Edged Weapons of the Third Reich, Volume II. The hilt fittings feature screw type pommel nut, serrated grip ridges and threaded hand guard with rubber blade washer. The top of the pommel is stamped with the open-wing Eagle above an “M” “Waffen-Amt” stamp. The polished blade without serrated edge, grades EX++ with minor surface wear/gray shadowing with faint “pings” to the cutting edge and several depressions to the blade spine. The brass tube scabbard with integral brass suspension strap has a flat attached lower fitting in lieu of the more commonly seen rounded pattern. Nice Alpina example with Waffen-amt stamp.
