Germany, Ordnungspolizei. An NCO’s Dress Sword, by E. &. F. Hörster

 (Ordnungspolizei Degen für Unterführer). A well-preserved Ordnungspolizei NCO’s dress sword, measuring 94.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 79 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains factory-original sharpening to the tip, and with wide fullers which run approximately two-thirds of the length of each side. The obverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “E. U. F. HÖRSTER, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic monogram logo. The blade sits securely within a multi-piece hilt, with the seam covered by an intact blackened leather buffer pad. A nickel-plated magnetic metal hand guard culminates in a hooked quillon with a ball point, and in a flattened pommel at the bottom. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed and black painted wood, with the obverse inset with a silvered bronze Ordnungspolizei insignia in the form of an oval oak leaf wreathed overlaid by a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 25 mm (w) x 25 mm (h). Accompanying the sword is its original scabbard, constructed of a black painted magnetic metal shaft. An integral band set into the upper quarter of the shaft just below the throat retains a loop for the accommodation of a hanger, while the throat itself is adorned with a nickel-plated magnetic metal fixture executed with a trefoil design, and stamped with an SS proof mark. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include faint running marks to the blade, sporadic loss of nickel to the plated fixtures, significant loss of paint to the handle grip, minor loss of paint to the scabbard, and the loss of functionality to the throat’s spring clip. This untouched example from an uncommonly-encountered manufacturer of police swords remains in an overall better than very fine condition.