A Kriegsmarine Naval Officer's Sword By E. & F. Horster, Solingen

Measuring 945 mm with the scabbard on, this sword features a 795 mm long, slightly-curved, fullered, nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with a blade spine and a single dull edge, the blade remaining bright and crisp, and having a semi-sharp tip. The blade's obverse ricasso is maker marked "E. & F. HORSTER SOLINGEN", the reverse ricasso is marked with the company's insignia, while the blade itself retains its crossgraining, exhibiting the usual in and out runner marks, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, natural shine, scattered nicks on the spine and edge of the blade, better than very fine. Only traces of the brown felt buffer pad remains. Gilt brass crossguard with a detailed ornate pattern and comes with hinged guards, the larger guard on the obverse is of the drop down variety and bears a fouled anchor within an ornate leafed frame, the smaller guard on the reverse is of the flip up variety and stamped "168" on top, marked with a stylized Kriegsmarine eagle above an "M" and coded "N3104" on the underside and comes with a die-hole that acts as a locking mechanism when dropped down and connected to the post on the scabbard's locket, ensuring a secure fit. The gilt ferrule illustrates a repeating oak leaf and acorn pattern. Ivory celluloid plates with eleven rows of gold-coloured springy wire in the recesses of the ribbed grip, the plates embedded onto either side of the handle. The gilt brass pommel is designed with a lion's head, with a wavy design incorporated into the handle's spine, representative of the lion's mane. The sword measures 923 mm in length and weighs 679 grams overall, the ivory celluloid plates exhibiting crazing and cracking throughout but remains intact, scattered gilt wear and light contact on the brass fittings, with slight movement in the strands of the springy wire. The scabbard has a smooth-finished black leather-wrapped body, with flattened u-shaped finial, mid-band and locket in gilt brass, the finial and locket both held in place by a single pin, the mid-band secured in place via two pins, all three gilt brass fittings designed with ornate swirls and horizontal rules. The locket and mid-band each with a suspension ring, the underside of the locket coded "N3104" and matching the code on the underside of the smaller guard on the crossguard, with the receiving post used to lock the scabbard in place to the sword itself located just above the code and beside the throat. The scabbard measures 810 mm in length and weighs 329 grams, exhibiting overall gilt wear and contact marks on the brass fittings, along with surface wear and scuffs on the smooth-finished black leather-wrapped body, the stitching on the reverse of the scabbard remaining intact. Better than fine. (C:49)

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