Germany, Heer. An Officer’s Dress Sword, by Alcoso

(Heer Offiziersschwert). An extremely well-preserved and high-quality Heer Officer’s commemorative dress sword, measuring 97 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features an 81 cm-long nickel-plated magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and unspoiled edges. Each side of the blade features a fuller which runs approximately two-thirds of the length of each blade. Acid-etched onto the obverse is an inscription of “ZUR ERINNERUNG AN MEINE DIENSTZEIT” (“IN MEMORY OF MY SERVICE TIME”, flanked on each side by arabesque designs with centrepieces consisting of a pair of crossed rifles overlaid by a Stahlhelm and a Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The reverse features an exceptionally detailed, acid-etched cavalry scene, flanked by identical arabesques designs and Heer symbolism, likely indicating that the owner served with an armoured cavalry unit. The reverse ricasso is maker marked with the logo of Alcoso, Solingen, for the former firm of Alexander Coppel, circumscribing the company’s scale logo. It sits securely within a one-piece gilded bronze hild complete with a hooked quillion and hand guard. The hilt is decorated with etched oak leaf designs and featuring a shield medallion bearing a wreathed sword overlaid by a mobile swastika at the obverse crossguard. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed black celluloid, with the ribbing retaining a period original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. It completes with a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika on the pommel. The sword is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of nickel-plated magnetic steel. An integral band near the throat retains a loop for the accommodation of hanger, while the throat itself retains a functional spring catch, firmly holding the sword in place during storage. Demonstrating only minor, sporadic loss of finish to the scabbard, this striking commemorative sword is in an overall extremely fine condition.