Germany, Heer. An Officer’s Sabre, by Carl Eickhorn

(Heer Offiziers-Säbel). A well-preserved Heer Officer’s sabre, measuring 98.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features an 83 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a gentle curvature, sharpened tip, and with fullers running approximately two-thirds of the length of each side. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. The blade sits securely within a multi-piece gilded bronze hilt, with a crossguard that bears a raised Wehrmacht eagle clutching a mobile swastika, and with an intact black leather buffer pad covering the seam. The pommel takes the form of a detailed lion’s head, with its eyes inset with dual cut red glass gems, with a hand guard emanating from its mouth and connecting to the crossguard. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed black celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a black-painted magnetic metal shaft. A loop emanates from the side of the shaft just below the throat for the accommodation of a hanger. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks to the blade loss of scabbard paint with consequent surface oxidation, and the loss of functionality to the scabbard’s throat catch. It remains in an overall better than very fine condition.