Germany, Heer. An Officer’s Sabre, by F.W. Höller

(Heer Säbel für Offizier). A well-preserved Heer Officer’s sabre, measuring 95 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features an 80.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a slight curvature and with fullers running approximately two-thirds of the length of the top edge of each side. It is unmarked with the exception of a maker’s mark on the reverse ricasso reading “F.W. HÖLLER, SOLIGNEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic thermometer logo. It sits securely within a gilded bronze hilt with the obverse of the crossguard featuring a central medallion bearing a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, and with the seam covered by an intact black leather buffer pad. The pommel takes the form of a detailed lion’s head with a hand guard emanating from the mouth and connecting with the crossguard. The handle grip consists of a single piece of ribbed black celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an intact twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. Wrapped around the crossguard and hand guard is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a black leather strap, itself bearing three silver aluminum wire tresses. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a black painted magnetic metal shaft. An integral band set in place just below the throat retains a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some tarnishing of the bronze fixtures, wear of the portepee, sporadic loss of scabbard paint, and the loss of the scabbard’s throat clip which renders the sabre loose during storage. It remains in an overall near extremely fine condition.