Germany, Imperial. An Infantry Officer’s M89 Dress Sword

(Offiziersdegen M89). A very well-preserved Infantry Officer’s M89 dress sword, measuring 93.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 76 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and with dual narrow fullers running the majority of the length of each side. Fully unmarked, the blade sits securely within a multi-piece hilt, with a partially-intact red wool buffer pad covering the seam. The hilt consists of a bronze crossguard, hand guard, and swivel clamshell bearing a Prussian imperial eagle defaced by the monogram of Kaiser Wilhelm II. A single piece of ribbed black bakelite composes the handle grip, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord, inset on the obverse with the monogram of Kaiser Wilhelm II. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a black-painted magnetic metal shaft. An integral ring situated just below the throat features a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks and pitting to the blade, tarnishing of the bronze elements, loss of scabbard paint, and the loss of the throat’s spring catch which renders the sword loose during storage. It remains in an overall better than very fine condition.