Dove's Head Army Officer's Sword by Alexander Coppel

Dove's Head Army Officer's Sword by Alexander Coppel - Measuring 945 mm, with the scabbard on, this sword features an 800 mm long, slightly-curved, fullered, nickel-plated steel blade, with a single dull edge, remaining bright and crisp, and having a sharp tip. The blade's ricasso is maker marked Alexander Coppel GmbH (Alcoso), Solingen, with the company's balance of scales insignia. It retains its crossgraining, with light wear and exhibits scratching overall, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, along with a few intermittent scratches towards the handle end. Natural shine, better than very fine. Brown leather buffer pad, the face of which is dyed black, remains relatively supple and is intact. Heavy brass gilt steel crossguard with quillon, magnetic, finely-detailed Army eagle with its talons clenching a wreathed swastika one one side, an oak leaf design on the reverse side. Black celluloid plates with gold-coloured springy wire in the recesses of the ribbed grip, the plates embedded onto either side of the handle and held in place via a long central pin that passes through the supporting guard, that runs from the crossguard and wraps around the pommel, joining on to the opposite end of the crossguard, forming the handle. The guard, pommel and handle are adorned with an oak leaves and acorn motif. Attached is a large period portapee tied to the handle in the appropriate fashion, weighing 582 grams overall. The scabbard has a durable black painted metal body, magnetic, with flattened u-shaped finial and locket, suspension ring and bracket protruding from the wrap-around loop, weighing 410 grams and measuring 25 mm x 825 mm, scattered paint loss and scratches overall. In better than very fine condition.