Germany, Heer. An NCO’s Dress Sword, by Carl Eickhorn

(Heer Schwert für Unteroffizier). A well-preserved Heer NCO’s dress sword, measuring 95.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features an 81 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel sword with a sharpened tip and lower edge, and with a fuller running the majority of the length of the top edge of each side. It is maker marked on the reverse ricasso “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. It sits securely within a multi-piece hilt with a gilded bronze crossguard and hand guard, and with an intact black leather buffer pad covering the seam. The obverse of the crossguard features a central medallion bearing a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed black celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled silver wire cord. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a black painted magnetic metal shaft. An integral ring on the upper quarter of the shaft retains loops for the accommodation of a hanger. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks to the blade, a break which has disconnected the handguard from the pommel, and minor tarnishing of the bronze features throughout. The sword remains in a very fine condition.