Germany, Ordnungspolizei. An Officer’s Dress Sword, by Emil Voos
(Ordnungspolizei Schwert für Offiziere). A very well-preserved Ordnungpolizei Officer’s dress sword, measuring 102 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features an 84 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and unspoiled edges. A fuller runs approximately two-thirds of the top edge of each side of the blade. The obverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “EMIL VOOS, SOLINGEN”, flanked by the firm’s classic snake and tree stump logo. It sits securely within a multi-piece hilt featuring a magnetic metal hand guard, with the seam covered by an intact brown leather buffer pad. A magnetic metal oak leaf ring surrounds the connecting between the hilt and handle grip, with the latter consisting of a single piece of ribbed and blackened wood, with the ribbing retaining an original silver wire cord. Inset into the obverse of the handle is a silvered zink alloy Ordnungspolizei insignia, consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath overlaid by a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 25 mm (w) x 25 mm (h). It completes with a flattened and ribbed pommel nut that maintains the sword’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the grip and hand guard is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a black leather strap featuring machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire and red threaded tresses. Accompanying the sword is its original scabbard, constructed of a black painted magnetic metal shaft with magnetic metal fixtures riveted to both the tip and throat. A pair of integral loops set into the upper quarter of the shaft accommodate a hanger. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks to the blade, loss of finish to the handle insignia (with some gouging to the surrounding wood indicating possible repair or replacement), slight fatigue of the portepee, and minor scratching of scabbard paint. The sword remains in an overall near extremely fine condition.