H48554 OFFICER'S SABER, CARL EICKHORN MODEL # 1693. (Säbel) 

BACKGROUND: The Sword/Saber is an age old military tradition, that evolved from a functional weapon into an item of uniform dress ornamentation by the start of WWI. This strong tradition continues in many armies to this day as a symbol of strength and power. After Hitler’s rise to power in January 1933 and the reintroduction of conscription in March 1935 a wide variety of new sword and saber designs were introduced to outfit the rapidly growing Wehrmacht. This revival in sword/saber production resulted in the numerous blade manufacturers, mainly located in Solingen, to develop a wide variety of ornate designs in an attempt to compete for the lucrative manufacturing contracts which resulted in over one hundred different patterns of the army sword/saber being produced during the Third Reich era. Dress regulations for Officers and senior NCO’s prescribed wear of side arms as a component of particular forms of dress. As a result of the war situation production of the swords and sabers was to be discontinued as per regulations of May 27^TH 1943, although those already issued could still be worn on ceremonial occasions. Additional regulations of December 23^RD 1944 indicated that all officers ranks were to wear a pistol in place of the sword/saber or the dress dagger. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This example is the Carl Eickhorn "dove" pommel model #1693, "Wrangel". Roughly, 33 1/2" long, slightly curved, drop forged steel construction, nickel/silver plated blade with narrow, shallow fullers running three quarters of the way up both sides of the blade. The blade is in overall very good condition and is still quite clean and bright with minor surface scratching and spotting The reverse ricasso is well marked with the deeply stamped manufacturers logo, name and location. The logo consists of a seated squirrel clutching a downward pointing sword with the name and location, "Original Carl Eickhorn Solingen". The brown leather blade washer is still intact. The saber has die cast brass langets, cross guard, ferrule, "P", knuckle bow, back-strap and "dove" pommel with a gilt finish. The obverse rounded tip, shield shaped langet has a highly embossed right facing national eagle with out-stretched wings that extend outwards on the obverse of the cross guard. The reverse langet features an embossed oak-leave and acorn pattern encompassing a small, smooth, plain, raised, vertically oval plate suitable for inscribing a name, initials or an emblem. The integral cross guard features a downward curved, curled tip to one side, and the base of the, "P", knuckle bow to other side. The bottom edge of the cross guard is well marked with deeply stamped script, "Ges. Gesch.", indicating Gesetzlich Geschützt, (Protected by Law). The knuckle bow, ferrule and back-strap all feature high relief, embossed, repeating oak-leaf patterns. The knuckle bow is inserted into the bottom edge of the pommel and the tang end has been very skillfully hidden in the embossed oak-leaves. The saber has a contoured, molded black bakelite grip with a central bulge, and repeating, recessed horizontal grooves with dual twisted brass wire wrap flanked at both the top and bottom edges by a single, fine brass wire wrap. The hilt fittings are still quite clean and bright. The saber comes with its original, black painted, sheet metal construction scabbard. The scabbard retains about 80% of its black paint with numerous small scrapes and scuffs revealing the base metal with light surface spotting. The scabbard has an integral drag to the bottom edge and a sweated on horizontal scabbard band near the top edge with a raised rectangular suspension bar to the reverse and a suspension ring to the reverse edge. Both of the small, dome headed, throat retaining screws and the inset throat are intact. Of Note: A photographic example of this model appears in J.R. Angolia’s book, Swords of Germany 1900/1945, on the top left of page 77. Nice example.

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