Grandfather's German (?) Sword

[Tatum12]

This sword was given to me by my father, who got it from his father. The story goes that my Opa traded some cigarettes and chocolate for this with a family in Germany after the war. The sword is thin, but the blade is not at all. Both the handle and blade have a floral pattern, and the blade has a little sign of a knight.

[pammy]

Nice sword i like it..!

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

WKC Manufacturer, I believe. Looks nice. Other than WKC, I have no idea of what type it is.

[Horst]

Imperial German Infantry Officers sword with the wire wrap missing on the grip

Horst

[gerrit]

Imperial German Infantry Officers sword with the wire wrap missing on the grip

Horst

Horst it looks indeed to be: Infanterie-Off.-Degen a/A
so i guess it would be purchased before 1889 because then the IOD1889 was introduced.
correct me if im wrong.

Ger

[Horst]

Ger - I would say thats a good assumption - possibly they were very close in the same time period.

Horst

[militarymania]

style looks like a court sword of some type,,,

[Frogprince]

An interesting sword, it is perhaps more often seen with a brass mounted black leather scabbard. And looks to me also like the old model Infantry Officer’s Degen. With the basic style being a very old one for military use, also used by officials, with some variations depending on the maker and era it was made. For a comparison here is the IOD 89 showing both the standard model and later Kriegsmodell. FP

[gerrit]

Thx Frogprince, nice pics from the IOD1889.

I will give you the pictures of the old one, only difference this is a "present sword "from a Preussian Princess to her serving Officer:

hope you all understand a bit german
Otherwise the pics will do the talking, enjoy.

Preußen Kaiserin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 2 Geschenkdegen für Offiziere, um 1910 Ehrengeschenk von Irene Prinzessin Heinrich von Preussen "Dem Fähnrich Clemens Freiherrn von Bleul für Pagendienste 1909 - 1910". Elegante Fertigung in der besonderen Ausführung für das Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 2. Vergoldetes Griffgefäß, der Knauf in form einer flammenden Granate mit gekrönter Regiments-Chiffre "A", schwere Silberdrahtwicklung mit aufgelegtem emaillierten Gardestern. Beidseitiges Klappgefäß mit Jubiläumszahl "1861 - 1886". Beidseitige vernickelte Klinge mit vergoldeter Zierätzung, auf der Vorderseite mit Widmung "Dem Fähnrich Clemens Freiherrn von Bleul für Pagendienste 1909 - 1910", auf der Rückseite "Irene Prinzessin Heinrich von Preussen". Geschwärzte Stahlscheide mit 1 Ring

[Frogprince]

Gerrit,

Thank you for posting that deluxe presentation grade Infanterieoffizierdegen. A very interesting historical artifact, that was a gift from a princess to a lesser member of the nobility. Who in the last stages of being an officer candidate before promotion, was presumably serving as a page in the royal court. An item that should not be too difficult to research.

The one thing that does puzzle me a little is that it probably should be Regiment Nr. 4, if the rest of the description is correct, as Nr. 2 was supposed to be for Kaiser Franz as the one being honored. And that pattern sword is traditional for the Nr. 4 regiment. But I can’t really see the inscription that well, so perhaps someone at weitze made a mistake?

With my Best Regards, FP