Help!!! e. pack & söhne solingen sword with DKIG/Brotherhood of Snake ornamentation

[Harry Bentley Lee III]

I'm new to this forum so bear with me...

I've had this sword in my possession for quite a few years and decided to pull it out and look at it again. I did do a little bit of homework on it (i.e. manufacturer, etc.) but have no idea what these markings really are or what they actually mean. I know the DKIG was a military award, but I have not come across anything this small & placed on a sword. Also the Brotherhood of the Snake bearing a swastika & skull is an image that I have never come across other than once. Here is the link Occult Secret Societies: Brotherhood of the Snake. So I guess what I'm really wondering is can anyone tell me about this? Most of the swords I've seen don't have these types of embellishments on them. Thanks for all your help!!!

[Erno]

I don't know about the sword, but the snakes don't have anything to do with some sort of secret society; in fact, it's a miniature anti-partisan badge. I have no idea if any of it is original, however.

[Harry Bentley Lee III]

Hmmm. That would make sense. I did not know..like I said I'm not that knowledgeable about the markings other than the link I shared.

[Erno]

Hmmm. That would make sense. I did not know..like I said I'm not that knowledgeable about the markings other than the link I shared.

Well, now you know as much as I do! Swords and daggers are not my specialty at all. I've had two daggers, but I traded them away almost as soon as I got them. Someone with more to offer will probably be along to help you out a bit more.

[Frogprince]

The sword appears to be an earlier 1930's brass(?) hilted German Army officer's sword. The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge was instituted I believe early in 1944. In the one close in image I see two(?) leather washers, and no sign of attaching pins. With my question being is it glued, or is the extra washer somehow related to avoiding contact with a pin or pins inside the langet? In that same and another image I see what seems to be a Swastika appliqué (?) on top of the Eagle on the other langet. With 1944 the year when pistols were being required in lieu of dress sidearms in non-combat use unlike in the earlier period for certain occasions (but not at the beginning of the year - from memory needing to check the dates). Regards, Fred

[big ned]

In that same and another image I see what seems to be a Swastika appliqué (?) on top of the Eagle on the other langet. Regards, Fred

You're right Fred, it's another stickpin, this time of a DKiG.

Regards, Ned.

[harryamb2]

imo someone has decided to stick mini medals on to an original sword,probably to henance the value.a few years back swords where quite cheap.

[Larry C]

A decent sword jacked up and ruined? 2 uses of 2 words ..... Worth less or worthless.

yea bad hair day....I hate to see this happen

[Michael Ryan]

Hi Harry, You have an interesting sword there!! I have been a sword man for a number of years and have only seen one other sword woth additional embelishment, that being a plain brass hilted dove head sword with the addition of a silver eagle and swastica to the obverse langet similar to one of the WKC patterns. I my case the military eagle is of a type worn on Naval epaulettes and I believe it to be a contemporary addition, probably by the original owner????

Although I do not have the knowledge nor the proof to declare your embelishments to be spurious, I would be very weary of them. As Frogprince quite rightly points out, the sword looks OK from the photos but the additions are out of chronological order given the early appearance of the sword and the late introduction of the Anti Partisan badge coupled with withdrawal of ceremonial and walking out edged weaponry?? My opinion and I stress opinion not knowledge, is that the sword has been upgraded post 1945 possibly by the orignal owner as a momento of his TR military service and to commemorate two of his awards or more likely, and sad to say, by another party for financial gain perhaps??. With regard to what appears to be either a double washer or very thick washer under the hilt, I would usually attribute this to a scabbard which is slightly shorter than the blade of the sword or which has rust or debris wedged at its foot thus preventing the scabbard throat from abutting the underside of the quilon block?? All speculation on my behalf!! If you are happy with the sword then it is whatever you want it to be.
Regards Michael R

[Michael Ryan]

Hi Larry, That is an interesting photo!! Is it real or a dummy??
Cheers MR