Lion Head Sword Real or Fake?

[Greg]

I picked up this sword at a flea market this weekend for $300. Is it any good or is it fake? What branch of the service is it, I thought it might be Heer, but it isn't a Heer eagle like you see on helmets, but it is similar to the eagle on Heer daggers. This is my first sword and I don't know much about them but the price seemed good. What is retail on these things? Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Greg

[sitges1990]

Hi Greg, I would be very concerned about the daisy design in the middle of the grip. I have never seen that before. Can you take better photos with it removed from the scabbard? Also a photo of the maker's mark. These usually go for $600 to $700. It's difficult to tell much from the photos you have posted, some more close ups would help.

Jay

[rbminis]

Hi Greg, I would be very concerned about the daisy design in the middle of the grip. I have never seen that before. Can you take better photos with it removed from the scabbard? Also a photo of the maker's mark. It's difficult to tell much from the photos you have posted, some more close ups would help.

Jay

I would agree with all of the above comments. I also do not like the band around the handle at the hilt.
Ralph.

[Frogprince]

I don't know if I would condemn this one without a better look. If there is no TM, I’m thinking that this might be an unmarked Voos - which created some out of the ordinary designs. When I get back to my primary computer I will see what I have on file. FP

[Greg]

Here are some more photos. The maker mark in almost completelty hidden by the crossgaurd as you can see in the photos. Thanks, Greg

[stieffel]

hallo,guys,its a real one,Tm is Pack und Sohne,the rosette in the middle of the hilt is typical for that maker
regards

[sitges1990]

Hi Greg, can you read the maker's mark? Frog Prince knows far more than I do about these so I would wait till he can take a look at your new photos. IMHO, the details are soft and the sword has numerous details that I have not seen before on original examples.

Jay

[Greg]

The maker marks are a dancing girl with the words E Pack & Sohne Solingen. It took me forever to read it as it is almost completely covered up by the cross guard. I never saw anything marked like this before. Is this a rare maker or is it a fake? Thanks, Greg

[Frogprince]

Tom (Swordfish), who has been missing on the forums for a while is the Über-specialist for the lion heads. We had a private discussion regarding another sword the last time we were in contact, and he sent me some information that I still have not located regarding Voos and some other makers about some of the scarcer patterns. Possible subcontracting etc. etc.. The sword we were discussing had what resembled a Japanese chrysanthemum on the backstrap, and the seller thought there was a Japanese/German connection. (But in reality it was just artistic license.)

Not as good as a first hand examination, what the images appear to show is some of the detail work/hand finishing of a good quality early period sword. So no “alarm bells” here for me so far, and I will have to redouble my efforts to see if I still have the file.

PS: A “dancing girl” with a hammer over her head?? (A small joke, that's how the Pack logo might be described by somone who is not familair with it.) My best to all, FP

[Adrian Stevenson]

Looks fine to me too.

Cheers, Ade