Eickhorn 1324 Weimar / III°R transition sabre

[KurtMenliff]

Hello to all
Here is an interesting unusual cat !
Model is Eickhorn #1324 which originated during the imperial times.
You can find typical "imperial" features here such as sharkskin grip or a wider blade (2.2cm vs 1.8cm).
This model is normally a "blind cat" with no glass eyes. Looks like our officer wanted to improve it and had white glass eyes added to his sabre giving it that striking look.
Blade shows a 03 sided etch with simple usual patterns ( flags, drums, canons, etc...) and a double oval Eickhorn logo in use until 1934.
This Eickhorn model usually has crossed canons or sabres on the front langet and here was applied a pinned III°R eagle instead typical of the very early stages when regulars III°R Sabres weren't in production yet.
We can suppose that officier wanted to update his sidearm to the arrival of the new regime by ordering this sabre, making it a very unique piece witness of the transition between two eras.
Best Regards
K.

[Anderson]

Interesting sabre, for either Artillery or Infantry officer. Is there a "CE" under the squirrel in the maker mark?
On 2 August 1934, after Hindenburg died, the Reichswehr had swear an oath personally to Hitler. From that date it would be career limiting not to have a sword marked with Nazi insignia.
So the langet work could have been done from 1933- late 1934, but could be both a new purchased sword or a reworked sword.
Excellent photos.

[Larry C]

Quite the Handsome Sword Kurt ...its very attracting and equally impressive is the sharkskin " like" material of the grip with perfect grip wire.
The knuckle bow and backstrap are equally appealing.

@ Anderson ...I was comparing the logo from what I can see of it ...the long bunny rabbit ears and also most notable is the plain looking X mark on the right side of the inner double oval to Anthony Carters Reference pg 171 ..logo number 39 ...shows that there is no CE Initials ...but has been recorded between 1933-35

Double oval # 36, 45 and 46 also show these plain stamped X s ...but ony have the short stubby bunny ears.
I would say Kurts example is #39 with no CE initials.

Regards Larry

Out of all the 71 Eickhorn logo variants ....separately 24 logos are oval or double ovals

[gerrit]

Interesting sabre, for either Artillery or Infantry officer. Is there a "CE" under the squirrel in the maker mark?
On 2 August 1934, after Hindenburg died, the Reichswehr had swear an oath personally to Hitler. From that date it would be career limiting not to have a sword marked with Nazi insignia.
So the langet work could have been done from 1933- late 1934, but could be both a new purchased sword or a reworked sword.
Excellent photos.

This double oval Logo can be dated 1933-34, so spot on i guess

Ger

Nice sword you have!

[KurtMenliff]

Hello Guys
Thank you very much for your messages.

I thought this piece to be quite unique, like a special order from an officer but i found three of them since.
So that would be a small production from EICKHORN during the transition period.
The most odd similar feature is the etching is missing the same part on the front side of it like you can see below ...
What could explain this? I doubt EICKHORN would sell a defective serie of etched blades that wouldn't be a good advertising for the company ....







Have eyouever encountered anything of that kind ?
Many thanks
Regards
K

[gerrit]

Kurt have you compared your etch with the etches of the other 2 swords you found of this pattern?
There might be the answer, perhaps a personalisation that have been removed?

Regards
Ger

[KurtMenliff]

Hello Gerrit,
Apparently that is a somewhat classic Weimar era Eickhorn etched pattern .... Both blades have the same part missing.
On the original pattern, drums & trumpets are found at the missing part ....
i'll try to get my hands back on that photo ...
Regards
K

[Larry C]

Kurt have you compared your etch with the etches of the other 2 swords you found of this pattern?
There might be the answer, perhaps a personalisation that have been removed?

Regards
Ger

Or possibly post war assembled with pre-existing blade. The photo should answer some questions.