Produced by an unknown German swordsmith, this is a highly attractive example of an Imperial German officer's sword with damascus blade. Overall length is 36 inches with the straight spear point single fuller blade measuring a solid 31 inches with a 6 inch false edge. Gold wash is present on the lower two-thirds of the sides, one half of the true edge and over three-quarters of the spine with a leafy vine going up the spine, scrollwork, pennants and columns on the lower third of the sides, arrays of gold washed arms on a blued field in the center and gilt flowers at the tip with additional bright steel floral vines and leaves on the upper third of the blade. The hilt is entirely in gold-plated, with a Roman emperor's head in a laurel wreath on an array of cannons and flags on the languet, floral and Roman motifs on the counterguard and knuckleguard, ribbed mother of pear grip panels and a lion head pommel. The scabbard is steel with gold-plated washed brass throat and tip engraved with geometric and leaf patterns and fine etching down both sides. Both the front and back show floral scrollwork and arrays of arms and flags, with the front showing a scene of Hercules taking out the Nemean Lion over a "Zum Andenken" (In Remembrance) banner and the reverse showing a Germanic standard-bearer atop a Roman fasces. Included with the lot is a brown velvet lined nicely figured hardwood case with the interior cut to fit both the sword and scabbard.

Extremely fine. The blade is excellent, with a few tiny spots, exceptional etching, sharp Damascus grain and 95% plus original gold and blue finish. A few tiny cracks are present in the languet and counter guard and some tiny chips in the grips, otherwise the hilt is excellent. The scabbard has been lightly cleaned, a slight bend in the tip and a dark spot near the frog stud. A plaque has been removed from the lid of the presentation case which shows a minimum of handling marks.