1918 – 1926 WW1 Imperial German Lion Head Artillery Officer’s Sword

This is a German Officers sword that would have been used as a ceremonial sword on the parade ground rather than on the battlefield. As such the blade’s edge as not been sharpened.

The pommel is in the shape of a lion head with two “ruby” glass eyes.

The crossguard is made of iron and each side has a languet that covers the throat of the scabbard. The languet on one side has a design of crossed cannons for the artillery.

The grip is an early “bakelite” plastic that has been wire wrapped.

There is a maker’s mark on the ricasso depicting two squirrels back to back with the letters C.E beneath them. This was the mark of Carl Eickhorn & Company of Solingen, Germany.

~ Dimensions ~

The blade is 32.5 inches (82.5 cm) long and the overall length of the sword is 38 inches (96.5 cm.)

The hilt has a width of 5.3 inches (13.5 cm) and a depth of 1.5 inches (3 cm)

The total length when in the scabbard is 40 inches (101 cm.)

The total weight is 1.07 kg.

~ Condition ~

The sword is in distressed exterior condition. The blade is in very good order with a small amount of darkening as seen in the photographs. There is a very small amount of rust collected where the blade meets the cross-guard.

The cross-guard and pommel small traces of where these parts had been gilded.

The wire wrap on the grip is slightly loose toward the pommel and has a dark patina.

There is much paint loss on the scabbard and the exposed areas have begun to rust.

ref. GS4234F6C