Original Items: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of a German WWII Luftwaffe Officer’s Sword from a famous maker with great aluminum fittings. It also comes with a very hard to find vertical hanger clip, which is maker marked and dated 1939. It even is L.B.A. marked! This is mid-war produced example as early war examples were silver-frosted nickel alloy, however as the war continued they moved to the “air-age” aluminum material.
The reverse ricasso of this great sword is maker marked E. & F. HÖRSTER / SOLINGEN in an oval “lozenge” around the company’s trademark downward pointing sword piercing interlocking HHS initials. E. & F. Hörster & Co Gmbh, is a well-known maker from Solingen, the famous “City of Blades” in Western Germany, which marketed many fine edged weapons. The firm lasted long after WWII, finally being declared insolvent in 1996. For more information please see GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS by J. Anthony Carter. There is also a faint Luftwaffe Weimar eagle inspection stamp under the maker mark.
The 27 1/4″ blade is bright steel, and looks great, with only a few small imperfections. There are no chips or nicks in the edge on the blade, and a few minor areas of spotting prevent this blade from being mint. Truly an excellent example of WWII production blade from a well-regarded Solingen maker.
The fittings of this sword are bright aluminum, and show almost no age or damage. The pommel still has good, crisp edges and the oak leaves on the sides are in excellent condition with intact gilding. The “broken sun cross” swass on the pommel and cross guard also retain all of their original gilding, and look great. The cross guard arms are the downward sloping type being in three tiers and carved with lines to simulate feathering. These quillon arms still have good, crisp edges. The hilt is tight to the blade, with no wobble.
The grip is a fine blue Moroccan leather covered carved wood base. This leather is in good condition throughout and still has its original graining in the surfaces, with a few areas of wear. The grip is wrapped with double strands of silver coiled wire, which is in excellent condition.
The leather-covered metal scabbard of this example is straight throughout. The leather covering is excellent, with only a few tiny areas of wear to the finish. The scabbard is equipped with upper and lower matching bright aluminum mounts. These mounts are in fine condition and are retained by headless, flush mount screws which are all in place. The original matching leather crescent hanger is also in place with no signs of rot, just a bit of finish wear. This crescent hanger is equipped with a closed matching nickel box clip.
Attached to this is a very rare vertical hanger, which is something we have not had before. It shows some wear to the leather finish, but it is still solid. The design has a “hidden” aluminum clip, which is covered on both sides by leather. The back is maker marked and dated PAUL KLOPFER / BERLIN 1939, and also has an L.B.A. stamp, for the for Luftwaffebekleidungsamt (Air Force Clothing Office).
An excellent Luftwaffe Officer’s sword by a famous maker and 1939 dated vertical belt hanger, that has passed the test of time with flying colors. Ready to display!