Private Purchase German 1889 Infantry Officer’s Swords

Here are two private purchase versions of the 1889 German Infantry Officer’s sword I more fully described in my last post.

The larger of the two was a nice quality sword when it was new. The difference between this and the arsenal sword I posted is a single strand of wire wrap instead of two wraps, and the grips appear to be pebbled leather. The guard is only slightly smaller than the arsenal version and has the typical folding, rather than fixed guard. Like the arsenal sword, this one has the royal cypher in the grip and the Prussian eagle on the guard. Unfortunately, it appears the blade was broken about 8 ½ inches down, and I think someone reattached the two pieces with an arc welder or the like. Most of the surface of the blade above and below the weld was completely ruined in the process.

I purchased the other sword on eBay cheap, thinking I would replace the blade on the first sword, and re-sell the hilt for parts. Only when it arrived did I realize how much difference there was in size. This second one is so much smaller, it almost appears to be a child’s sword next to the other. There is no way the blade tang would make it through the other hilt. This one sports a cheaper, damaged celluloid wrapped grip, and the wire and royal cypher have gone missing. The blade riccasso is maker marked with a set of scales surrounded by the letters ACS, for Alexander Coppell of Solingen.

The last photo displays the two swords with the sword from my last post.