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Please be sure to visit our Kaiser Wilhelm II
collection.
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Prussian Cuirassier Saber (presentation grade) (Item KWEPS 4-1)
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is a spectacular example of the Prussian Cuirassier broadsword (Preussische Kürassier Pallasch. The Garde Cuirassier Regiment and the famous Garde du Corps Regiment of Berlin and Potsdam carried this style of sword fashioned after the French First Empire model, AN XI 1802-1803. Early in the period captured French swords like these were carried by various Prussian units as described above. Then German sword smiths turned to making their own versions for these elite units. TheGarde du Corps Regiment carried this sword until 1850 and Garde Kürassier regiments carried it until 1879. In its normal wear pattern it was with a plain black-painted scabbard. Thomas Wittman in his hornbook on the German words and daggers on page 165 says that one of the most sought-after Degen were carried by Cuirassier regiments (heavy, mounted cavalry). He says these elite horsemen wore the steel-breast and back-plate armor with the beautiful lobster-tail helmets. He shows a fine example of one of these swords from his personal collection, but, the similarity of that one and the one we offer ends there. The very special Degen that we have is probably unique, beautiful, and with a mystery. First, the hilt typically, but not so typical in that this one is heavily gold plated and has a wonderful palm-leaf-etched design similar to the style for general officers in the French regiments. The grip is wrapped in fish skin with a triple silver-wire wrap. The entire offering at this point is unique! Now the real surprise!!! The blade is of the finest darkened steel with double, highly raised blood pullers, or grooves. As would be expected, the sword is by WKC (Weyersberg-Kirschbaum and Co.) of Solingen. After the company found on the back strap of the blade, 9 inches are decorated with high-relief leaf pattern in gold chasing. The sword is massive with the blade being 36 inches long. The entire length when in the scabbard is about 50 inches. The blade is gorgeous to the sight of a sword fancier. The panels on the front show in exquisite detail the stylized Prussian eagle with Cuirassier sword. Behind it a set of Cuirassier armor and helmet appear above the eagle. Above this two Prussian standards thrust through a victory laurel wreath. More swords, kettle drum, bugle, etc. are surrounded by oak leaves and other floral decorations.
In the center of all this is the Wilhelm II cipher surmounted with the Prussian crown. All of this is in exquisite detailed appliqué raised and highlighted in gold laid upon a Prussian black background. Now, on the reverse of the blade it has writing in “Wilhelmesque” letters that read: “Ehrenpreis für Hervorragende Leistungen auf der Kriegs-Akademie dem Ser. Lieutenant ------------- vom Garde, Kürassier Regiment.” This translates to: “Honor prize for outstanding achievement at the War Academy for the honorable Lieutenant (blank) of the Cuirassier Guard Regiment.” To us at Germania the missing lieutenant’s name is the most interesting feature of this magnificent sword. Obviously, the academy had a very special weapon crafted by the finest blade manufacture in all of Europe; a special sword among such pieces and then left out the name of the recipient. This is bizarre! Was the name to be added later perhaps to the junior officer who had not been selected as yet? Was a name removed (unlikely)? Well, that’s our mystery. If anyone has further theories, please contact us. The scabbard on this sword is also unusual. Instead of being the rather clunky brown or black printed on its plain-Jane cousins, this piece of Imperial glamour has a special crafted steel scabbard of the type used on horseback in high-dress gala functions. This lieutenant, whoever he was to be, would have received one of the finest Imperial Prussian swords we have ever encountered of this particular style. This is a truly beautiful museum piece of prestigious importance.
PRICE: $4,850.00 |
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Massive Prussian Officer’s Saber in Damascus Steel (Item KWEPS 4-2)
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| DESCRIPTION: This is one of the most magnificent imperial swords we have ever seen in any collection and even most German museums do not number a sword this fine in their inventory. This is one very massive sword with true Damascus blade and wonderful, highly engraved décor. It is naturally a presentation from one Prussian noble to another. The “s/l” you see on the blade stands for “Seinen Leben,” or “…to my dear friend…” Both men are ‘vons,’ the attachment of Germanic nobility. The sword was presented in fond memory of their time spent as comrades in the Kriegsschule (War Academy) in the city of Hannover from 1895 to 1895. The sword is elegant plus. Its blade is such that it must have been a very expensive item in its day. Running ones fingers over the relief letters and floral design one realizes the sharpness of supreme quality that attends this sword. You might just agree that here is an exceptional weapon that is as good as they could ever be and then some! This massive sword is 41 inches long in its scabbard. The blade at the thickest point is about 1 3/4 inches wide. The blade is 34 inches long. The languet as continuation of the ‘D’ guard is decorated with a lettered overlay in silver that is very intricate and involved, but probably works out to initials of the recipient. The eyes in the lion-head pommel are either rubies or garnets. The back languet has an engraved crest and this is possibly the crest of the fortunate recipient. Because the languet covers that portion of the blade it is difficult to see it. There is a maker’s logo or signature and we believe there are none. However, the quality of the sword screams ‘W.K.C.” (Weyersberg, Kirshbaum, & Co.). Here is the finest type of Damascus steel employed as well in the beautiful tree-bark pattern. For condition overall this piece would rate as excellent double plus. The leather on the grip wrapped with silver wire is in excellent shape. A collector would be hard pressed to ever find a sword as fine as this one. We have attended the German Waffenborse (arms shows) for many years now and never have seen one as good as this ever offered. This is surely the epitome of Deutscher Säbel.
PRICE: $12,850.00 |
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Tunic and Sword of Diplomatic Service (Item KWEPS 4-3; KUNIFORMS 1-1)
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| DESCRIPTION: Here in all its imperial glory is the official tunic and the beautiful sword of the Kaiser’s Diplomatic Corps. No uniform of the Reich of Kaiser Wilhelm II was as absolutely gorgeous and grandiose as this. The tunic is fabulously decorated in gold bullion brocade in floral pattern. Six gold-colored buttons with the Prussian eagle escutcheon are to be seen on the front, while two more adorn the tails. The red collar and cuffs are also seen to be highly decorated with this wonderful bullion material. The lining is a fine silk grey sheen material. The pocket flaps are also decorated with the floral design that is reminiscent of the baroque period of Frederick the Great of Prussia and this uniform is as a matter of fact very “Fredrichen” (elegance personified!). The sword that is worn with scabbard thrust through a slot in the tunic is the finest Prussian diplomatic sword we have ever seen in collections or in museum displays. It has the wonderful gilded finish that shows very good former custodianship. All finish is bright and only worn a bit at the d-guard and eagle’s beak (the two spots that would get constant exposure to the hands of the wearer). The grips are of unblemished fine mother-of-pearl. The dramatic Prussian eagle is surmounted by the Prussian crown on the clamshell guard. The eagle-head pommel is bold and defiant as he clutches the D-guard that flows artistically into the rest of the distinct pattern. The whole of the sword is 34 inches long with the scabbard. The blade is 28 inches long. If you get it to the correct angle with a magnifying glass you can see the king’s head and knight’s head logos side by side under the clamshell guard. This logo is for the WKC Company (Weyersburg, Kirshbaum & Co., Solingen), the most prestigious and prolific of the Solingen shops and factories. The blade is finely etched with tightly patterned floral design on both sides and even down the spine. In the center of the obverse side in the middle one can perceive the beautiful national eagle of the Reich. This sword is in the white scabbard used only for high-dress occasions. The black would be only for court use. There are honest age cracks throughout, but with continuing care they aren’t going anywhere. The sword has obviously been kept with the dignity it deserves.
PRICE: SOLD
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Saxon Left-handed Dagger; circa 1590-1610 (Item KWEPS 4-4; LAND 1-8; OLD 5-8)
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a fine example of the famed left-handed dagger of dueling fame. This one with straight cross guard is unlike the type used with long curved cross guards that were used to deflect or entrap the sword of the opponent while thrusting it into him in the meanwhile. The dagger has the loop known as a “side ring” (handy for the thumb and for trapping the opponent’s blade). It has the steel hilt with fine wire-wrapped grip. It’s of extra-fine quality. The four-cornered armor-piercing blade is with lethal point. Blade shows ancient pitting, but is excellent, otherwise. It has the fine ball pommel of the typical Germanic style. It has a star-shaped armorer’s stamp on the blade just below the cross guard. The blade is 10 inches long. The entire length is 15 inches. This is just as nice of an example of a museum-worthy piece we have yet encountered. Examples as fine as this one do not show up often.
PRICE: $2,400.00
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German Heraldic Shield (Item KWEPS 4-6; OLD 6-3)
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a museum piece extraordinaire. In the late 1800s, the time of the Franco-Prussian War's conclusion in 1871-1874, there was a broad sense of nationalism in Germany and the patriotic people invited many foreign nationals to visit their museums and especially their castles. Special foundations were formed with the purpose of convincing the collectors and others who had Germanic weapons, armor, shields, spears, and old firearms, to donate them to Kaiserlisch government to be placed in castles that had been systematically looted over the period in which they were, for the most part, uninhabited. The Burgers cooperated to a great extent and thousands of such pieces now graced the castle walls once again. This particular relic is not a shield made for warfare, rather it is a heraldic shield made possibly in the late 18th century, or the early 19th century with the express purpose to hang with dozens of others in a banquet hall of a castle. The various shields represented the knights of the district that feasted there. It is crafted in wood floral, raised decor painted in gilt color all around its edges. The rampant lion indicates that this was representing a Bavarian knight. The stripes usually indicate minor royalty, while the three crescents represent Germanic victory by Prince Eugene of Savoy over the Muslim hoards in the late 1600s. Many Bavarian freebooters joined that effort; later the Bavarians were pitted against Eugene. The shield measures 43 inches high and 23 inches across the widest point. It has been repaired across the centuries, but is holding well and is very dramatically beautiful to the avid Germanophile. This is a rare and real museum piece, personified.
PRICE: $890.00
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Contact Us
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
Please E-mail for any additional information you may need.
If you prefer, contact 'Germania' at PO Box 68, Lakemont, GA 30552
or call at 706.782.1668.
Please! do not call during the wee hours of the morning. The best time for calling us is between 9 and 11 am and between 9 and 11 pm eastern time.
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