Old German sword World war one (Vanity)big jpeg

NA ^ | april 18 2010 | Charlespg

[Charlespg]

old sword bought at antique shop over 20 years ago in Columbia SC

looking for info on original owner and wondered if any freepers could give me advice on were to start

sword is marked For faithful in German

sorry for the big jpeg dump

[Charlespg]

[Doogle]

http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/c-145-windlass-swords.aspx

[umgud]

Try Craigslist, but make the responders pony up proof.

[martin_fierro]

Appraisal of antiques

[Charlespg]

[GreenLanternCorps]

I’m not an expert by any means, but I would look to see if their are any markings that give information about the original owner.

1. Names

2. Any heraldic emblems such as a crest or coat-of-arms?

3. Anything indicating a German state that it is linked to?

While functionally one army, the Imperial German army was made up of the armies of each of the German states. (The Empire was a union of 4 Kingdoms, 6 Grand Duchies, 5 Duchies, 7 Principalities, 3 Free Cities, 1 Imperial Territory and the overseas colonies.)

Any of the above information should help you narrow it down.

[Polynikes]

Looks like a Prussian cavalry “Blucher” sabre, probably 19th century.

You can check around here for more info
http://www.swordforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=18

[Pontiac]

Are you looking for Sgt. Carraway or the German from whom he took the sword?

[max americana]

Try contacting BerlinFreeper..

[Polynikes]

Now that I saw the blade It looks like a civilian pattern dress sword insomuch as there doesn't appear to be a “hatchet” point that was used in the military patterns. The military sabres were blade heavy to facilitate heavy strong strokes from horse back.

[OldCorps]

off the top of my head, without doing any research, it appears to be a field sword in good condition (as opposed to a dress sword). Scabbard looks to be in excellent shape. Sword blade appears dark in your photographs, if that due to age ...that could be problematic. If dark sword blade is due to manufacturing, it might indicate low quality steel. Hilt, guard and sharkskin grip appear to be in good condition.

On the scabbard, i see only one attaching ring; is the other missing? If so, try to get it replaced.

Are you asking for the value or info on how to contact owner?

From a soldiers point of view, the rightful ownwer is SGT Caraway and his heirs, not anyone in Germany. Captured equipment belongs to those who captured it, not those who surrendered it.

[Charlespg]

Are you looking for Sgt. Carraway or the German from whom he took the sword?

I'd like to find out about Sgt. Carraway.

I bought this over about 20 years from a Antique store in Columbia SC

I cant tell if cn4365 is reference to his service number or what.

I would like to be able get some service record info on this gentleman if I can but with no unit info it is like searching for the proverbial needle in a hay stack

[Charlespg]

no markings but “officers supply” on the edge of the tang

and scroll work with the words “For fateful service”

[rahbert]

These guys might be able to help..

[China Clipper]

Looks like a Prussian cavalry “Blucher” sabre, probably 19th century.

hehehehe (Bevis and Butthead) "blücher!"

Horses winny and raise up on back hooves....

Blücher!!!

[COBOL2Java]

Rick will give you $50 for it and sell it for $500. Chumley will accidentally cut himself with it...

[Pontiac]

cant tell if cn4365 is reference to his service number or what.

I am guessing that is a Catalog Number for the store.