19th C German Officer's Short Sword - Bavarian Maximilian II

Description: This is quite a beautiful and rare item, unusual in design, as are many Bavarian swords. The lionhead pommel at the top of this "D" shaped knuckleguard is especially handsome. He's well detailed with jagged teeth in a snarling mouth, small cup-shaped ears, flared nostrils and a wavy mane that blends into the backstrap which is inserted into the ferrule. The construction design of this hilt assembly makes for a very solid grip with no wobble. The end of the guard is gripped by the lion’s mouth in an unusual fashion, with the lion's face butting against a scroll rather than having the guard jut directly into the lion's mouth. The grip is leather over wood with 3 strands of wire wrapping it. This part is in poor condition, but could be restored, if desired. You can see how the steel blade's iron tang extends up through the grip to where it ends, peened at the top of the lion's head. On the grip is a beautiful embossed medallion of King Maximilian II. He became King of Bavaria during the German Revolution of 1848 and reigned until 1864, so that dates this sword to the mid-19th century. The pommel and backstrap appear to be bronze which has a higher copper content than brass, giving it a reddish color with verdegris tarnish, as shown. The guard, the crossguard with its acorn quillon, and the sunflower langets are all solid brass. The leather hilt washer has survived mostly intact. The 22.5" single-edge blade has a broad, shallow fuller on both sides, and, to facilitate thrusting attacks, a "false edge" on the back beginning 4.5" from the tip. It's a heavy and purposeful fighting blade that retains its sharp edges. There are some marks on the blade that I couldn't identify -- a beehive and others that are too obscured to make out. Total length: 27.25" including the 22.5" blade Weighs about 1.5 lbs.

Price: 350 USD

Location: Richmond, Virginia

End Time: 2025-01-02T11:31:28.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD