Germany, Imperial. An M1890 Navy Officer’s Sabre, by P.D. Lüneschloss

(Kaiserliche Marine Säbel für Offiziere). A well-preserved Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) Officer’s sabre, measuring 83 cm in total length. It features a 70 mm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains factory-original sharpening to both the tip and lower edge. Acid-etched imagery encompasses approximately two-thirds of each side of the blade, and consists of central fouled anchors surrounded by tall ships and arabesque latticework. The reverse ricasso bears a partially-legible maker’s mark of “P.D. LÜNESCHLOSS, SOLINGEN”, while the spine and obverse ricasso bear national and local acceptance marks. The blade sits securely within a multi-piece hilt featuring a gilded brass crossguard, handle guard, and backstrap which culminates in a double-sided lion head pommel. A raised fouled anchor emerges from the obverse of the crossguard, and is topped by a German State Crown, while the reverse of the crossguard features a clamshell-style medallion set on a functional swivel hinge. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed off-white imitation bone, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted wire cord. With its scabbard lost to time, the sabre also demonstrates minor issues consistent with age and wear, including running marks and minor surface oxidation throughout the blade, some fatigue to the gilt finish of the hilt fixtures, and a crack running lengthwise along the handle. This Officer’s sabre remains in a very fine condition.