Germany, Wehrmacht. An Early and Unique Dedicated Officer’s Sabre, by Clemen & Jung

(Heer Säbel für Offiziere). A unique Heer Officer’s sabre, measuring 97.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features an 84 mm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and with a narrow fuller running approximately two-thirds of the length of each side. The lower third features intricate acid-etched arabesque latticework, while the obverse is inset with a void bearing a carefully-engraved dedication of “IN EWIGER TREUE, DEINE INGE” (“IN ETERNAL LOYALTY, YOUR INGE”), indicating that the sword was likely a gift to the recipient from his wife. The reverse ricasso is maker marked with the logo of Clemen & Jung, Solingen. The blade sits securely within a multi-piece hilt featuring a crossguard with double-sided medallions, with a hand guard emanating from the lower edge and connecting to a back strap, all bearing etched oak leaf designs. An intact blade leather buffer pad covers the seam where the blade meets the hilt. The handle grip is composed of a ribbed wooden core encased within a layer of black celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled wire cord. Wrapped around the hilt is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a dark green leather strap. The sabre is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a black painted magnetic metal shaft. The upper quarter of the shaft has an integral band accommodating a loop for the use of a hanger. The throat also retains a functional catch to firmly hold the sabre in place during storage. The sabre demonstrates issues consistent with age and wear, including some running marks and sporadic chipping to the lower edge, in addition to moderate loss of finish to the scabbard shaft. This early Third Reich example dedicated from a loved one remains in a better than very fine condition.