Original Imperial German WWI Artillery Officer Sword Dated 1897 by Otto Mertens of Solingen with Unit Marking Hotchkiss .303 the receiver rear

the receiver rear

and a Dutch squadron including the much bigger Dutch Frigate MARIA REIGERSBERGEN

The black ten fingered leather liner is marked 1905 and 1906 with some other markings on the underside of two of the fingers

The design was intended to give the average Japanese infantryman a long enough reach to pierce the abdomen of a cavalryman

Bauman Pilot

Original Imperial German WWI Artillery Officer Sword Dated 1897 by Otto Mertens of Solingen with Unit Marking Hotchkiss .303 the receiver rearOriginal item. One Only. Despite the machine guns and artillery, swords were still issued to officers in WW1. This is a fine example of the German Artillery Officer's Sword commonly referred to as the "Blcher Sabel" named for the Prussian Commander who was ally to the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. This example is in fine condition showing really nice condition and stamped on the spine of the ricasso is a small Crown over W over