Is Hörster a well known maker for Damast blades with golden enforced maker mark?

Further, is it easy to tell w/o seeing the tang if it is a real steel Damast blade or a etched steel blade "only".

thanks for any input,
Robert

I can't give you a complete answer here but I don't think most of the manufacturers forged their own damascus sword blades. With demand low,at least during the 3rd Reich period, I suspect these were "farmed out" to subcontractors and then fitted out by the particular sword manufacturer.
It's really IMO not necessary to see the tang on a sword to tell if it's really damascus steel as it's usually very apparent upon close inspection. Those "etched damascus" examples,again IMO, aren't even close.
Perhaps someone else can provide a more definitive answer for you.
Jim

I agree with your statements Jim.
Will see to get more info's for that I am behind right now.

So I missed this sword and can bite myself big time, also that I stopped bidding around 7k Euro.

Rosedamast, all letter golden, one side "Deutsch sein heisst Kämpfer sein" Otherside, Rittmeister Frh. v. Brück s/l Freiherr Gr. v. Wartenburg.

Really I should bit more not to loose it, when you find something like this a 2nd time presented and given for such III.Reich personality's. I bet Weitze was my competitor but who knows

Robert, The auctioneer brought that sword to the MAX. Many had examined it and found it to be authentic. I had examined it also. A beautiful 100% period 'etched' damascus sword -IMHO-.

Note also in his discription it was listed as 'Damascus style'. Yes, Horster had produced some real nice etched damascus blades with raised gilt lettering with the Horster logo just like that.

There were quite a few dealers that wanted that one.


-serge-

I never saw the sword at the MAX but if it was not a true Damascus blade but a false etched pattern to look like Damascus This does not trip my trigger and you have to be very careful about these.....Period swords etched to look like Damascus are quite rare.As I said I did not see the sword and this is my personal taste.. Regards: James

Gents here are some pics of the sword

The sword I talk about was not at the MAX as it resided till some days ago all the time in Germany, maybe still is. What the inscription was I posted in my upper post. Also the auctioneer did not came to the MAX.

Sorry Robert - meant to say of a Hörster damas currently up for auction.

Yes, Sturm...that's the one I thought Robert was refering to.
Any comments on that one Damast ?

-serge-

I will post photos over the next view days when I have more time (from the catalog). Value, I think like with % 8-9k Euro is overvalued somehow. But it's all pending how much u love and want it ...

To me from the pictures above the blade is acid etched to look like Damascus... Yes they did make original ones. Regards: James

This is an interesting thread so I thought I would add some info about a damascus sword I have owned for some years now. I was asked to research it by Art Sylvie and ended up buying it. The sword is dated to 1926 and was a presentation to the commander of the Schutzpolizei named Petri from the city of Cologne on the occasion of the departure of occupying English troops in March of that year. From the photos here, I believe the damascus pattern is maiden hair. The pattern can be seen beneath the inscriptions. The maker is WKC. All is quite nice, though I think the scabbard is possibly repainted.








The fascinating story of this sword is that when I searched for the history of Cologne at this time, I found that Konrad Adenhauer was the Mayor until expelled by the Nazis in 1933. Searching in some Adenhauer photo books, I came across a photo of the Police Commander of Cologne wearing this sword and saluting Adenhauer while he was accompanying President Hindenburg on a tour of the city.

hello-this sword is not maidenhair much nicer pattern than maidenhair. i would call it rosebud pattern. i would like to see what the real experts think anyway it is a beautiful sword. thanks for showing it. paul

Thanks for the compliments Paul. I am going by memory on the pattern. Quite frankly, it looks like peacock feathers.

But it is the history of the piece that enthralled me.

Very nice sword Joe!.. I have seen it pictured in several books. The Damascus pattern is for sure (band) or some call it a(ladder pattern). See you at the S.O.S. ? Regards: James

James, thank you for the info. Wasn't sure of the pattern. I allowed Jack Angolia to picture it in his Swords of the III Reich book, along with the engraved/presentation SS-Police Officer sword. I have not been able to find any history on that one.

A great presentation Polizei sword Joe. Band Damast is what it is listed as in the catalogs. I like it!

Thank you for the confirmation of the pattern name George.