UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons German Sword & Miniatures Forum 1936 Shooting award sword WKC

I bought this at a Kassel show in 2013, fell in love with it the first time I saw it, just couldn't resist the unusual features and the finish on this sword.
Name to a Friedrich Krumwiede from Garde Komp Bevensen and dated 1936. The reverse blade has the foliate designs with the garde star.
There are still area's of gilt on the hilt, normally you would expect a black painted or Nickel finish scabbard but this one is different, I believe this scabbard was gilded, there are a couple of spots still left, one under the langet and a small section lower on the scabbard, I'm open to opinions on the finish and whether the hilt is from an earlier period though I suspect it isn't, I think it was probably specially ordered in 1936 as a throwback on an earlier style sword, the blade is marked WKC under the langet. It came with this knot which is a senior forestry type and with the black leather strap, I believe both to be original to the sword, if I pull back the knot there is full gilt on the ferrel, it's certainly been on there a long time.

Gary

That's a sweet looking sword Gary.
Is that brass scabbard ?

Ivan
It's steel based, I believe it was originally gilded.
Friedrich Krumwiede is listed in the Gardeschützen section as "Alte Kamfer" (Old Warrior) in the history of this shooting club, he was the last champion in 1939 before the war and held it until 1949 when the shooting competition started again.

Gary

Wow,you found really good one.

Great etch!

John

A nice sword! I too think the scabbard was originally gilt. The Portepee looks to be original to the sword as well.

Was a gilded scabbard an extra cost at this time, when I bought this sword I hadn't heard of it before, I've not seen another since and cannot find anything about this in any period reference. What a looker it must have been when new.

Thanks

Gary

A most interesting sword to see. Thank you for sharing it.

--dj--Joe

Nice sword!

Somewhere I have a page out of a WKC Catalog that has both that hilt, langet shown. The catalog also has 3 Reich hilts available, so it must be very early. The blade itself is most likely Imperial. Damast has all the catalogs, he would be the best one to get an opinion from.

Brian
Thank you for your input, as I said I believe it to be a hilt style from an earlier period, the blade though is 3rd Reich all the way, it has a WKC mark from the mid 1930's, it's so tight under the langet I can't get a clear picture of it. The etch though might be a style from the Imperial period if that is what you mean.

Thank you for all the comments, there's still much to learn about this sword.

Gary

Here is the maker mark.

Gary

Double head Lions head swords are harder to find during that era.

I tend to think at least the etch if not the blade itself is Imperial. I would closely examine the top of the lionhead.

Here's a picture of the top of the lionhead, I do not think it has been re-hilted, I believe it was a special order at the time. You can clearly see the makers mark is for the mid 1930's and you may have missed the blade is dated 1936.

Gary

No, I saw the date. Considering
that it would not be possible to switch a date. So you are right. I still would like to get Damast's opinion.

Hello: Brian and Gary
Just came across this thread...
Thank you Brian for the ( see what I think ) post..
But believe me in this case Gary has hit the nail on the head....
Shooting association swords can be quite a mix of styles. Seen many with plated nickel scabbards and always a mix in styles of hilts.
But a gold in color scabbard is very neat and of course the 1936 date..
Yes can find the hilt etc.. in a catalog but most shooting association swords will have a (generic) if I can use that term hilt..
Of course the shooting prize swords of the Army are a whole different deal...

Again,thanks Brian for the your confidence but Gary sure does not need me to bless this as he is (VERY EDUCATED) collector....
Gary and I both appreciate the importance of source document material and he has some catalogs I would like!!!
Gary just a little joke with the picture....

To understand why there is a military theme to the sword with "Garde Komp" and the "Garde Star" on the reverse blade you have to firstly understand the structure of this particular shooting club, it is split into three different parts, you have the Jäger Kompanie, Schützen Kompanie and Garde Kompanie, our guy was in the Garde Kompanie. I personally think that anything was available during this period as long as you had enough money.

Thank you to all

Gary