UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons German Sword & Miniatures Forum Damascus Sword on Ebay

I know I have to let go, but this whole thread started with a in your face look what I bought..
I was bidding on this thing and not happy with either of the people... I guess I have to stop pouting.

Do not know if it of relevance as I do not understand the interesting discussion in each detail according to my limited knowledge on the english language.
But here is a pic of a very close relative of mine (later lieutenant during war) as a private wearing a sabre as he was with mounted artillery troops. As you can see it is NO studio photograph but worn in public.
Regards

Wotan, That is perfectly acceptable, and is why the private purchase Mannschafts�bel is listed in period sales catalogs. In a holdover from Imperial era traditions infantry wore bayonets off duty, and mounted soldiers carried swords.

Very nice photograph! Regards, FP

The shooting prize sword was sold to another dealer at the MAX.At least I could look at it when this dealer had it.

anyone know when the Max show Gazette is printed?

After shooting my mouth off about this sword (based on the photographic images), I finally got to look at it on Helmut Weitze's table at the MAX (I don't know if he owns it, or is fronting it for someone else)- but guess what! All my opinions seem to be validated.

There are numerable questionable features on this sword - and they need to be explained. So far from my indulgence in "trashing the treasures of this hobby" - as I was so glibly dismissed by another worthy peer - I think that we need to look more closely at them; because once one faked up item is accepted, then it becomes so much easier to work more faked up pieces through the system.
I stand by my original comments - things are not right with this sword.

FJS

and just what questionable features are you talking about here?

Who has this sword?
I didnt see it at the MAX.

On these swords is the Blade peened over on top the hilt or does it have a Threaded tang with a Spanner nut.

Sorry I just noticed the pic of the spanner nut on top.

I find this whole discussion rather funny. Frankly, my best aquisition at the MAX show was Fred Stephens' wrist watch, which I wore on Halloween with my short-sleeve powder blue leisure suit. Thanks, Fred!

I was standing there when the 'presentation" was made and I can attest to the fact that Craig unquestionably received a 100% original Frederick J Stephens wristwatch.
A blue leisure suit Craig? And the authorities let you walk around in it??
Jim

Craig,

I am delighted you are so pleased with the wrist watch - I am sure that you will consider it to be a lucky talisman and a future family heirloom.

Next time we meet up please bring it along - and I will explain to you what it means when: the large hand is on one number; and the smaller hand is on another one.

FJS

Marine Pics

Craig Got any of you in the Dress Blues? and the Baby Blue Leisure suit.

Right, Gentlemen,

I have been off-line for some time - but can now offer some further information:

Here are some images of the sword under discussion. The details which I will explain below are those that I have detected purely from the images of the sword that were available on the Internet. That I was also able to examine the same sword at the MAX allowed me to confirm for certain that my observations were correct - therefore I will explain why I find some features on this to be questionable.

First Image: This is a view of the top of the hilt, the locking nut and acceptance mark being clearly visible. Take a look at the engraving of the �acorn� to the right side - note that the engraving is not quite as precise as it ought to be - well not in my opinion, and after all this is a prestigeous �Honour Prize� Sword, and yet sloppy engraving like this is accepted as normal? I think not! In fact I defy any notable collector/dealer to stand up and state that this is perfectly normal, quality engraving.

Photo Group 2:
There is quite a lot to be seen here. Firstly, images of the inscription 1, and 1a. The inscription is unnaturally letterspaced, and it has been formed freehand, apparently not via a master template. The artist has attempted to make the main line of the inscription fill the entire length of the panel - and therefore has spread the lettering accordingly. This is indicative of someone who is not familiar with penning calligraphic inscriptions and therefore spaces the individual letters too wide.

Image 1a is of the second line - the word Ehrenpreis. The letter spacing is even more accentuated here.

All the other letters of the main line of the inscription (Oberkommando des Heeres) have been separated and grouped according to their order of appearance. The size of the letters in each particular line are exactly to scale with each other.

Grouping 2 relates to the letter �e�, the most common letter in the inscription, and note that each of the �e�s is different. The first example is notably so, being fat and and squat - and base of the stroke is almost flat. There are differences in the individual heights of each of these letters - technically this is known as the �x-height� - as well as in the body construction ofv each letter; and yet each letter has been duplicated at the exact same scale. A professional Lettering Artist would not have allowed so many differences within the same letter group to exist - he was employed to make sure that such inscriptions did not display such varied differencies.

Group 3) The letters �s� - the differences between the two �identical letters� are also obvious.

Groups 4, 5, and 6) This grouping of continuity is interesting :
The group 4 has an interesting feature, all the letters appear to be sloping slightly backwards - to the left as seen by the viewer. The also appear to be slightly higher on the left, with the �Ob� above the base-line, whereas the �er� seems to sit upon the base-line.
Group 5) Appears to show that the letters are now formed in a completely �upright� posture.
Groups 6) All still mostly �upright� - but the letters �r� and �s� seem to show an inclination lean towards the right.
The change of angle of the letters of the inscription is an unprofessional way of forming the inscription.

Group 7) This grouping shows the close proximity of the upper line, with the line beneath it. Technically, both lines of text are too large in their type height - even though the lower line is in a reduced size. The failing is that the top of the lower line almost touches the base of the upper line, and leaves no room for any descender character (gpqy, etc) to fit - especially so if the lower line features an ascender character (bdhifkl, etc).

Based on these observations, I would express my belief that execution of this inscription is not up to the standards of the professional craftsman, and particularly so the pre-war craftsman. The blade and inscription I believe are post-war - and I have reasonable grounds to believe that the entire sword is a post war construction.

Of course, I appreciate that some people may disagree with me, and state that I am being too particular, or finically, And that failings and blemishes in craftsmanship are the norm for German armourer - yet somehow I personally just cannot agree with this line of thought. The craftsmanship may not always be �lazer perfect�, but I can�t believe that it would be so completely and continuously flawed as seen on the example under review

FJS
I have my first image ready to submit, I will follow this with my second image (I hope!).

Here is the sec0nd image, to complement my previous text.

Fred--There is nothing wrong with this sword. Anything you magnify this much will show some flaws. You may not like the "quality" when you magnify this much and you seem to be stuck on this quality issue or require the exact font that YOU say is correct. Everything German is not of the highest quality and this has been shown many many times. The sword was not made for you or for us. I doubt if you will find ANY experienced collector or dealer who will agree with you. That should tell you something but I doubt if it will.
You are WAAAAY out there by yourself when it comes to some of your newer conclusions.

That's OK Houston, I respect your right to your opinion - and no hard feelings that it is different to mine. However, I am not prepared to accept that sloppy workmanship is the norm for German artifacts (you sound just like Craig, when to make that claim). If you want to consider the engraving on the pommel - well take a look at the engraving on the official presentation pistols, you will not find crude "acorns" as on this piece.

My comments about the lettering are equally correct, I know what standards and consistent accuracy can be achieved - because that is the purpose and objective of the professional lettering artist. That the lettering construction falls far short of those standards in this particular case gives the game away.

So I don't mind if you think I am way off with my explanations. I am happy with my knowledge and interpretation, and I am prepared to stand alone regardless of what others may say.

I might not be so way off after all - maybe I am way up front!

Best regards

FJS

I respect everyones opinions on this subject and my most important, but personal, comment is that I would not want to own that sword. I think it would be a tough resell.

Fred makes some excellent points on the supposed importance of the sword and the lack of important detail that the sword has been reduced to a novelty in my eyes.

"Buy the sword, not the story". It really seems to apply here. Anything that was that important (supposedly) was not done with much pride or attention to detail.

Then again, I must emphasize I have gone over to the porcelain side of things and it's only my personal and uneducated opinion.

The ramblings of an old man, if you will.

Mark

I have to agree with Mark here and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I too looked at this sword at the MAX and while I don't have Freds depth of knowledge about etching there's something about it that makes me uneasy. I for one felt that the blue in the panel is "off" as I don't remember seeing that particular shade before.
Jim

I do not have to buy the story. These swords are real pre 1945!! I own a 1938 and a 1933 shooting prize sword and know of others in GREAT collections. And they all have same styles and workmanship. When you guys have seen 6 or more of these that are real like I have talk about it then. This is what I collect damascus swords,I own my own tool and die shop and have been collecting damascus swords for 30 years. Fred there is a shooting prize sword from 1933 in the New Johnson sword book (I think you wrote the intro. to this book) with a Eickhorn Roon handworked hilt waffen marked. These swords have been out in the collecting world awhile very surprised you have not seen them before.
You guys are wayyyyyyy! off on this No doubt about it.

DAMAST is 100% correct. Negative comments about one example of anything in the hobby when that is all you have seen and/or you don't really know the history of the collecting of the item at all, is a bad thing to do to the hobby as a whole. Do you want to destroy the hobby as a whole? What is your purpose in making these comments? Think about it. How would you feel about someone who makes a negative uninformed irresponsible comment about something YOU have studied and collect?

Also--These swords are very beautiful in hand and any blade collector would be proud to own one. Contrary to what has been said the hand workmanship is wonderful for the time.
These swords are very much in demand and I could sell this sword right now to a number of experienced collectors who know what it is and would love to have it.

There are MANY manufacturing techniques in ANY produced product.
Examples:
You can see major quality differences between Eickhorn and ACS GO official daggers.

Boker has a problem with pimpling of the SS motto vs Eickhorn. I have a Boker SS with a perfect motto but have seen some with a bleeding issue w/ a pimpling effect.

Alcoso IMO was a lousy caster. WHY look at the quality of diecast products they made. Lots of pitting and poor definition & lack of detail on castings (due to cheap tooling and lack of process knowledge)

Just because a German product not super quality does not mean its bad. Case and point, Land Customs daggers (junky IMO)

Since there has been a lot of "speculation" here let's speculate a bit more here and we may understand how this and other swords of this type were made. My speculation here is based on my experience with government purchases.

The order was placed for the sword by the Army. Perhaps it was the lowest bid-perhaps they were donations by the blade firms-perhaps they used several firms to spread the orders around. Did the Army or the firms want to spend unlimited time and money for or making these swords? I think not. They were for morale and to encourage good marksmanship. They were for the lower ranks-- maybe a Captain--but no Generals. They were to give a spectacular impression but not for extreme examination under magnification. They did not have to please someone with exacting taste-no individual who was buying it for himself or a relative-just some purchasing agent. So--was it their "best" work? Probably not, but still very good and pleasing to the unmagnified eye.
The hilt--did they make it special for these swords? I think not-the hilts are standard. I suspect they just picked one-no magnification involved.--and these hilts were not engraved by Walther/Mauser quality master gun engravers-just a factory worker-a bit crude by gun engaving standards but OK for the standard edged weapon for sale to soldiers. So there you have it, IMO a good speculation as to how these swords were made, the circumstances and the result. As I said before-they were not made for us--and the cost was a factor.
Now--if the sword was for Herman-a different ball game. The wedding sword is testimony to that-almost no limit to cost or time. Not the case here, IMO.

Gentlemen,

Let me see if I can explain myself clearly to you - as my comments are obviously being viewed as contentious. In my opinion there are features on that sword which I consider to be very questionable. This is not an off-hand comment, I do know what quality workmanship is, and I do know if I am looking at it - even on an item that I have never handled before.

I do not dispute that this form of heavily engraved, plain hilted sabre, was the official form of Prize Sword awarded by the OKH - that is not the argument. It is my belief that this particular item is not an authentic example of such a sword; it is my belief that this is a very modern construction - and that belief is bolstered by my observation of what I perceive to be notable failings in the engraving on the pommel, and the construction of the lettering of the blade etch. This is not to say that the etching is badly done - only that it accurately reflects the original poor penmanship of the inscription.

I have visibly demonstrated with my photo details where I see these failings to be. If my observations are to be disputed, then please demonstrate this to me by offering examples in a counter argument. I do not have a closed mind on this - I am willing to learn by example. Shouting me down does not, in my opinion, constitute any form of evidence.

Damast: I appreciate your commentary - and if I am correct, we had a chat at the MAX Show? As I have stated previously, I do not dispute the authentic existence of these Prize Swords - what I am disputing is the presumed authenticity of the example in question. You state that you have two original examples - I am willing to accept that at face value. For the sake of edification would you be willing to post some close-up images of part of the inscriptions? I would like to consider these.

Houston: you present some very good debate - and I must take my hat off to you in admiration for your skilled defence of the arguments. You make the statement:
.......................................
So--was it their "best" work? Probably not, but still very good and pleasing to the unmagnified eye.
.......................................
Well, you should now ask yourself: If this was not their �best� work, why did they debase such a superb damascus blade with such a poorly formed inscription?

The second point might be - the Hermann Goring Wedding Sword aside - there are thousands of dress bayonets with presentation inscriptions, but few of them display the inscription failings that are evident on this sword. Why should that be? An OKH Prize Sword can reveal a poorly crafted inscription, but a common dress bayonet can feature a perfectly formed inscription? I am sorry, but this kind of rationale does not compute with me.

Regarding a comment in your last but one response; NO I do not wish to destroy this hobby as a whole. My purpose in making comments is to alert collectors to identifiable features which they might not have been hitherto aware of. I draw attention to things which might have previously been brushed aside as �perfectly authentic� by some young dealer who has not the comprehension to know what the differences might be. I get a lot of flak for refusing to bow to �popular opinion�.

Houston, I credit you with knowledge, and experience, and a definite wisdom in Third Reich blades. All I am asking of you is that if you disagree with my analysis of this item, then please put up some visible evidence that that contradicts my claims of evidence. That can�t be too hard - after all I put up my evidence.

Best regards

FJS

Evidence Fred? One example? No, IMO speculation.
Now I KNOW there are other swords of this almost exact pattern out there and I would speculate that they all have the same or very similiar characteristics--and I don't believe they are all fakes---none in fact. But I don't own the swords or have the photos to counter you--but I hope someone would--Damast??
-- But there again--if they have the same characteristics-and I believe they do---I can guess what you will say but --I say again--experienced collectors who own and who have studied these swords for years do not agree with you--but that means nothing to you--and that IMO is your major mistake in making some of your recent statements.
and--you did say something strange--why would a fake inscription be applied to a fine damast blade. Are you saying the damast blade is fake--or not? and if not why use a good blade to make a complex fake-why not a Knight's Cross winner Army dagger-No damast needed to get the same money?--and a whole lot easier. Making a complex fake is not "money wise" when the same money can be had for less trouble. No logic here at all.IMO.
Oh--and the dress bayonet/sword etched thing. MANY --not few have imperfections. FEW , if any can be considered perfect. All or almost all can be torn apart under magnification for one feature or another.

Take a messed up Plain blade IMPERIAL Damascus...Get it polished and re dipped...NOT expensive


Get a New dedication added which "Looks" OK to an untrained eye...A few bucks.

Put it together with a Hilt and if you have $2000 invested to sell it for $8900 that sounds perfectly worthwhile to me.Keep in mind prices maybe 10-15 years ago would be less all around but do-able.

Also I would think more records would be available on a Knights cross presentation piece versus the Shooting prize or am I backwards on this.

I was fortunate enought to see the sword laying on top of the dealers display case at the MAX and he gave me the opportunity to examine it.
I first noticed what Jim M. says the unusual shade of blue in the "panel". However what really caught my eye was exactly what Fred mentions about the letter spacing. And no, Fred was not there when I examined it. I don't know enought about lettering to tell anything except when Fred just mentioned it here...it's axactly what I thought when I looked at the blade. That I have never seen that type of wide spacing between lettering in any 3rd Reich blade. And the spacing in the word "Ehrenpreis" IMHO is outrageous.
Thank you Houston for posting images of the one you used to have. On yours the engraver solved the problem of the "Ehrenpreis" spacing by adding additional scrool work to either side of the word.
Maybe "Damast" has an example that he can show us that has similar characteristics so we can hope to make a comparisson.

Serge (wagner)

Damast--we need photos. But--while we are waiting-let's go through the process of making a fake like this and see if it would be "easy" and "cost effective" as indicated.
-To start--we need to know a hell of a lot about these swords-Fred has only seen one in all his years but we know all about them don't we? If we do we know it can not be cost effective to make one. Oh well, Let's do it anyway.
-First we must find a dog damast blade from the Imperial era. But wait-the vast majority of these blades are the quill back type and that's the wrong type for this era sword. We might look a LONG time or just grind it down -and we don't care how long it takes do we? Or--just have one made-who cares how much it costs?
-Then we must send it to the damast restoration master-this will also take a long time and will cost a lot but we don't care.
-Then we must find the magnified photos of an original-we gotta have the right pattern. Hmm-no one seems to have any. OK we'll just make up a pattern-and Wow! it turned out to be correct.
-Then we mist find the artist to do this -Hmm-another wait and large expense.
-Then we must find the place to do the etch-is there a sword factory around? Oh well-send it to Europe then-we don't care about another wait and the cost involved. Perhaps they can also do the blue work and the gold even though no one else seems to be able to do this properly.-Hey--now don't forget to polish each letter-we don't want the damast showing in the letters-damn the cost! damn!-got the color wrong-Oh well-who cares.
-OK now we need a proper hilt with the proper engraving. Now as far as I know Horster is the only firn who made these hilts with the spanner-but there might be another-but most exanples have the closed wing eagle--and rare as hen's teeth--Oh well we don't care about waiting do we? and we don't care about the cost of the additional sword to scrap for this project.
-OK -got the hilt--but damn! the spanner is wrong-it has a screw head and we need a two hole.--Oh yeah-we can use an Ordnance sword spanner-we don't care about scrapping another sword or the cost though. Damn! the Ordnance spanner is not the right size-or length-gotta fix this if we can. Rats!
-OK-so now we gotta thread the tang using the correct thread for the spanner-but we have all those tools-right. Heaven help us if the tang is too short or too small for the spanner. Then we have to bore a hole through the whole hilt put a correct rivet in ( got one in my pocket )and peen it without cracking the grip. Umm hmm. Damn! Oh well, what do we care about a little crack here and there? A little chip? Hmmm-- the gilt on the spanner does not match the hilt---the pin shows marks and the gilt is not right. Oh well.
-Now we need a scabbard that is blued of the correct length-Oh yeah -right there in the parts bin or just grind the Ordnance scabbard markings off and re-blue correctly leaving no trace.
-Now we need the correct waffen ampt stamp--Oh yeah right there in my pocket all the time-or if not we gotta have one made--I'm sure that would be cheap.
----and now we are done--a simple project--but let's see--It only took a couple of years and we spent just a HELL of a lot of money and time-Oh well.
--Oh yeah--not we gotta find some dude to put it on Ebay--We don't care about the costs to Ebay either or what we gotta pay him to do this fraud.

Now does this sound cost effective to anyone? Hmmm- I think we better go back to the fake Army and Luft blades if we have any money left.

I could be wrong but I don't think so--anyway I had fun writing this.

The SOS is coming soon--I hope you have all made your plans to attend.

Houston,

I will accept your last answer in the spirit with which it was given - tongue in cheek!! It is quite obvious that there are absolutely NO FAKES or forgeries in the world of Third Reich collectables. Fancy me thinking it could be otherwise! Obviously I have got it totally wrong - I must get myself a hair shirt, and start paying pennance for misleading the collectors of this world!!!

Now, let's get back to the serious business. About the only thing that you and I agree upon is that we need to see more photos of other pieces. We need to expand upon our understanding with other examples for analysis and comparison. Of course I note that you have already declared what you think my response to any such examples might be, because you imply that other examples will reveal the same features in the inscription that I declare to be questionable (isn't this the same as calling me guilty before you have reviewed all of the evidence?).

You make a comment about my reference to the damascus blade. Well there isn't really anything such as a fake damascus blade - I make this statement in the understanding that there are such things as artificial etch damascus blades (but they are merely etched blades) - the blade is either made of damascus steel, or it is not. End of that argument.

The point I was making is that here we have what seems to be a very well made damascus steel blade, and that the blade is further enhanced by etching and gilding etc. It is my opinion that the formation of the inscription falls far short of the accuracy and standards of the professional lettering artist.

I do not expect everybody to see this automatically, which is why I explained the observable distinctions earlier in this thread. It is up to the viewer to decide if he has any confidence in what I present.

I am sure that some other collector out there is going to put up a sword or dagger which has an inscription that meets all the criteria which I say should be present in the formation of the lettering - and it won't necessarily be a dedication to big fat Hermann. It will be a straight forward, unremarkable, personalised inscription (and probably not to a KC Winner or other notable), but it will be perfectly formed, and accurate in all ways - and my argument concerning the precision of lettering will be justified.

FJS

Houston

Your Over complicating these items.Everything you stated just shows how Ignorant you really are to the reproduction world.All you really need is 1 good reference photo and you'd get the gist of how its built.I have seen lots of items and Lots of talent... I know a guy who could make a presentation SA high leader with your name and picture on the blade...would it be cheap?...NO but it would get people thinking.And while we are at it MOST if not 90% of German items were made of very high quality and Craftsmanship.When these items were new they were Tight as ticks in every respect in Fit and Finish.German Craftsmanship cannot be slapped down so quickly with a click of a mouse pad,just saying it does not make it true and to keep repeating it just is sad.Sure there were less than stellar items available late war but when those items were brand new they were better than anything on the market worldwide.,I will be waiting for Damast to show his pics of a Genuine item so Houston can prove his point further although I am sure youd find some reason not to believe what he has to say.

quote:

I am sure that some other collector out there is going to put up a sword or dagger which has an inscription that meets all the criteria which I say should be present in the formation of the lettering

Fred , we talked at the MAX. Talked a long time in the bar and yes, I was there for the WATCH presentation and knighthood of Mr.G.

I do not like posting my collection to the world, I know of two other 1938 shooing prize swords (1938) And both have come up over much different periods of time and price. And of course the shooting prize swords of the 20s up to the last 1938. They all are handworked hilts, they all originaly had blued scabbards, they all were waffen marked, they all had damascus blades,(the earlier ones had a quillback style) as I said there are one or two 1930s models pictured in Johnson's new sword picture books.
I will work on some pictures...
Regards: DAMAST
P.S. We seem to be moving around on what is wrong with this sword. One time it is the fact it is waffen marked.Then this is blown out of the water and then we move on to hilt handwork etching etc.... I wish I would of heard a price before it was sold to Helmut W.

I will be sending better pictures,but look at the earlier postings... I have posted a few already.

Insulting as usual Tom. I said I could be wrong. Could YOU be wrong? You seem to have a negative comment about just everything in the main stream but don't even give your entire name.Oh--and by the way DAMAST is on my side -not yours.

DAMAST, I don't know what Helmut paid for the sword but he quoted me $35,000 at the MAX.

Yes

Later Helmut told me it was.... SOLD!
Then someone told me a "Damascus" collector bought it.

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