Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Heer Army NCO Dove Head dress sword manufactured by ALCOSO of Solingen and complete with its steel scabbard. This simplified NCO pattern has a plain nickel finished hilt without the elaborate oak leaf and eagle decoration normally encountered on officer swords, together with a black celluloid grip, wire wrapping, 34 1/2" nickel plated blade, and circa 1936-1940 ALCOSO trademark.

The hilt appears to be nickel plated steel and has lost a substantial portion of its plating across the Dove Head pommel and backstrap, exposing the underlying metal and allowing an attractive oxidized patina to develop. It has the standard P guard associated with German dress swords, together with a simple crossguard and plain chappes or rain guards. The overall construction is intentionally restrained compared with the more decorative officer pattern.

The grip is black celluloid over a wood core and remains attractive overall, though it shows minor age related deterioration and cracking on both sides at the lower end near the pommel. It is wrapped with six copper wires twisted into three pairs, with the central pair noticeably heavier than the outer pairs. The wire was likely originally plated but now shows overall oxidation. Some looseness is present in the wrapping, probably related to age shrinkage of the celluloid.

The original red felt blade buffer remains present at the guard, though approximately half is now missing and the surviving material shows deterioration from age.

The blade measures approximately 34 1/2" and remains in very good condition overall, retaining most of its original nickel plated finish. There is visible scuffing consistent with past cleaning, but no major oxidation or widespread plating loss.

The blade remains factory unsharpened, as expected for a dress sword, but the edge shows considerably more impact wear than normally encountered. There are numerous dents, dings, chips, and other irregularities along the edge, leaving portions noticeably rough. This may indicate use for practice or other nonstandard handling at some point in its history, either during or after the war, though no provenance is available to confirm how the damage occurred.

The reverse ricasso is stamped with an ALCOSO trademark used during the circa 1936-1940 period, depicting a set of scales with the initials:

ACS

interspersed within the design.

Alcoso is a trade name of Alexander Coppel & Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik, located in Solingen, the legendary German "City of Blades" (Klingenstadt). Per J. Anthony Carter's work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, the company was a major manufacturer of edged weapons and tools from the end of the 19th century up until the WWII period. Unfortunately, as NSDAP-control increased, brothers Carl Gustav and Dr. Alexander Coppel, the Jewish owners of the firm, were forced out. In 1936 the firm had been "Aryanized", and started using the name ALCOSO to hide the Jewish family name. By the end of 1936 the brothers were ejected from their Solingen offices, and by 1940 the brand trademark initials ACS were changed to AWS to reflect the change in ownership and name: Alexander Coppel Solingen to Alcoso-Werk Solingen. Carl Gustav Coppel committed suicide in Solingen in 1941, and Dr. Alexander Coppel was arrested in 1942 and sent to Theresienstadt Prison camp, where he died August 5th 1942. The factory itself was destroyed by Allied bombers in November 1944.

The steel scabbard is in very good condition overall but shows several condition issues. There is some denting and a slight dog leg bend near the middle, though this does not prevent the blade from being inserted or withdrawn normally. The scabbard appears to have been repainted at some point, as areas of old light pitting remain visible beneath the current finish. The date of that repainting is unknown.

The original fixed hanger ring and rectangular hitching slot remain present. Both show paint loss from use and handling.

With its plain nickel finished NCO hilt, black celluloid grip, original wire wrapping, 34 1/2" nickel plated blade, circa 1936-1940 ALCOSO trademark, and complete steel scabbard, this is a strong service used example of a German Army NCO Dove Head dress sword. The grip cracks, loose and oxidized wire, deteriorated blade buffer, extensive edge dents and chips, scabbard bend, denting, and apparent repaint are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in an ALCOSO, Heer NCO sword, German dress edged weapon, Solingen maker, or advanced WWII militaria collection.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 34 1/2”
Overall length: 39 1/4”
Handguard: 4 1/2”L x 5 1/2”W
Scabbard length: 35 5/8”