Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original early German WWII Luftwaffe Officer Sword by SMF of Solingen, retaining its nickel alloy hilt fittings, brass Sunwheel emblems, blue leather covered grip, nickel plated 26 1/4" blade, matching blue leather covered scabbard, and hanger. The sword shows moderate service wear and age but retains the distinctive materials and finish associated with early Luftwaffe officer swords.

The hilt is fitted with nickel alloy mounts and brass Sunwheel swas (Sonnenrad) emblems on the pommel and cross guard. Much of the original silver colored finish and blue oxide treatment has worn away, leaving an attractive lightly oxidized patina across the nickel alloy. There is additional finish loss between the arms of the pommel emblems, along with minor wear and denting to the pommel rims. The oak leaf and acorn decoration around the pommel remains well defined.

The brass Sunwheel devices at the cross guard remain crisp, with one side retaining nearly complete silver colored finish between the arms while the opposite side has lost most of it. The downward pointing quillons retain good feather detail and show an even aged patina. Traces of the original blue oxide finish remain on the blade side of the guard. The hilt fittings remain tight on the tang.

The grip has a wood core covered in original blue Moroccan leather. The leather remains in very good condition with strong surviving color, though there are scattered areas where wear has exposed the darker underlayer. The original wire binding is intact and consists of double twisted wire with bullion wrapping, now showing age wear and localized exposure of the copper colored base metal.

The blade measures approximately 26 1/4" and remains in very good condition. The nickel plating is well retained overall, with light runner wear, cleaning marks, and handling wear. The edge remains factory unsharpened and is free from significant dents or nicks. The point is intact and unbent. The original leather blade buffer remains present above the cross guard and retains most of its blue finish.

The reverse ricasso is etched with the SMF trademark logo, featuring the "Seated King" holding an upright sword above the initials:

SMF

with:

SOLINGEN

below.

Solinger Metalwaren-Fabrik Stöcker & Co. GmbH, also known as SMF, were one of the major suppliers of edged weapons to the Luftwaffe during WWII. As the name implies, they were located in Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. For more information, please see J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS.

The scabbard has a nonmagnetic metal shell and remains straight with no major bending. The original blue Moroccan leather covering is still present and generally well preserved, showing scattered finish loss, pressure marks, dents, and scuffs but no major tears or large missing sections. The original longitudinal seam remains securely attached.

The scabbard mounts are matching nickel alloy. The upper locket retains traces of the original blue oxide finish, while the drag retains considerably more, approximately 75%. The locket shows numerous small dents on the front, and some of the depressions visible through the leather likely correspond to dents in the underlying shell.

The original hanger remains attached and shows wear to the leather loops around the scabbard suspension rings. The upper double box loop remains intact and retains traces of its original blue oxide finish.

With its early nickel alloy mounts, brass Sunwheel emblems, blue leather covered grip, 26 1/4" nickel plated blade, SMF seated king trademark, matching blue leather scabbard, and surviving hanger, this is a strong example of an early German WWII Luftwaffe Officer Sword. The finish loss, light oxidation, grip wear, exposed wire base metal, blade runner wear, scabbard dents, leather scuffs, and hanger wear are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Luftwaffe officer edged weapon, SMF Solingen, early Luftwaffe sword, or advanced German WWII sword collection.

Specifications:

Blade Length: 26 1/4"
Blade Style: Double Edge w/ Partial Fuller
Overall length: 33 1/4“
Crossguard: 5"
Scabbard length: 27 7/8”