Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive original German WWII period window advertising poster for the famous Solingen edged weapons manufacturer W.K.C. Waffenfabrik, better known as Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie. Intended for display by retailers carrying the firm's swords and dress bayonets, the poster features W.K.C.'s distinctive trademark imagery together with illustrations of several of the military edged weapons for which the company was so well known. Nicely framed and ready for display, it has excellent crossover appeal for collectors of German WWII edged weapons, Solingen manufacturers, and period militaria advertising.

At the upper right is the prominent German advertising slogan:

BLANKE
WAFFEN
ALLER ART

This translates as “Edged Weapons of all Kinds,” clearly identifying the poster as an advertisement for W.K.C.'s extensive line of military and dress edged weapons.

The paper poster itself measures 9 1/2" x 12 3/8" and is mounted inside a frame measuring 12" x 15".

Dominating the center is W.K.C.'s familiar “Knight's Head” or helmeted head trademark above:

WKC
QUALITÄTSMARKE

Qualitätsmarke translates as “Quality Brand,” emphasizing the firm's reputation for high quality Solingen manufacture. At the bottom appears the company name and location:

W.K.C.-WAFFENFABRIK GMBH
SOLINGEN-WALD

The background artwork is especially appealing, showing three recognizable types of German dress edged weapons. These include an ornate Lion Head Army officer's sword, a 98k pattern dress bayonet, and a more restrained Dove Head NCO sword. These privately purchased dress weapons were commonly worn for parade, walking out, ceremonial, and other formal military occasions, and examples were frequently offered with a variety of blade, grip, and decorative options.

W.K.C. was one of the best known names in the Solingen edged weapons industry. The firm's history grew from the long established Weyersberg and Kirschbaum concerns, which merged in 1883 to form Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie. Solingen itself had already been internationally renowned for centuries as a center of blade making and metalworking, making the W.K.C. name particularly significant to collectors of German swords, bayonets, and other edged weapons.

The company's trademark history reaches back even further. The famous King's Head mark associated with the Weyersberg family was acquired by Peter Weyersberg in 1774, although the mark itself had originally been registered by Solingen bladesmith Johannes Wundes centuries earlier. The later W.K.C. firm continued using distinctive head trademarks, including the well known helmeted or Knight's Head device seen prominently on this advertisement. For more information please see J. Anthony Carter's authoritative work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS.

During the German WWII period, W.K.C. continued producing military and dress edged weapons, making advertising material such as this particularly evocative when displayed alongside period swords, bayonets, and daggers. Unlike an individual weapon, the poster illustrates how these products were marketed commercially at the time and makes an excellent backdrop for an edged weapons display.

Condition is very nice overall, and the poster presents extremely well within its current frame. The strong central W.K.C. trademark, clearly readable advertising text, illustrated edged weapons, and attractive period graphic layout give it considerable visual presence without requiring a large amount of wall space.

For the dedicated German WWII edged weapons collector, this framed W.K.C. advertisement is an especially appealing companion piece to a display of Solingen made swords and dress bayonets. Its recognizable Knight's Head trademark, period product illustrations, full W.K.C.-WAFFENFABRIK GMBH / SOLINGEN-WALD identification, and compact 12" x 15" framed size make it an excellent piece of original manufacturer advertising and a strong decorative addition to an advanced edged weapons or militaria collection.