Original Item: Only One Available. This is something we have never had before! This is a lovely example of a rare German WWII Period Shooting Association Cutlass, also sometimes called a Rifle Association Cutlass or Dagger. It is in very good condition, with a lovely double etched matte finished steel blade, and comes complete with its original scabbard and belt frog. This example was made by the Solingen-based firm of Alexander Coppel & Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik during the 1939-1940 period, one of the known makers of these rare cutlasses.

The Deutscher Schützen-verband (German Shooting Association) was made up of several independent shooting and target clubs, who would usually come together for special occasions and competitions. After the NSDAP takeover in 1933, much like with the Deutsche Jägerschaft (German Hunting Association), the group was NSDAPified, and also most likely combined with some other groups. It was given an insignia of a "squared" national eagle with a target on the chest, and as with the Hunting Association, members wore edged weapons to show that they were a part of the group.

In form, the Shooting Association Cutlass is very similar to the Hunting Association Hirschfänger dress cutlass, featuring a gently curved handle, though in this case it is made from celluloid over wood, which now shows a lovely ivory color. The hilt fittings are all of Neusilber, also known as "Nickel Silver" or "German Silver", a cupronickel alloy used on the fittings of many early WWII period edged weapons.

The pommel cap in great shape, as is the grip ferrule, both showing a mellow patina. The grip itself has a lovely aged ivory color, with the brass crossed rifles emblem of the shooting association. The grip does have a crack going all the way around near the pommel cap, which we have seen on other examples, and is caused by the celluloid shrinking, while the wood does not. The ferrule is very nice, and meets perfectly with the S-shaped crossguard, which terminates in opposed acorn designs. There is also a "shell" shaped guard, which has a half oak leaf and half laurel leaf wreath around a Shooting association enamel insignia.

DEUTSCHER
(Target on Eagle)
SCHÜTZEN-VERBAND

There are swas (hook cross) emblems on either side of the word "DEUTSCHER", indicating it was made after the NSDAP takeover of the organization. The insignia is made from copper, which was originally fully nickel plated, however this has now worn on the edges. The black enamel is fully intact, as is the white enamel on the "target".

The blade is in excellent condition, and is carbon steel with no plating, and has a brushed matte finish overall, which is very well retained. We often see the matte blades with the texture almost worn smooth, but this example looks almost the same as when it was issued. The blade is correctly not sharpened, and the tip is fully intact. Each side has fantastic etched panel showing large amounts of foliate engraving. There is also a small nature scene on each side, the right showing two stags at rest, while the left shows a stag jumping a fence. The right side also has great "bullseye" target over what looks to be a 19th century German hunting gun. There is just a tiny bit of scratching and wear, as well as minor oxidation near the grossguard, which still has an intact green blade washer in place.

The reverse ricasso is etched with the trademark Alcoso used in 1939-1940. It depicts the scales with the firm's initials, ACS interspersed. Above is the firm's name, ALCOSO, and below the town of business, SOLINGEN, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany.

Alcoso was originally a trade name of Alexander Coppel & Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik, located in Solingen, the legendary German "City of Blades." 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. For more information please see J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The black finished leather scabbard is in good condition, though the leather has definitely dried out over time, and has had the finish chip in a few places. The stitching on the reverse looks to be intact, though it has dried out. The nickel silver fittings are in great shape, with a lovely lightly oxidized patina, and show no major damage. It is held in a lovely black patent leather dress frog, which is the type that does not have any securing rivets. It has worn a bit due to age, with the finish degrading and cracking. The stitching is still fully intact.

A fantastic example of a very hard to find German Shooting Association Cutlass! The first we have ever had to offer, and we will likely not have another anytime soon! Ready to research and display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 15 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edged Short Sword
Overall length: 21 1/8“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 16"