Sword

German solid half-basket hilted sword. The hilt consists of a gilt, solid half-basket guard with large hinged flap on the obverse side. There is a hinged flap on reverse with hole to engage on stud on top locket and the whole decorated in relief with a crown and foul anchor and foliage. The lion's-head pommel and back-piece has a mane running its full length. The lion has one red and one green eye on the appropriate sides. The ferrule is decorated with foliage and the quillon which ends in a knob is also decorated. The smooth ivory grip is bound with three twisted gilt wires. The silver sword knot has a red and black thread, acorn tassel. The blade has a curved pipe back, a 254mm false edge, watered and is inscribed on the back 'K.L.H.BERSER COLLANI & Co.' The scabbard is black leather tooled with longitudinal lines and has two gilt lockets (with rings) and chape, ornamented with threads and scrolls and with a honeysuckle mark on the chape. There is a very pronounced shoe.

This sword is reputed to have been taken in 1914 from a German officer who was endeavouring to return to Tsing Tao from the United States through Hong Kong.

Object Details

ID: WPN1284
Collection: Weapons
Type: Sword
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Berser Collani, K L H & Co; K L H Berser Collani & Company K. L. H. Berser Collani & Company
Date made: circa 1914
People: K. L. H. Berser Collani & Company
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Blade: 806 x 24 mm
Parts: Sword