German solid half-basket hilted sword. The hilt has a gilt, solid half basket with large hinged flap on obverse side and a hinged flap on reverse side with hole to engage the stud on top of locket. The whole of the guard is decorated, near the edge with foliage etc. more generally, with a representation of the sea with sea-serpents & other imaginative sea creatures swimming in it. On the obverse folding flap, within a rope oval, & on a frosted ground, is a foul anchor surmounted by the Imperial crown. The anchor bears, on its shank, an ornamental cypher 'W'. The short up-turned quillion is terminated by a knob decorated in the form of a turtle's head. The lion's head pommel has one red and one green eye on the appropriate sides and is made in one piece with the backpiece. The mane is very short above it and above & below a plain oval plaque, are scrolls & stylised foliage. The grip is of some polished white composition material bound at intervals with a single strand of twisted silver wire, with traces of thinner wire on either side of it. A small gilt knurled ferrule is fitted. In general, the gilding has almost disappeared.

The blade is curved, flat backed with a fuller running near the back from the 1.4 inch shoulder within 10.5 inches of the point and has a 9 inch false edge. The blade is also engraved for roughly two-fifths of its length and has some rust damage. Engraving on the obverse are a bow view of a square rigged ship; two Imperial naval ensigns in saltire; a foul anchor surmounted by the Imperial crown; the arms of the Empire (eagle displayed bearing on its breast the Arms of the House of Hohenzollern); a trophy of guns, a drum and a flag. The reverse is engraved with foliage with masts, showing on either side the anchor; foliated trophy of pike & rammer in saltire; foliated trophy of guns in saltire, swords in saltire and rammer in saltire. The scabbard is tooled black leather with longitudinal lines (two on each side) and there are gilt lockets with rings and a gilt chape with prominent shoe. Gilt parts are decorated with scrolls and threads.

The date 1888 has been given as it was in that year that William II succeeded his father as German Emperor. He regarded himself as a solider and as King of Prussia. William II's passionate interest in the Navy created by Admiral Tirpitz was so pronounced that it is reasonable to assume that the often-repeated Imperial crown motif and the cypher 'W' are the result of his influence rather than that of his grandfather. His wish to emulate the Royal Nay did not produce immediate results and it is possible that the sword really dates from the mid 1890's or even later but until more is know, the date of the Emperor's succession is the most reasonable date to choose.

The weapon is similar to WPN1284 but is more extensively decorated. The flat-backed blade is probably later than the pipe-back of 284, but there is evidence to suggest that the pipe-backed blades were in use in the German Armed forces well in to the 20th century.