Minty Eickhorn Nr. 1706 Scharnhorst

[Swordfish]

Thought i'd share this bird I bought quite some time ago.

It's an earlier Eickhorn Nr 1706, commonly referred to the "Scharnhorst" and is a saber in Eickhorns "Fieldmarshall Series". This example has a brass alloy composite hilt. Nearly 100% of the original gold colored gilting is intact on the sabers hilt. The grip wire is made of 4 strands. Each exterior row of grip wire is a single strand of brass wire. The inner wiring is double stranded wiring, twisted and contained between each strand of the external single strand of girp wire. Nice, tight, clean, and in excellent condition. The wood covered "celluloid" grip rates mint. No chips, cracks, stress fractures or any damage whatsoever. The blade rates mint as well. All the nickel plating is bright, free from scratches and devoid of any pinpoint rust or oxidation. Heavy nickel plated, stamped with the Eickhorn TM under the obverse langet. Scabbard retains nearly 98% of her original black paint, with only minimal wear to the bottom of the scabbards drag.

This example came complete with the not-so-commonly encountered meterail portepee. The portepee is a green/gray, with 3 strands of silver wiring running the length of the cord, ending with a silver acorn. The portepee cord is the wide type, identical in width to those in leather.

Saber also came with original hanger, brown leather with belt clip. Hanger is marked as such, with a series of control numbers. I am nearly certain all the hardware and accoutrements which came with this saber are original to the piece. All wear points match up on the hilt where contact with the knot exists. The saber came with the knot partially wrapped correctly and it doesn't appear to have every been taken off.

This came from a vet dig up at a gun store. I had paid very little for this complete, minty example of this Eickhorn saber. This is by far the best conditioned Scharnhorst I have ever owned or personally handled. It would be difficult to upgrade. I seriously doubt, barring locating a factory example, never taken from it's storage back, I will ever locate another 1706 example in condition. It would make an excellent display piece for a collector who only wishes to own 1 Heer dress saber to augment thier collection.

Anyway- it's the top saber on the foreward sword stand, above the Eickhorn PE saber. Photos were taken of the piece in the display case. I don't feel like taking all the collectibles off the top of the case to get at it for photoing. Next month when I do my bi-anual saber dust removal/preservation, i'll do more photoing. I'm updating all my images for watermarking purposes.

If you've got a Scharnhorst, post 'er. I'd love to see other examples.

***The slide on the portepee is in the wrong spot. However I it's not of pressing importance to me. Perhaps when she comes out for cleaning i'll adjust it.
Good collecting,
T

[Wim Vangossum]

Looks like a very nice one, Tom. But I bet every side has his own beautiful details. Which brings me to the following conclusion: I like to see more of it. :001_rolleyes: :thumbup1:


Regards, Wim :)

[RaymondG]

Hi

Beautifully described, Tom and a pleasure to read.

Now please excuse my ignorance, but was 1706 the model number for this particular Eickhorn or the issue number?

Raymond

[Swordfish]

Hi Raymond,
Thanks. It's a nice Scharnhorst for sure.

The 1706 is the model # I believe. This period literature lists it. Curtsy- Wim.

T

[RaymondG]

Hi Tom

That is an excellent piece of literature there.

It is indeed the model number, but it does seem a strange method of indexing their product range. Hey, who am I to criticise how they ran their business :D

Thanks for that Tom. I would really like to see more of these types of product catalogues if anyone else can share with us.

Raymond

[Chuck Alan]

Greetings Tom~

I too have a Scharnhorst. My example has a 32" Blade. It's in super choice condition also. Although it is missing about 35 to 40% of the gilt on the brass hilt. The scabbard paint is period and at about 99% the blade is pristine. I'll post pictures of it on your thread here as you wanted to see other examples. Expect the post in a couple of days or so. My Scharnhorst is equipped with the light ruby pink eyes verses the darker red variety found in my Blucher example. You have a wonderful Scharnhorst there. You don't see the early ones with nearly full gilt as is the case with your example.

Chuck

[Swordfish]

Thank for the nice words guys.

Raymond-
Wim had posted a ton of period sales catalogs recently. This is the stuff of treasures. Seldom is it made available. Just excellent, wonderful reference. I saved every single image he uploaded.

Chuck-
I'm eager to see your example. Mine is so minty because it taken during the occupation of Germany, late in 1945 and brought home. It sat in a vet attick or basement for decades until he decided to get rid of it. It went to a gun store to sell it in Virginia I believe. I paid $400 for her a the time, which would be considered an excellent price for a piece in this condition.

So many of the Eickhorns we find these days are in OK condition. Eickhorns are not my favorite sabers, and i'm of the beliefe that as a whole, in contrast to other manufacturers, especially cottage manufacturers, the quality just wasn't there. I went through a number of different Eickhorns until I was able to piece together examples of each model, which I currently own, all of which rate excellent, except for my Prinz Eugen. With the PE, it seems beggers can't be choosers. Eventually i'll upgrade my PE, but first I need to save up some $$$$. I've been lucky enough to add all the field marshall examples at greatprices. I've slowly picked through a variety of resources, and bought them at below retail prices. Gunbrokers, eBay, Craigslist, vets, etc. The only saber i have ever purchased from a delers was my ACS Nr. 119. Everything else took time and effort to track down. As such, the effort saved me quite a few $$.

t