Imperial Oldenburg Lion Head Cavalry Sword w/Deluxe Hilt. No maker. A similar example of this deluxe Imperial sword appears on pages 124 - 127 of Collecting the Edged Weapons of Imperial Germany by LTC (Ret.) Thomas M. Johnson and Thomas T. Wittmann. Deluxe gilted-brass hilt fittings retain virtually 100% of the original fire gilting to the heavily-chiseled lion head pommel with red glass eyes, floral-embellished backstrap, knuckle-bow with cast, filigreed oak leaves, and lion head quillon. Crossguard features cast obverse langet with crossed swords, with an applied silver Oldenburg Wappen star featuring the Oldenburg coat of arms surmounted by a royal crown. The only Cavalry unit in the Imperial German Army raised from Oldenburg was the "Oldenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 19" with his Royal Highness Friederich August Grossherzog von Oldenburg serving as Regimental Chef indicating this sword is, most likely, attributable to Regiment 19. Included with the sword is a color scan of an 1895 lithograph depicting the Oldenburg coat of arms. The blue/black sharkskin grip is perfect with no wear, rips, or tears, and with tight triple silver wire-wrap present. Plain, plated, curved, quillback blade measuring 32 7/8" in length grades excellent++/Near MINT, with minor surface wear/runner marks, with no nicks, and with white leather blade buffer pad present. Spine of blade is distributor-marked, "I. Robrecht, Hoflieferant, Berlin" (Purveyor to the Royal Household). Dent-free scabbard retains virtually 100% of its anodized finish and is complete with two gilted suspension bands and one upper ring. Lower suspension ring was removed in accordance with a 1908 regulation. Scabbard was possibly anodized at that time to conform to the regulation, which required scabbards to be black instead of the previous nickel-plate. Attached to the sword is the correct Oldenburg pattern Officer sword knot with black leather strap and three silver stripes with a woven silk stripe in the center. Beautiful, museum quality sword which can be attributed to its original unit affiliation. Exc++ (19771) $2,695.