Imperial Lion Head Cavalry Sword w/Deluxe Hilt & Damascus Blade. No maker. Illustrations of similar pattern swords appear in the Imperial WKC sales catalog as Patterns Nr. 26, 27, and 28, "Feiner Cavallerie-Artillerie-Offizier-Parderkopf-Säbel mit Neuem Eichenlaubbügel". Deluxe gilted brass hilt fittings retain 100% of the original fire gilting to the heavily chiseled lion head pommel, oak leaf embellished backstrap, knuckle-bow/crossguard and langet, with heavily chiseled crossed swords and lion head quillon. Black sharkskin grip is perfect with no rips or tears and complete with triple twisted silver wire wrap present. Curved, quillback "maiden hair" Damascus blade measuring 35 3/8" in length grades excellent++, showing light surface wear and some minor graying on lower quillback portion. Is complete with tan leather blade buffer pad. Both obverse and reverse ricasso feature 5" long gilted panels marked, "Damastahl" on obverse, and "Eisenhauer" on reverse. Obverse blade features a central 11 ½" blued ribbon panel surrounded by gilted floral pattern. Blued panel is inscribed in raised Gothic letters, "Ein Scharfes Schwert in Starker Hand und Muth im Herzen Schützt das Vaterland" (A Sharp Sword in a Strong Hand and a Courageous Heart Protects the Fatherland). Dent-free scabbard retains 100% of its professionally repainted black enamel with no wear or crazing. Sword is complete with original Prussian pattern Officer sword knot with black leather strap with three silver bullion lines and large silver bullion acorn. Beautiful example with superb blued & gilted Damascus blade. Near MINT (19795) $2,595.