Happy Goldfish: The Imperial Navy Damascus Sword Of A "Mystery" Count

[Rick Research]

This is from a New England collection. First gorgeous photo taken by my talented cousin Ted, the rest by me.

Once, there was a beautiful Imperial navy sword, everything superdeluxe, largest size, best quality, amzing workmanship. In a strange display of conspicuous "modesty," the owner had most of the expensive Damascus work "paved over" with blue and gold panels. And then, just to drive everyone crazy, instead of simply engraving his name on the folding guard like a nice, normal naval officer, he left us with a mystery!

[Rick Research]

No name-- just his coat of arms!!!! No, Ricky can NOT identify German ones. The crown, however, indicates by its number of pearls that this was a "Graf," or Count. That narrows it down to about TWO DOZEN Imperial Navy officers. Several can be removed since their arms are known. Naturally, this fellow is among the rest! These photos taken by me. (I have yet to figure out how to do swords well either, so Bits And Pieces will follow until done)

[Rick Research]

Sorry, this IS the best I can do for "the whole thing!"

[Rick Research]

The guard and even the knot are "Übergroß." This guy was a snappy dresser!

[Rick Research]

Even the scabbard is a work of art, better than any other I have ever seen

[Rick Research]

Scabbard, Part Deux-- note the happy splashy goldfish

[Rick Research]

And another happy goldfish, cavorting cheerfully. (Actually, heraldic dolphins, but hey!...)

[Rick Research]

last scan. I just cannot capture Damascus with this borrowed camera. Here is the reverse side. The quote from Kaiser Wilhelm: "Unsere Zukunft liegt auf dem Wasser"-- "Our Future Lies On The Waves," and the charmingly toylike "latest" ship class of 1896-1906 help date this to roughly 100 years ago.

[Newlyn]

Yes indeedy

Be still my beating heart, but that's a rather superior sword, Rick. I also love that little ironclad, pre- dreadnought type. Thanks for delighting my jaded old eyes !

[Rick Research]

Ayuh-- kathump, kathump

It's even better in person-- only the first shot does it any justice.

And yet The Most Perfect Sword In The World stubbornly conceals its original owner's identity, "hidden" in plain sight!

[Rick Research]

brought up from the back pages because of recent sword interest...


see what's lurking back there aong the Old Stuff if you do a search?

[Newlyn]

Not very often a scabbard equals the blade in magnificence, Rick. That's one of the finest Imperials I've seen, just love the goldfish.

[Brian S]

Accccccccccccccccccccccch du lieber. Nice.

Of course Rickey's a bachelor (previous post of his), but swords between the sheets like that, not bad!

[Rick Research]

None of these swords are, alas, mine-- I just took the pix. If you think that's a bad background, seek out some of the early Vivid Naugahyde backgrounds in my early medal bars threads.

[Brian S]

Yes, ImperialNauga!