silver lion head ALCOSO sword opinion please

[Lukasz78]

I'm not an expert in swords. All the wehrmacht officers swords i saw have gold grip and this is silver - why? I heard that in early ss has a similar swords, what do You think about it?

[Reichsword]

To me it looks like an ALCOSO langet, with a HORSTER backstrap and lionhead.
Can't tell from photo's if it's silver or just overly polished brass or steel.

[Lukasz78]

To me it looks like an ALCOSO langet, with a HORSTER backstrap and lionhead.
Can't tell from photo's if it's silver or just overly polished brass or steel.

I was not asking about originality, because i know its original, but if You want to write something about it, feel free and write, Your opinions are welcome, but please support it with some examples because i'm not understand what You mean. For me it's one looker Alcoso mod. 119. Here is example to compare with http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=819866 and actually You put some opinions there! For me both swords are the same, except color ofcourse or maybe is something i don't know. By the way, all is chromed, not polished steel.

[Mister Aurel]

Look ok for me; it's a Lion head Alcoso #119 which appear to be silver plated.

[overthetop]

119

I'm sure it is an Alcoso model 119, but all I seen have a gold finish. IMO yours had the finish worn off or scrubbed? Looks like a narrow band of gold at the bottom of the handle, and on the sides, not sure.

This is a model 116, same but a rose pattern on the backstrap, rather than the acorn of the 119 - with some finish wears

[Lukasz78]

I'm sure it is an Alcoso model 119, but all I seen have a gold finish. IMO yours had the finish worn off or scrubbed? Looks like a narrow band of gold at the bottom of the handle, and on the sides, not sure.

This is a model 116, same but a rose pattern on the backstrap, rather than the acorn of the 119 - with some finish wears

The narrow band which You mentioned i show purposely because, this is the place where is visible whats is under the chrome surface, this was made by using the portepee i think. Maybe is hardly visible on the photos,but believe me is chromed.
I was told, that to make the chrome surface, the steel must be treated with the brass
that's why there is something that's looks like gold under the chrome.

[Frogprince]

The different lighting values makes it hard to get a good sense of what is here, but I doubt that it's silver as silver plating turns black. With chrome IMO not a good option either, leaving nickel plating as my best guess. With the mention of steel meaning that it's magnetic? With both malleable iron and zinc used when the copper based brass became a restricted material for civilian (non-military) production. FP

[overthetop]

maybe?

The narrow band which You mentioned i show purposely because, this is the place where is visible whats is under the chrome surface, this was made by using the portepee i think. Maybe is hardly visible on the photos,but believe me is chromed.
I was told, that to make the chrome surface, the steel must be treated with the brass
that's why there is something that's looks like gold under the chrome.

You could be right, hard to judge without a hands on, just have never seen a chrome German sword before, but lots of silver plated and gold washed ones - plus a few brass NCO swords.

[Frogprince]

In agreement that a few minutes "hands on" would unravel the mystery - also having no immediate recollection of chrome being offered as a standard finish. A few other possibilities are solid, or plated nickel silver (which is very roughly 2/3 copper). With looking at the item in sunlight my preferred choice for making a judgement. FP