Ewald Cleff sword

[Hafke77]

Hello,
Hoping to get some info, possible time period and who this might have been issued to. I couldn't find much info on Ewald Cleff doing a search on here, let alone the rest of the web. I'm fairly certain it's from Imperial Germany times. It's triple etched, on the spine it has "Ewald Cleff Solingen" with a vine that continues about a foot. One side of the blade has the a Imperial Eagle, the other side it has a drum, with what appears to be two different swords behind it, and a pickelhaube above the drum, between the swords. The scabbard I'm sure was once all polished with just two hanger rings. There is also a small "3" stamped into the handle.
Thanks for any help!
-Robert

[Schlange]

Looks like nice original and untouched (scabbard IMO in not cleaned) German Imperial NCO sabre produced by Ewald Cleff Solingen.


Schlange

http://www.mojalbum.com/schlange88/album

[Hafke77]

Thank you Schlange, any thoughts on the "3"? A unit number perhaps?

-Robert

Looks like nice original and untouched (scabbard IMO in not cleaned) German Imperial NCO sabre produced by Ewald Cleff Solingen.


Schlange

http://www.mojalbum.com/schlange88/album

[Schlange]

I have no right idea - may be factory or even regimental marking?


Schlange

http://www.mojalbum.com/schlange88/album

[Billy G]

Ewald Cleff is a somewhat obscure manufacturer. As far as I can tell, they were still
making blades into the Weimar period. I don't believe I've ever seen a 3R item by them. The exception would be the occasional Polizei bayonet which would have been made in the Weimar Republic & continued into service through the 3R.

I suspect the "3" is an accountability number for an item purchased &
maintained by an organization in an official capacity as an issue item.

[Frogprince]

An Imperial era Prussian saber, the senior grades of NCO's were authorized (for example) a branch specific Infantry (IOD), Artillery or Cavalry Officer's model saber that is not this saber. But there was an Officer candidate/cadet saber that this example appears to conform to. Falling into something of a gray area for which there is not a lot of documentation, that could have been other than privately purchased and intended for occasional use as needed by cadets that were in the training process. Agreeing with Billy that the "3" may be an accountability number. FP

[Hafke77]

Frogprince, Billy G, and Schlange, thank you for the replies.
-Robert

[saar]

Ewald Cleff is a somewhat obscure manufacturer. As far as I can tell, they were still
making blades into the Weimar period. I don't believe I've ever seen a 3R item by them. The exception would be the occasional Polizei bayonet which would have been made in the Weimar Republic & continued into service through the 3R.

Ewald Cleff made some HJ knives and SA daggers too.

[Billy G]

Ewald Cleff made some HJ knives and SA daggers too.

That is very interesting to me, I've never seen such an example.

[saar]

That is very interesting to me, I've never seen such an example.

SA daggers both with maker mark and RZM mark and HJ RZM knives. It is 7 on McSarr list but I've never seen them either. I used to own RZM HJ knife though but it was all messed up.