German Cadet Sword. Pre-1918 production. This sword has a 31 ¾” blade, and is 36 ¾” over all. The ricasso is marked “W.K. & Co.” with the King’s head/ Knight’s head logo above. The slightly curved blade is nickeled steel and is in fine condition. It has a 22” long single fuller from the ricasso out. The blade has been neatly sharpened starting 7 inches from the guard. It has six kicks in the blade starting about seven inches from the tip, in the area of blade known as “the Point of Percussion”.  These nicks are consistent with combat use.  The guard is brass in a reverse “P” pattern, which sweeps up to a forward-facing quillon. The quillon has two slots in it. The quillon has two sword blow nicks in it. On the right side (blade pointed left) there is a strong  sword blade nick at the base of the quillon. On the left side there is a smaller nick mid way up the quillon. There is a copper alloy ferrule at the front of the handle. The grip has a metallic “ray-skin patterned” material with a patterned three brass wire wrap. The center wire is finely wrapped, similar to a guitar string, and this trio of wire wrap the full handle. From the ferrule, the backstrap sweeps back to form the capped pommel. The ferrule has a nice mustard color and the remaining brass has a dark patina. The scabbard is black painted steel having a brass throat and a single carrying ring.  After the First World War, and due to the fact that the “king” had fallen out of savor, The “King’s Head” logo was removed from the company logo, making this sword of pre-1918 production. After the war only the Knight’s head remained as the company logo. The reverse ricasso has a four-leaf clover logo, with a man’s head at the center and a “4” on the top leg. Perhaps this logo denotes this model of sword from W.K. & Co. This company was started in 1887 by two Solingen companies; Gebruder Weyersburg, and W.R. Kirchbaum & Co both located in Solingen, North Rhine, Westphalia. They still manufacture knives and blades today. This sword is in very nice condition, and appears to have combat use. A great World War One sword from one of the major manufacturers in Solingen in nice un-cleaned original condition with great patina. It was very likely used by a wartime cadet once he entered the German Army as a young officer in World War One.  Price: $295.00 (ref. B-942)