Sample Appraisal: Sword
Appraisal ID: 11228
Appraised On: Aug 17, 2006
Market Value: $ 995.00
Replacement Value: $ 1,300.00
APPRAISER COMMENTS:
Manufacturer: Otto Mertens, Solingen Germany. Circa early 20th
century artillery officer’s lionhead sabre. The sword has gilt mounts
with lionhead pommel, P hilt guard, Damaststahl pattern blade. The
lionhead is the traditional German style with the long snout, with the
mane flowing down the backstrap. The crossgaurd and langet areas have
floral designs, the quillion end with another lionhead. The langet is
shield-like, portraying a detailed set of crossed cannon, indicating the
original owner was an artilleryman. No scabbard. Overall good
condition.
SOLINGEN HISTORY
Solingen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Solingen is
called the “town of blades”, since it has long been renowned for the
manufacturing of fine swords, knives, scissors, and other cutlery made
by famous by firms such as Fiskars, Wüsthof, Zwilling (J.A. Henckels),
and numerous other manufacturers.
In Medieval times, the swordsmiths of Solingen coined the town’s image,
which is preserved to date.
Solingen was the birthplace of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann.
Item/Title: Damaststahl Pattern, sword has the letter “Damaststahl”
Date/Period of Manufacture: Unsure, possibly around 1900
Condition: Fair to Good
Manufacturer/Artist/Author: Otto Mertens Solingen
Dimensions (HxWxD): Height – 40 inches, blade height – 34.5 inches
Inscription: Unknown
History/Provenance: I bought it from someone about 1990.
DISCLAIMER
This online appraisal report is an appraisal expert’s opinion of
value based on market comparable research of the item description and
images supplied by our customer. No further guarantee of authenticity,
genuineness, attribution or authorship is represented.
Current Fair Market Value is the price agreed on between a
willing buyer and seller, neither being required to act, and both having
reasonable knowledge of the facts.
Replacement Value is the price in terms of money that would be
required to replace the property in question with another of similar
age, quality, origin, appearance, provenance and condition, within a
reasonable length of time in an appropriate market.