An outstanding piece of late 19th-century South American military history and fine German craftsmanship. This is an original Argentine Model 1898 Officer's Dress Sword/Sabre (Sable de Oficial Modelo 1898), manufactured under official government contract by the prestigious elite bladesmiths Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co. (WKC) in Solingen, Germany.
This elegant sword features an exquisite pierced metal basket guard and has been beautifully preserved, making it an excellent investment piece for advanced military edge weapon collectors.
The Blade: A slender, gracefully curved single-edged steel blade with a prominent fuller running down the length, culminating in a sharp spear point. It retains a bright, polished factory finish across most of its surface.
The Hilt: Features an ergonomic, deeply ribbed dark grip contouring comfortably to the hand, topped with a smooth, solid oval pommel cap.
The Guard: A magnificent, wide-sweeping pierced steel bowl/basket guard designed to offer full hand protection while maintaining a highly decorative presentation.
The Scabbard: Includes its original matching blued-steel scabbard, complete with a secure throat assembly and a single integrated suspension ring for hanger attachment.
The historic stamps on this specimen are incredibly crisp and well-defined:
Argentine National Crest: The basket guard features a beautifully pierced, central oval badge showcasing the Argentine Republic Coat of Arms (complete with the iconic sunburst, clasped hands, and laurel wreath).
Blade Inscription & Crest: The ricasso of the blade features a beautifully etched decorative scroll frame enclosing the national coat of arms and reads: "SABLE DE OFICIAL MODELO 1898".
Serial Number: The spine of the guard cross section carries the stamped issue number 372, adding excellent provenance to the piece.
Blade & Guard: The blade is in gorgeous antique condition, remaining very bright and clean with crisp fuller lines and minimal honest age tarnish or oxidation spots. The pierced basket guard is robust and tightly fitted to the tang.
Scabbard: The steel scabbard is straight and sound throughout its length, displaying a deep, even dark finish with light surface wear and minor scuffing earned from historical handling and storage. The sword slides smoothly into place.
An absolute standout example of a German-made South American contract officer's sword. A perfect addition to any fine military edge weapon collection or historical display.
Please review all high-resolution listing photographs closely to evaluate the excellent condition and markings of this piece. Sold as-is.