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CUSTOMS - 002 - 26996 - LAND CUSTOMS OFFICIAL - E & F HÖRSTER

This is an all-aluminum Land Custom’s Official example and is as nice as you will ever see. The aluminum fittings throughout have been hand-enhanced and are pristine. The pommel shows only the most nominal of usage signs around the rim. The standing oak leaves are the pointed type associated with Customs and each and every leaf appears to have hand-done enhancing. The aluminum ferrule portrays the same style leaves which are overlapping and also have hand-enhancement. The cross guard is a real beauty. It features a fine feathered eagle which looks to the viewer’s left having wings which tip at each end. The breast feathering has been cross hatched by hand. The bird’s claws also have hand-enhancing, as does the wreath that is retained in them. In the center of the wreath is a mobile, nicely detailed swastika. Beautiful aluminum fittings here! The grip leather covers a wood base. This leather is a very dark green color, having all of its original grain. A very fine grip here which is retained by aluminum springy wire. The scabbard of this example is a steel base covered with matching green leather. All of the grain still is on the leather and there are absolutely no cuts or bruises or any problems whatsoever. This shell is in full mint condition. The shell is fitted with satin aluminum mounts. These mounts are a matching satin color and have that “brand new” look, as aluminum just does not age as long as it is kept dry. As is normally the case (not always), the scabbard fittings have the decorative trim line on the edges of the obverse only. The eyelets are built into the upper and center ramp. These three scabbard mounts are retained by headless flush mount screws at the left edge only. I forgot to mention that the hilt has a nice portepee, being the 42cm aluminum type. This portepee appears original to the piece, as it is in the same condition and the knot is set in place. This portepee is mint throughout. The blade of this example is an outstanding, polished style having 100% graining in the finish. This blade is bright and mint throughout, having its original needlelike tip. This mint blade is etched on the reverse ricasso with the double ovals used by this firm. The ovals trap the firm’s name and location “E & F Hörster Solingen”. In the center is the large “H” which encloses a smaller “h” and “s” letters being pierced by a sword. The original brown small style leather washer is in place, still looking new-like. An outstanding Land Custom’s Official dagger here in very choice original condition.Mint. $2,895.00(#041408)

CUSTOMS - 003 - 27000 – EARLY SILVERED LAND CUSTOM’S OFFICIAL – E & F HÖRSTER

This Land Custom’s Official is one of the initial production types. It is quite beautiful, as it reflects a silvered finish throughout all of the hilt and scabbard mounts. The silvering throughout has developed a deep patination and really looks great. The pommel is a beauty, having no hits to the circumference and the upper surface area is also perfect, having a fine black color to the silver. The standing oak leaves below are the pointed type and there is much hand-enhancing that is visible throughout these depictions. The cross guard is also most impressive, being completely black patinated. It depicts a choice, detailed bird with outstretched wings tipped up at the ends. The bird faces to the viewer’s left. These wings have hand-enhancing to the feathering and the chest of the bird has had hand-checkering. The talons which retain the wreath have had hand-enhancing as have the leaves in the wreath itself. A black mobile swastika is vaulted out of the dark center of the wreath. A very effective depiction here! The ferrule is also a deeply patinated silvered type. The overlapping pointed oak leaves have hand-done veins in the center of each. The grip is a wood base having eleven sections. (Most collectors do not realize that there are two more sections on the Land Customs grip than there are on the standard nine of an Army). The leather covering is a dark green color having beautiful graining in the surfaces. It is in totally perfect condition and is tightly wrapped with springy aluminum wire. An outstanding hilt here! The scabbard shell is a steel base. This shell is covered with matching dark green leather, also having choice grain in the surfaces. The leather shows a couple of minor signs of usage here and there, but there are no cuts or problems. This leather covering is still in perfect condition. The mounts are a matching, nicely patinated silver plate over probably a nickel base. These mounts have the traditional decorative lines on the edges of the obverse only. The mounts are retained with flathead, flush mount screws put into the left side only. The upper and center mounts are fitted with matching silvered eyelets and ringlets. A great scabbard here! The blade of this piece is as nice as the outside. It remains mirror bright and still has its good, needlelike tip. All of the cross graining is visible in the surfaces. This blade easily grades in mint condition. The reverse ricasso is darkly etched with the double ovals of this producer’s logo. The ovals trap the firm’s name and location “E & F Hörster Solingen”. Inside is the large “H” letter and the smaller “h” and “s” letters inside. These letters are pierced by a sword. It is interesting to note that the leather washer on this piece is a blue color. Perhaps Hörster used the same washers for the Sea Customs and Land Customs both. Either way, it is original to this outstanding, early piece. These silvered Land Custom examples are very difficult to come by, and this one is as nice as you will see. Near Mint. $3,295.00

CUSTOMS - 004 - 26474 - LAND CUSTOMS OFFICIAL WITH HANGERS AND PORTEPEE - E & F HÖRSTER

This very choice Land Customs example shows almost no usage. It is very beautiful throughout and consists of all aluminum construction to the hilt and scabbard mounts. The pommel is a fine example, having still-crisp rim and showing just the slightest amount of usage across the top surfaces. The standing oak leaves which run around the perimeter of the pommel also display hand-enhancing. There is also some pebbling added where the casting flaws occur on both sides of the pommel cap. It is fun to study these things if you have a loupe! The matching ferrule also has the same pointed oak leaves and these, too, have been hand-enhanced. The cross guard is almost a work of art. It features the open-winged Customs eagle having up-tipped wings. All of the feathering throughout these outstretched wings has been hand-enhanced. The same is true of the beautiful eye, brow, breast checkering, claws and even the wreath which contains the raised out swastika. Someone worked very hard with an engraving tool to make this cross guard as nice as it is. As most collectors know, aluminum took great heats to cast it and, often, the detail was not as good as it would be with brass or other metals, so it was necessary to work the fittings once they came out of the mold process. Beautiful detail here! The grip is the traditional 11-ribbed type. It is a wood base and is covered with dark green leather. This leather is in pristine condition throughout, still retaining its surface graining. The grip is tightly wrapped with springy aluminum wire. Gracing the hilt of this fine dagger is what appears to be an original Land Customs portepee. This portepee has standard aluminum cord with the “v” designs in the aluminum slide and stem. At the lower is a ball which has alternating yarn-like bouillon with green threads. The cap is all aluminum. The insert is a green felt. This knot shows some age and has an extremely tight weave and tight bouillon to the ball. I believe that it is an original portepee and not a Johnson remake. This portapee shows age, but no fray. The scabbard shell is straight throughout and is a steel base. This shell has the original matching green leather which is totally perfect without any scuffs or problems anywhere. The graining is also all there. It is unusual to see a leather covered scabbard in this state. This leather is in mint condition. The scabbard features matching aluminum mounts. These mounts are beauties, showing no age at all, and their fine satin finish exactly matches that of the hilt fittings. These mounts have built-in aluminum eyelets, and the eyelets are equipped with aluminum carrying rings. As is usually the norm (but not always), these mounts have been line scribed on the obverse only. They are retained by flush mount, headless screws in the left edge of each. Attached to the scabbard rings is the original set of hanging straps. These Land Customs straps feature brocade aluminum textured fronts which feature twin green lines which run down each edge. The aluminum buillon is still nice and bright and shows little age. These straps are fitted with matching aluminum mounts. The upper box clip is the closed type and the oval buckles and slides features pointed leaves in their surfaces. The lower snaps are matching aluminum, having push-in style pebbled surfaces. The reverse of the straps is a fine green color. These straps are still almost stiff and are in mint condition. They are definitely are original to this piece. The blade of this example is a real killer. It is completely mirror bright and has 100% of the original cross graining visible in its surfaces. It also has a fine, needlelike tip. This blade is full mint. The reverse ricasso is etched with the oval circles of this firm which contain the firm’s name and location, “E & F Hörster Solingen”. Inside is the large “H” letter with the smaller letters “h” and “s” inside, which are pierced by a sword. The original black, small style washer is in place deep within the cross guard recesses. A magnificent Land Customs piece here, which is complete and is ready to display on your wall or in a showcase.(#122907)
Mint. $3,495.00