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The Hunting and Forestry organizations under the German monarchy were often controlled by aristocrats and well-heeled businessman. They were generally not organizations habituated by the common man. The purposes were generally formed for the conservation of game and forestry. Elaborate hunts were great occasions for the well-heeled, while the ladies used the hunting lodges for match-making and gossip. The cutlasses of these Imperial organizations were often extremely ornate, or they could also be utilitarian, made to perform the final killing thrust on game. Both types were often owned by a single individual. Many examples were used strictly for dressing up the beauty of a hunting/forestry uniform.

IMPHUNT-001-25734 – Imperial Forestry Cutlass with Skinner by Ewald Cleff

This Imperial Forestry Cutlass still has great condition and a classic good look about it. The Cutlass is fashioned of finest quality brass, having still some gilding remaining throughout the surfaces. The hilt design features a D-guard, crossguard and quillon, which begins and ends with deer hooves. The center area of the crossguard and D-guard are decorated with simple line engravings. The ferrule area is also lined with three sets of raised-out, twin examples. There is a fluted clamshell with a teardrop on the right and a teardrop on the left, which rises upward. The grip plates of this example are most impressive, being of ivory. The ivory has toned over the years with the back grip being a very beautiful golden color. The obverse grip is slightly lighter, but has graining in the surfaces that really catches the viewer’s eye. This graining comes and goes as the weapon is turned in the light. It almost has a magical appearance about it and is one of the nicest pieces of ivory I have seen. These plates were cut by a master and installed by a great craftsman. Both grip plates are in totally perfect condition and they are decorated with plain oval-shaped bosses. The scabbard shell is a black leather variety, which has the push-out space area in the center that accommodated the skinning knife. This black leather is in excellent condition showing only nominal age. The shell has decorative lines on the edges of both sides and it is sewn up the rear. The scabbard has brass mounts. These mounts are scalloped on the edges where they meet the leather. The upper mount has the slot that accommodates the skinning knife, as well as a long lug arrangement. The lower mount is lined in two areas, but just on the obverse. Contained within the skinner slot is the original knife. This knife matches the grip plates of the cutlass. These ivory grip plates have also nicely toned, and the upper obverse area is fitted with a matching, plain, oval boss. The area of the knife’s grip, which is concealed within the slot, has only rivets, as does the reverse. The blade, itself, is a conventional type with small false edge at the top. The blade has a fine polish and shows only the most nominal of age. As most hunting/forestry collectors know, it is difficult to still find skinner knives still present within the cutlass scabbard. It is interesting to note that there are small notches cut in the ivory grip edge, so that the knife slides perfectly into the slot. The knife also has been slightly beveled so that it comfortably slips and then rests into the area. Very nice factory hand work here! The blade of the cutlass is most impressive. It is sixteen inches in length and is a slab side with single edge and false edge at the top, which runs back approximately one-third. This blade is nice and bright and is equipped with a triple-etch. The etch is extremely deep and well done. This is the first time I have seen an etch pattern that extends beyond the ricasso area. The ricasso has a floral style etching on all sides. The obverse etch is the style showing a hunter with rifle aiming at four deer running in a forest glen. The three deer in the front are female, while a small buck follows up the rear. The reverse etch features a large stag looking at three deer feeding in a forest glen. The etchings throughout the plants, trees and animals are absolutely superb. The upper spine area has a laurel leaf etching as well as the name of the producer, “Ewald Cleff, Solingen” raised out in a panel. The reverse ricasso also has a stamping positioned within an open area of the etch, “Ewald Cleff, Solingen.” The firm name is done in an arch shape. This blade has a couple of age spots in the surfaces, but for the most part, it still remains factory bright, crisp and in near mint condition. A very beautiful, unusual blade here. I do not recall ever seeing an Ewald Cleff produced Cutlass, so the maker mark, itself, is quite rare. The blade has been protected by an in-place, felt, red buffer showing some wear to the edges. A complete, unusual example with lots of desirable features. Excellent plus $1995.00

IMPHUNT - 003 - (16996) - SHORT DELUXE SILVERED HUNTING CUTLASS - Carl Eickhorn.

This cutlass is a beautiful rather diminutive example, being an Eickhorn design I have not seen before. The hilt consists of an antler solid grip piece complete with cap, ferrule, crossguard and clamshell. The cap is most beautiful, having a finely chased acorn tang nut on the top. The upper portion of the cap has a raised out squirrel set in a kind of a stalking position (never saw a squirrel this aggressive but that is what it looks like) and two game birds on a branch. The backgrounds are sun-rayed outward. The ferrule is decorated with three sets of beaded lines. The crossguard is a small proportioned deluxe style. It is formed with quillons looking like logs wrapped with candy-caned oak leafing. There is fine detail to this depiction. The small clamshell depicts a raised out hunting horn with leather strap attached. The grip is a solid piece of stag, showing virtually no trimming - it fits the mounts perfectly. The surfaces have fine graining and a darker brown color. The short scabbard shell is a beautiful fine-grained rich brown leather. The mounts are composed of a solid base metal with perfect silvered surfaces. Both of the mounts have scalloped edges where they meet the leather. The upper mount is the style intended to accommodate a skinner. Unfortunately, the skinner has gone to time. There is an elaborate silver lug mounted on the fitting, having raised out floral-style design - beautiful lug here. The lower fitting is quite interesting as it features the deluxe panel we see on later produced 3rd Reich deluxe pieces. The panel contains a baying large stag in a forest glen. The lower ball is the well known beaded style - looks great. These scabbard mounts are retained with staples in the usual way. There are numbers beneath the staples. The blade is a plain unetched type. It is 10 1/4 inches in length. It is a single-edged style having wide "cupped" shapefuller, with impressive thick upper spine - looks similar to a large type bayonet blade. This nickel plated blade is in near mint condition being bright and just needing a little mild cleaning. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the scarcely seen, small single circle logo having a standing squirrel within. Beneath the animal are the firm's initial's, "C.E.". The brown felt blade buffer is in place. An interesting example for the Hirschfanger collector. The trademark would indicate this piece was probably produced between about 1925 and 1930. Lots of unusual aspects on this piece and a serious study piece for collectors interested in the transitional features used by this firm. Excellent Plus $1,195.00

IMPHUNT - 005 - 24305 – IMPERIAL / WEIMAR CUTLASS – WK&C

This rarely seen cutlass is an interesting example being of highest quality construction. It is finished in darkened steel mounts, and it has a grip which also acts as a pommel. It appears to be made of horn, having grip sections. This horn pommel is fashioned to turn to the left slightly. There are six grip sections which flow from left to right downward from the horn pommel. Atop the horn, is a steel ring, to which is attached a leather carrying strap. Below the horn grip is a black patinated steel ferrule which is plain. Below this, is a matching steel crossguard which has quillon ends, which both terminate in downward teardrops. The scabbard shell is made of black leather. It is fairly wide to accommodate the blade. This black leather has decorative lines on the edges of both sides, and is sewn-up the rear. It is fitted with plain finished, matching black steel mounts. The bottom mount has a scalloped edge where it meets the leather. The upper mount is plain, having an acorn lug which retains the frog. This leather is in good shape showing little age. The frog is also a fine example being of nice patent leather. It has some crazing, but still looks pretty good. The front portion of the frog has a lower lip which is pointed, blending nicely with the lower fitting. This cutlass measures overall about 16-inches. The blade is most impressive. It is a mint, slab-sided example with single edge, having a slight Bowie look to it. This blade still has much of its original graining. It remains in choice bright condition, easily being in near mint. It also has a fairly long ricasso. Etched into the obverse center of this blade is the word, “Oberländer”. The word also has a swirled, fancy line underneath of it. An “Oberländer” is often associated with Hitler’s early rise to power, as these groups, as well as the Stahlhelm groups, marched with Hitler through the city of Munich. Whether this group has any bearing with this knife, is unknown to me, but it certainly is an interesting coincidence. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the turn-of-the-century marking of the W.K.&C. firm, being a side-by-side king head and knighthead. There is a fine green felt buffer which is in place. I found an exact example of this cutlass in an early Anton Wingen catalog shown to me by Tom Johnson. This piece is listed as model number “1813 / 26cm”, being the length of it. Apparently it was a cutlass which was used at the time for many things, but the “Oberländer” marking may have a connection to Hitler’s early days. A fine looking example here.
Near Mint $1895.00

IMPHUNT - 006 - 23700 – IMPERIAL NAMED JÄGER FORESTRY CUTLASS w/ DAMASCUS BLADE – M. Neumann, Berlin.

This impressive Jäger Forestry Cutlass is in an untouched state, having recently come out of the woodwork. It is a long weapon, measuring almost 22 inches overall. The hilt is in the shape of a conventional Senior Forestry Cutlass. It has a “D” guard made of gilded brass, which ends at the top in a deer hoof, and also at the bottom, flowing through the crossguard with another hoof design. The ferrule is a plain example, having lined decoration. Below the center area is a fluted clamshell device, which has a long quillon teardrop end, which juts out to the left. The grip plates are carved ivory on both sides. This ivory is a golden color and has very pleasing grains through its surfaces. It is in perfect condition, and has three oval-shaped bosses, which decorate both sides. There is an original-to-the-piece, Prussian style portepee wrapped about the center area. This portepee shows quite a bit of age, but it appears to be a silver bullion style, having black lines running through it, with black, “V” decorations through the bullion slide and stem. The lower ball is a patinated silver bullion style. This knot also has some fray, but it does add character to the cutlass. The long scabbard is made of a black leather shell. This shell shows age, but it is still in a good condition, showing no rot anywhere. It is decorated with pressed lines which run the length of both edges, and it is sewn up the rear. The matching gilded brass scabbard mounts have scalloped-style edges where they meet the leather shell. These mounts also have line decorative designs, and the upper example has a long lug for the use of a frog. These mounts are retained to the scabbard with staples in the usual manner. Both of these scabbard fittings have turned to a plum color patination. This same color can be seen throughout much of the hilt fittings. The reverse upper scabbard fitting has the original owner's name and the date that he received this cutlass, “29.11.06./Orlowski”. This Cutlass was probably presented to the Jäger, Orlowski, on his graduation from Hunting / Forestry school, or perhaps a cadet program. Either way, this is a military Cutlass -- not a civil type. The choice blade measures 17 inches in length and it is forged of Damascus steel. It is the “Damastahl” pattern, having prominent designs which run through the metal. There is only a little nominal age evident in the blade surfaces. For the most part though, they are free of deterioration, and are very beautiful. This blade is in the shape of a Jäger variety, being the same as the blades shown in the Wittmann-Johnson Imperial Book on page 300. The blade has a short ricasso, and then a fuller, which runs down to about the halfway point. The edge is a single type, but then it features a quill back, which returns to about the one-third point. The blade easily rates in excellent plus condition. The blade spine has the etched name of a prestigious retailer. This example was purchased from, “M.Neumann, Hoflieferant Berlin”. Neumann was a supplier to royalty and had a well known retail shop in Berlin. Jäger troops were used in World War I and before, as it was recognized that skilled hunters and marksman were very valuable as snipers and the performance of other duties requiring accuracy in shooting. The fact that this cutlass is named, provides the next owner with a good opportunity to research the original carrier. I also recommend that the next owner clean this piece up, as the way it sits now, it looks like it just came out of someone’s cellar, and probably did! Jäger- related weapons are quite rare.
Excellent plus $2995.00

IMPHUNT - 010 - 24948 – Folding Style Hunting Knife with Stag Grip Plates by Anton Wingen, Jr.

Most Hunting/Forestry collectors will be familiar with this type of folding knife. It is the same as the example shown in the Johnson/Wittman Imperial Book, on page 337. It was designed so that the lower half of the long blade stayed outward, when the knife was folded. This way, the blade could be used as a skinning device, while the hunter used the stag plates as a handle. When the appropriate lever is pushed, the blade opens outward and extends to a length of about 8 ½ inches. This blade is a single edge type, with false edge that runs back through about 4 inches. The blade is a quality item, and with a little work, should clean up quite a bit. It currently still has fairly good sheen to it, but does show minor age. The blade is marked with the Othello image, and behind it, is the firm’s name and location, “Anton Wingen, Jr./Solingen”. The grip plates of this example are a beautiful stag. They are properly cut out by an expert, and feature nice brown tones in the grains, with golden edges. This piece could have been produced in the 1920’s or 30’s, but I am not sure. It also could be a World War I vintage example. Usually, these folding hunting knives come in a brown leather sheath. In this case, the sheath has gone to time, but still this is a very fine example for display with a hunting collection.
Excellent, Plus $795.00