Wasserzoll Sword

[SARGE]

Gentlemen,

I recently bought a German Water Customs (Wasserzoll) sword that is a very scarce WWII German sword to find. This particular sword is an Eickhorn Patent Sabel shown in their catalog as, "Sabel fur Wasserzoll Nr.1759". This sword was a patented design by Eickhorn and is specific to this maker. While the sword itself looks much like several others in their line of lion hilt P guard Army swords it has distinct differences, the most obvious being the black leather scabbard. This sword is quite scarce since Water Customs was a fairly small unit of the larger Zollschutz organization controlled by the German Finance Ministry (RFV). Just as the Treasury Department controls the US Customs and Border Control the RFV controlled German customs and borders. German Water Customs specifically operated on waterways and in ports and was therefore a small organization making this sword seldom seen.

 

 

[Rakkasan187]

Stunning example Sarge..

 

In Pristine condition

 

Leigh

[SARGE]

Stunning example Sarge..

 

In Pristine condition

 

Leigh

 

Many thanks for the kudos Leigh. I was very happy to find this sword after looking for one for years. Notice that the sword knot is the correct Zollschutz Portepee for this sword. Basically, while it looks similar to the Polizei NCO knot the Customs knot is only made up of green and aluminum cords. The more aluminum, and fewer green cords, in the knot the higher the rank (pay grade) of the wearer. These Zoll (RFV) sword knots are hard to find on their own.

 

George

[jmd62]

What a beauty, thanks for sharing!

[inimicus]

super example. since German Finance Ministry (RFV) initial-marked other equipment like the PP pistols their policemen carried, did the 'RFV' mark appear on their swords - or even bayonets? after all, the postal police carried bayonets property-stamped D.R.P. (deutsche reichs post).

 

also, other than the VERY RARE knot and gilded scab. fittings, is the sword the same as any german army model? thanks

[SARGE]

Many of the Customs items of issue were marked by the ReichsFinanzVerwaltung (RFV). As you point out, firearms were certainly items of issue and were generally "RFV" property marked. They did property mark their issued edged weapons. The distinctive large polished steel Customs KS98 bayonets were marked on the reverse guard. The S84/98 bayonets that they received from Army stores were similarly "RFV" marked on the cross-guard.

 

Customs did not mark privately purchased swords since they were the property of the officer and not the RFV. This Eickhorn Nr.1759 sword is similar to their Nr.1710 Parderkopf-Sabel that was also called the "Blucher" in later catalogs. Of course Eickhorn, like all edged weapon manufacturers, used various component parts to make up different sword models.

[Tony v]

Just another example of a beautiful sword ! Thank you for the posting of a rare customs piece.

 

Tony

[RRA227]

Nice sword. Rich A. in Pa.