Iron/Steel hilt Prussian IOD

I picked up an iron/steel hilt Prussian Infantry Officer Degen (IOD) yesterday that I thought I would talk about.  I am interested in variation swords made with iron hilt fittings rather than the normally encountered brass.  This includes American Civil War swords such as the steel hilt "Peterson 75" variations shown in Harold Peterson's book "The American Sword 1775-1945" as plate #75.  The Germans also made swords with iron or steel hilts during WWI and generally blued or blackened them.  The thought was they would be less flashy during battle.  These dark finishes were applied at the factory and could be achieved by bluing, browning, or painting.  

My new Prussian IOD has a steel hilt with a single ring scabbard having slightly worn bluing.  This sword was an item of issue having each piece inspected and marked with the inspector's marking.  The grip is polished wood wrapped with twisted blued iron wire and has a W/II cypher attached to the obverse grip.  The flat steel guard is identical to the brass model with a large Prussian eagle in a three branch guard.  The blade is a polished steel straight blade with two small fullers made in the normal manner.  The spine of the blade is marked with "Crown / W / 15" indicating Prussian issue in 1915.  The sword was made by Ernst Busch in Solingen.  Busch & Companie was founded in  1879 and worked through the war until 1922.  

So, the next time you find a variation sword with an iron hilt with a blackened finish know that Bubba probably did  not paint it in his garage.