British Infantry Officers sword pattern 1897

Please click sword to enlarge.

Our 1897 pattern Infantry Officers sword conforms to the exacting standards of the MoD (UK) and DnD (Canada) DoD (Australia) and is approved for issue to all Commonwealth Infantry Officers sword. The sword is described as having a Nickel plated hilt, pierced and engraved E11R with a fully etched blade. It can be purchased with brown leather scabbard in place of the nickel for use with Sam Browne. Please add $195.00 US for the leather covered scabbard. Etching/dedication to the blade is available, please email for quote. We recommend shipping by FEDEX insured, and in order to provide accurate shipping costs we ask that you provide your postal code etc. We offer discounted prices on all of our swords for bulk orders (minimum 12), Kitshops, and other groups please contact us for quotes.

Please click sword to enlarge.

Air Force Officers sword conforms to the exacting standards of the MoD (UK) and DnD (Canada) DoD (Australia. Described as having a gold plated hilt, pierced with "EIIR" and emblem "eagle and crown", eagle-head cap with white grip and hilt wire, blade 7/8" wide, 32" long, etched, complete with black leather scabbard and 3 gold plated mounts. Shipping by FEDEX insured is extra. For an accurate quote, please provide your postal code. Thank you.

Whether you are looking to purchase your first sword after receiving your commission, or replacing an older one, we would like to mention that with the closure of the Wilkinson sword factory, there are few Master swordmakers in Europe still producing a quality blade in the traditional way. At Frank Schmitz we are proud to say that we still follow the 127 year tradition of E F Horster and Carl Eickhorn at our factory in Solingen Germany. All parts of our swords are made in either Haan or Solingen, thereby living up to the true meaning of a "Made in Solingen product". We would like to extend an offer to the Officer Cadets at all Commonwealth Military training Colleges, such as RMC Kingston Ontario, RMC Duntroon Australia, Sandhurst UK, Dartmouth and Cranwell UK, that discounted prices on our Commonwealth swords are available. To save on added shipping costs, we also suggest that a minimum of 6 or more orders should be placed at the same time. Please email sheba@execulink.com for further information.

Wholesale prices are available to regimental kit shops etc. We will also tender to contracts both government and corporate in providing specialty items, such as Anniversary or Commemorative swords and knives. Sheila and David Bawden. (Sole distributors for Frank Schmitz Metallwaren GmBh)

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Sheba Imports is the sole distributor for Frank Schmitz Commonwealth Officers swords. When you buy from Sheba Imports you are buying direct from the factory, and in most cases your swords will be shipped factory direct (Germany to your location). This close association with one of the few remaining actual sword makers in Europe, allows Sheba Imports to bid on government and corporate contracts/tenders, whether you are looking for 12 swords or 1,000's. Please contact David or Sheila if you require assistance in this field, with the expertise of the only working Master swordmaker in Solingen Germany, we are well versed in designing and supplying Anniversary or Commemorative items.

All Schmitz swords have the TUV certificate of quality

A short bio; of Frank Schmitz Metallwaren

The story of Schmitz begins in Solingen with the E. F. Hörster Company in 1880, and their eventual acquisition of the Carl Eikhorn Company (swords) some years later. Frank Schmitz (the only Master Swordmaker still working in Solingen) began his career when he joined the Hörster Company as an apprentice in 1969. He continued to work for them for 28 years and in 1997, Frank bought the company and with that, 127 years of sword making history passed easily into his hands. It is a responsibility that Frank takes very seriously.

(Please visit http://www.sheba-imports.com/Stages_of_sword_making.html)

To purchase a sword from Schmitz means you are following in the footsteps of the thousands who have gone before, Officers who learned to place their trust in the quality of a Solingen sword and the “Made in Solingen” mark. Yet what does that mean?

German law is quite specific about the use of the “Made in Solingen (mark)”. It applies to cutting and thrusting weapons/blades and is protected by German law. In order to meet the exacting standards, the blades must be forged in either Solingen or the neighbouring town of Haan. No parts, such as blades, handles, guards etc can be made/imported from elsewhere and assembled in Solingen. The swords and knives of Schmitz comply faithfully with that guideline and are proud to bear “The made in Solingen mark”.

Thank you. David & Sheila A Bawden

A brief history of Solingen “The city of Blades”

When it comes to casting fine steel blades, no-one has more knowledge than the Master Swordmakers of Solingen. First mentioned in the year 1067 by a chronicler who called the area "Solonchon", its history goes to back to Roman times, when the Legions brought the secrets of steel making from the Eastern Mediterranean to the town, and thereby established one of the oldest swordmaking towns in the world. Located 20 miles North-East of the city of Cologne, near the Wupper and Rhine river, the Vikings knew of the small village on the hill, they knew it for its strong steel blades and keen edges, so that by the time of Richard the Lionheart, the phrase “Finest blades in Christendom” referred to a Solingen blade. Charlegmane outfitted his army with swords made here and by Medieval times, the swordsmiths were adding “Solingen Made me” to their blades. This was the forerunner of the made in Solingen mark, so proudly displayed on the swords of Frank Schmitz.

Over the centuries the towns importance grew until by the mid 19th century the region was amass with factories and cottage industries turning out thousands of knives, swords, scissors and blades. When swords went out of fashion, the smithies turned their skills to making bayonets, scissors, surgical tools and even wafer thin safety razors. Today only a handful of the older companies survive and names like Horster, and Eickhorn live on under the name Frank Schmitz Metallwaren GmbH. It is also interesting to note that in spite of these enormous setbacks, over 90% of all German knives are still made in Solingen and by a strange twist of fate; it is now the home of Wilkinson sword (razor blades).

I hope this brief description sheds some light on why the smithies of Solingen are justifiably proud of their past and take pride in the quality of their products after almost 2,000 years.

We are honoured to be the Sole representatives for Frank Schmitz Metallwaren GmBh of Solingen, for their Commonwealth Officers swords. Frank Schmitz is the only master swordmaker still working in the town of Solingen Germany and his blades proudly bear that mark.

We will work with you to design and create Anniversary or Commemorative swords or knives. Please ask about this service.

LEGAL NOTICE
*Trademarks, Copyrights, Registration Marks.
"Sheba Imports" and "Frank Schmitz Metallwaren GmbH" bears no responsibility
for legal INFRINGEMENTS.
"Sheba Imports" and "Frank Schmitz Metallwaren GmbH" assume the customer
has permission to use all designs asked to be reproduced on their products.
COPYRIGHT © 2007 All rights reserved Please note:-

"Sheba Imports" and "Frank Schmitz Metallwaren GmbH" bears no responsibility for any
transportation costs, duties or tariffs applicable in the destination country