Need help ID'ing a sword, please

[Preacherman]

A buddy of mine wants to sell a ceremonial sword that his grandfather brought back from WW2. He claims it's a German "Field Marshal's Sword". It's long and thin, with a metal scabbard. The handle looks to be brass, perhaps gilded, and is fully engraved on all outer surfaces. The tang has a German eagle, wings down, above a swastika.

I shall try to post photographs tomorrow, but in the meantime, does this sound familiar to anyone? Are there any photographs on the Web of similar items? Does anyone know its approximate value? He wants to sell it, and is talking about $500 or so, but I have no idea of whether or not this is realistic. I've told him I'll list it on the Internet for him if he wants me to.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Vodka7]

I dont have any personal experience, but google yielded this and a few pages like it.

 

[mics357]

preacherman, when you post photo, if possible please show a yardstick or tape measure for reference of length and blade width as well as blade thickness would be most helpful.

 

[Lone Star]

Try going to www.knifeforums.com and join, so you can post. Ask Frank Tjraska in the Military Knives forum or Bernard Levine in his column.

Lone Star

 

[hso]

Anything like this? http://www.antiqueswords.com/images/nls2-1.jpg

 

[Preacherman]

Mike, yes, exactly like that, although not in such a good condition.

 

[mete]

Germany along with everyone else suffered the depression and Hitler wanted to help various industries. One of them was the cutlery industry in Soligen. As a result just about everyone who wore any kind of uniform was issued a sword or dagger.So it's not necessarily a military sword.

 

[Don Gwinn]

That period is well-described by Richard Cohen in By the Sword. Apparently some in Solingen (and some outside it) are sometimes put in the awkward position of relating their stories of the "glory days" when production was up and the industry was healthy. . . . but only because of the Nazi mania for swords and daggers.