Italy / Germany - Antique Luxury Hunting Sword with Solid Silver Hilt

Elegant luxury hunting sword made in Italy in the late 19th or early 20th century, fitted with a beautiful German blade produced in Solingen by the prestigious Herder firm. A high-level civilian piece combining noble materials, careful craftsmanship and an aesthetic clearly linked to the world of European big game hunting at the end of the 19th century. It is a weapon of presence, conceived both for practical use and for social representation within aristocratic hunting circles. The hilt is made of solid silver, hallmarked 800, and bears the mark of the Italian silversmith J. Draghi, visible on the crossguard. Its design follows elegant and functional models, with fluted pommel, clean-lined grip and straight crossguard with spherical terminals. The overall appearance conveys sobriety and refinement, qualities typical of fine civilian hunting swords intended for distinguished use. Matching the hilt, the throat and chape of the scabbard are also made of silver. The chape features an interesting sculptural termination reminiscent of the stylised silhouette of a bird, possibly inspired by a peacock, adding a clearly ornamental character to the ensemble. The scabbard retains its original dark leather structure. The leather shows natural wear consistent with age, without affecting the overall appeal of the piece. The steel blade originates from the prestigious German firm Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn of Solingen, whose inscription appears engraved on one side. It features rich acid-etched decoration with a scene depicting a stag in a natural landscape, hunting trophies and stylised vegetal motifs. This iconographic repertoire reinforces the identity of the sword within the social context of big game hunting in Europe at the turn of the century. The state of preservation is very good, with light marks and signs consistent with its use and age. A particularly interesting sword within the field of edged weapon collecting. The presence of solid silver on the hilt, throat and chape places it at a higher level of luxury than usually found in this type of weapon. A sword that fits perfectly into a serious collection of historical edged weapons or within a specialised group of European hunting arms. The quality of its signed blade and the use of solid silver provide clear added value. A sword of great presence. An uncommon hunting sword due to the quality of its materials, the signature on its blade and the presence of solid silver, a piece that naturally belongs in a serious collection of European edged weapons. By its elegance, its hunting symbolism and its magnificent presence, it also constitutes a truly special gift for a lover of hunting or historical arms. History of Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn: The firm Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn belongs to the long metallurgical tradition of Solingen, one of the main European centres of edged weapon production since the Middle Ages. During the 19th century, many German houses specialised in the manufacture of high-quality blades intended for mounting in different European countries, especially in luxury civilian arms and hunting weapons. Blades produced by Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn enjoyed great prestige for the quality of their steel and the consistency of their manufacture, and were widely used by armourers and silversmiths in Italy, Spain and Central Europe. This international production system explains the historical coherence of pieces such as the present one, where a top-level German blade is integrated into an Italian mounting made by a specialised silversmith. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the name Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn frequently appears on weapons intended for elegant civilian use, hunting and certain ceremonial contexts. The firm succeeded in consolidating a solid reputation based on technical quality and its ability to adapt to the tastes of different European markets. Today its blades remain highly valued by collectors of antique edged weapons for their historical interest, metallurgical quality and presence in high-level pieces.