Solingen Presentational Sword

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Jim,

I know next to nothing about the blades from my own country but I am maybe able to help with the inscriptions. I've googled a little bit and found that the term "EISENHAUER" is a quality grade and mean that the blade is proved by "Nagelprobe", a prove of the edge quality when I understand correct.


Regards,
Detlef

Hi Detlef,

"Nagelprobe" is something different! "Nagelprobe" has nothing to do with "Eisenhauer". Even the german Wikipedia explanation is wrong.

"Eisenhauer" means that the blade is able to cut through an ordinary 0.5" (or similar) nail without traces on the edge, except a tiny discoloration.

All the early "Eisenhauer" blades had to pass this test, later it was more a symbol for quality without a specific test.


Best wishes,
Roland

[Sajen]

Hi Roland,

like said, I know nothing about this area of collecting and repeat what I found by google! And like said in up, I've thought already that you will be able to tell more!

Best,
Detlef

[kai]

Hello Roland,

"Nagelprobe" is something different! "Nagelprobe" has nothing to do with "Eisenhauer". Even the german Wikipedia explanation is wrong.

Could you please expand on this?

"Eisenhauer" means that the blade is able to cut through an ordinary 0.5" (or similar) nail without traces on the edge, except a tiny discoloration.

Nails are usually made from very mild steel; if you anneal them, they should pose no problem to any hardened steel blade. A thick iron rod may still pose a challenge - it seems more of a test for a good edge geometry (and sword technique) to me though!

Regards,
Kai

[silberschatzimsee]

http://www.wissen.de/wortherkunft/nagelprobe

Dunno how legitim this source is though

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Roland,


Could you please expand on this?



Nails are usually made from very mild steel; if you anneal them, they should pose no problem to any hardened steel blade. A thick iron rod may still pose a challenge - it seems more of a test for a good edge geometry (and sword technique) to me though!

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,

you are right, the iron rods for testing the "Eisenhauer" were made from pretty soft iron, "Eisenhauer" is mainly an early marketing slogan. In England they had a similar test "Guaranteed to cut iron" or so.


The "Nagelprobe" I know comes from razor blade quality testing. The master will lay the razor blade edge flat on his thumb-nail (0°, no cutting effect) and gives a little pressure on it. Because the razor blade edge is very thin and flexible a kind of wave will appear in the cutting edge. Now the master moves the blade under pressure from left to right and watch for the wave. Over the whole length of the edge the wave must be the same. Is this the case the edge has a constantly thickness which is very important for a good classic razor blade.

You are probably also right with the faux damask on the cutting edge. Many Solingen swords from 19th and early 20th ct. have only faux damask. If you are interested, I can make a scan from my Solingen-Swordmuseum book. But until now I have never seen a combination of real and faux damask. An inserted cutting edge is quite unusal on Solingen swords of the 19th ct..


best,
Roland