Imperial Bavarian 19th Century Lion Head Officer Sword

The 19th century Bavarian officer's lion head pommel sword has an overall length in the scabbard of approximately 39 inches, with a blade length of approximately 32 inches. The blade bears the cypher of King Ludwig I, who ruled from 1825 until 1848. The sword has a slightly curved blade that is triple engraved for approximately half of its length. The blade has a generally gray patina with some typical spots and smudges. The grip is wood with a Bakelite type of covering. The obverse side of the grip is a checked texture with an applied brass emblem of King Ludwig, the insignia showing some gilt finish remaining on the emblem. The reverse side of the grip exhibits a grooved texture to the Bakelite, with some loss of the cover material at the top. The sword has its metal scabbard, painted black, with brass mounts. The scabbard paint is largely intact, and the brass mounts, like the hilt of the sword, all show an uncleaned patina.