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28th November 2023, 10:22 PM | #1 |
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European hunting sword for comments
Hi I am wondering if anyone can help me to identify this sabre, with etchings.
Thanks in adavance. |
29th November 2023, 12:55 AM | #2 |
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Interesting piece! The "Turk head" decoration is something you often see on late 18th/early 19th century European sabres.
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29th November 2023, 04:59 AM | #3 |
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As noted, these kinds of decorative blade themes are from European regions in the mid 18th to early 19th centuries, as the oriental mystique became popular in military units emulating the notorious pandours of Austro-Hungary .
The Turks head, magic/occult symbols and devices were meant to further carry this mystique in the overall esoteric character of the sword. While these kinds of decorative devices are familiar from East European swords, they were also popular in French swords where elements of troops from these places were often factored into French forces. |
29th November 2023, 03:01 PM | #4 |
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Hi,
Looks to me like a decent quality 18thC/early 19thC hunting sword from continental Europe. See attached example along similar lines. Regards, Norman. Last edited by Norman McCormick; 29th November 2023 at 03:15 PM. |
1st December 2023, 03:06 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
and the short guard probably show french origin. |
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29th November 2023, 05:48 PM | #6 | |
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Is there no literature out there on the topic of these inscriptions? I am wondering what alpahbet it is and what it means... Thanks Last edited by Lee; 30th November 2023 at 12:45 AM. |
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30th November 2023, 06:04 PM | #7 |
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May I request that this thread move to European?
As Norman has well noted, this is a European sword, possibly a hunting hanger as used by jagers, which were specially formed light infantry units. These units were essentially for forward action, skirmishing and activity outside the movement of larger formations. As foragers (the term jager in German =hunter) they were also responsible for food supply. In that they were often in battle with or proximity of Ottoman forces, the affinity for oriental fashions,styles and of course weaponry was prevalent. These circumstances were of course well known with the pandour units of Baron von Trenck in the service of Maria Theresa. The 18th century fascination with the mysteries of the occult, magic and oriental esoterica led to the use of these kinds of decoration and motif on sword blades, and as seen here, often the elements of the sword itself. This was known in the 18th c. as 'chinoserie' (=in the Chinese manner) referring to of course 'oriental', which actually collectively referred to China, Japan, India and even Ottoman (Middle East as well). Fantastic piece of esoteric weaponry! |
1st December 2023, 06:39 AM | #8 |
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And so ... over to the European Armoury forum
Moved as requested
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1st December 2023, 04:45 PM | #9 |
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Hi,
All these tagged as French 18thC from old sales catalogues. Regards, Norman. Last edited by Norman McCormick; 1st December 2023 at 04:58 PM. |
1st December 2023, 05:14 PM | #10 |
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Spot on Norman!
This style of blade decoration was extremely popular in Nantes, particularly by the purveyor Caissagnard as I understand, following similar 'oriental' fashions in Eastern Europe. Note the 'clipped point' in the one at top, termed a 'pandour point' (Seifert, 1962). |
1st December 2023, 09:40 PM | #11 | |
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Quote:
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1st December 2023, 10:11 PM | #12 |
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After doing a bit of reasearch i realized that in Austria-Hungary they were/are also called Pandurendolch.
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