Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > European Armoury

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 13th April 2018, 07:56 PM   #1
MacCathain
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 66
Default Short sword for ID

I found what I originally thought was an old hunting sword and was drawn to it because of the attractive hilt and evidence of some etching on the blade.

The hilt is brass and the grip is wound with braided heavy gauge brass wire. The pommel is faceted and the cross guard incorporates a solid concave disc that projects 90 degrees from the guard. The blade measures 22.5 inches/57.15 cm in length and 1.5 inches/3.81 cm in width at the ricasso. Overall, the sword is 28 inches/71.12 cm long. The blade is single-edged, except for the last 6 inches/15.24 cm, which is double-edged. The blade is very robust.

Both sides of the blade are etched with four letters -- either WLZH or WLZM -- in panel that incorporate some floral embellishments. The last letter looks like a capital H, but the cross stroke is an inverted arrowhead, so maybe it is supposed to depict a capital M. Which is letter is right, I can't say.

Though the etching has been worn away in different areas on each side, I used the visible portions from both sides to draw what the etching would have looked like whole (see sketch). The etcher placed a diamond-shaped motif on both sides of each letter, like this: <> W <> L <>Z <> H <> I think these diamond shapes serve the purpose of periods in a set of initials. The style of the letterforms makes me think late 1700s or early 1800s, but I am by no means well-informed on that topic.

There are the remains of a design or letters etched on the ricasso, but virtually all of it has worn away and it is illegible.

I recall having read that the guard positioned perpendicular to the hilt was characteristic of early hunting swords and that, over time, fashion morphed the "90 degree" guard into the downward angled clamshell guard we see on 18/19th century hirschfangers. I have since solicited the thoughts of folks who dabble in hunting swords and hirschfangers, but the consensus seems to be it isn't an example of either.

I'm hoping some of you friendly forumites might share your thoughts on the origins and use of this weapon. Thanks in advance.
Attached Images
    
MacCathain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th April 2018, 11:49 AM   #2
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Hello MacCathain,
Let me be the first to comment on your sword, as others with fair knowledge will come after to correct my nonsense.
Concerning age, i would go for 18th. century. As for the guard, i would say it has a hunting sword (hirschfanger) attitude, grip profile concave disc and all. However the blade is beyond my bet; dare i guess it once belonged in another sword ? .
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th April 2018, 02:47 PM   #3
corrado26
Member
 
corrado26's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Black Forest, Germany
Posts: 1,204
Default

It's a German piece. "<> W <> L <>Z <> H <>" stands for "Wilhelm Landgraf zu Hessen", who was either Wilhelm VIII. (1751-1760) or Wilhelm IX. (1785-1806). His capital was Kassel.
corrado26
corrado26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th April 2018, 03:36 PM   #4
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Good shot corrado .
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th April 2018, 03:48 PM   #5
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando
... However the blade is beyond my bet; dare i guess it once belonged in another sword ? .
On a second thought, straight blades are also seen in hunting swords.
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th April 2018, 09:04 PM   #6
MacCathain
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 66
Default

Thank you Corrado26 and Fernando for your help. It's great to have a point of departure for future research.
MacCathain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th April 2018, 08:36 AM   #7
thinreadline
Member
 
thinreadline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
Default

The blade is reminiscent of a Baker Rifle bayonet ... same length too
Attached Images
 
thinreadline is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th April 2018, 02:07 PM   #8
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando
... However the blade is beyond my bet; dare i guess it once belonged in another sword ?...
Quote:
Originally Posted by thinreadline
The blade is reminiscent of a Baker Rifle bayonet ... same length too
Ah !!!
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st April 2018, 03:13 AM   #9
MacCathain
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 66
Default

That's a very interesting observation, Thin.

What is the width of the blade at the ricasso, and across the spine of the blade at the same point?
MacCathain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd April 2018, 11:31 AM   #10
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MacCathain
... What is the width of the blade at the ricasso, and across the spine of the blade at the same point?
Look HERE

... And HERE.
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th April 2018, 06:03 PM   #11
thinreadline
Member
 
thinreadline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MacCathain
That's a very interesting observation, Thin.

What is the width of the blade at the ricasso, and across the spine of the blade at the same point?
On the one pictured it is 30mm wide at the ricasso and 9mm across the spine at this point .
thinreadline is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th April 2018, 12:50 AM   #12
MacCathain
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 66
Default

Thanks for that, Thin, and for the links that you provided, Fernando.

The Hessian is 39mm wide at the ricasso and 10mm across the spine, so a good bit broader but about the same thickness.

I've read that the Baker rifle derived from German Jaeger rifles, so perhaps the DNA of the Baker bayonet has some hirschfanger genes.
MacCathain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th April 2018, 07:44 AM   #13
thinreadline
Member
 
thinreadline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MacCathain
Thanks for that, Thin, and for the links that you provided, Fernando.

The Hessian is 39mm wide at the ricasso and 10mm across the spine, so a good bit broader but about the same thickness.

I've read that the Baker rifle derived from German Jaeger rifles, so perhaps the DNA of the Baker bayonet has some hirschfanger genes.
Yes I think you may be right there .
thinreadline is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:19 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.