European Stag gripped hanger

kronckew · 9th November 2017, 03:20 PM

Acquired this recently, appears to be an late 18c-early 19c shell guard hanger/hunting sword, with a double edged 53cm. blade, complete with scabbard. should be with me tomorrow. is it possible it's a naval officers fighting hanger? vendor did not note any markings. it looks remarkably similar to capt. cook's sword listed HERE

fernando · 9th November 2017, 03:47 PM

Good catch, Wayne. Don't feel jealous of Cook's piece; his is more the swagger type, while yours looks like the real thing

.
Just a pity if the scabbard is from a different sword; it looks like having a different curvature, or is it my short sight

. You will check if it fits correctly

.

kronckew · 9th November 2017, 04:03 PM

hopefully it's just the bendy leather. does appear to be a bit longer than the sword blade tho

. i too hope it fits

if not, i have a couple of swords that need scabbards it may fit. might be the sword used to be a bit longer...we all get shorter as we age.

anyhow, capt. cook's sword (if he carried one like this) didn't do him much good against a hawaiian. size did matter there.

fernando · 9th November 2017, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

...we all get shorter as we age...

And bend, besides scabbards.

.

kronckew · 9th November 2017, 07:48 PM

always use a scabbard, for safety.

kronckew · 10th November 2017, 02:49 PM

well, it fits

blade is a couple inches into the chape & tight at the top, still a couple inches short if i lay the blade on top. blade is single edged, flat spine,except the last 5 inches, which Are sharp top & bottom. bottom edge is sharp all the way to the guard. no markings. the chape is actually loose (staple is missing) i'll see if i can move it up a bit to better fit the blade. leather needs a bit of softening.

fernando · 10th November 2017, 03:32 PM

So you face two versions for future record; either the scabbard belonged in another sword or this very one was shortened ... for whatever reason. One staple missing; easier to dismount the chape and trim a portion of the leather. You just have to check if the 'new' scabbard width fits well into the tappering chape; correct ?

fernando · 10th November 2017, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

... no markings ...

Wasn't the scallop shell guard originally a German fashion ?

Roland_M · 10th November 2017, 04:38 PM

Hello,

it is a 19. ct. European, probably German, Hunting dagger (deer catcher).

If you follow this link, you will see more examples of the same type.

https://www.google.de/search?q=hirsc...w=1670&bih=921

If you find something of interest, I will translate it for you.

Sometimes they had been used as a side weapon for upper class on the battlefield. Maybe the extremely long bayonets of late 19.ct. are copies of the deer catcher worn in battles.

Roland

fernando · 10th November 2017, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

... it is a 19. ct. European, probably German, Hunting dagger (deer catcher)...

Sure thing Roland, the Hirscfängers. Skipping the strict translation, with 53 cms blades (if not shortened from 55 cms) you may call them swords, not daggers; but that is just a little detail

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

... Sometimes they had been used as a side weapon for upper class on the battlefield...

Quite right, Roland; as also to show off with a cerimonial uniform, like that of Captain Cook, i guess

.

9th November 2017, 03:20 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	European Stag gripped hanger Acquired this recently, appears to be an late 18c-early 19c shell guard hanger/hunting sword, with a double edged 53cm. blade, complete with scabbard. should be with me tomorrow. is it possible it's a naval officers fighting hanger? vendor did not note any markings. it looks remarkably similar to capt. cook's sword listed HERE Attached Images

10th November 2017, 02:49 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	well, it fits blade is a couple inches into the chape & tight at the top, still a couple inches short if i lay the blade on top. blade is single edged, flat spine,except the last 5 inches, which Are sharp top & bottom. bottom edge is sharp all the way to the guard. no markings. the chape is actually loose (staple is missing) i'll see if i can move it up a bit to better fit the blade. leather needs a bit of softening. Attached Images

9th November 2017, 03:47 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Good catch, Wayne. Don't feel jealous of Cook's piece; his is more the swagger type, while yours looks like the real thing . Just a pity if the scabbard is from a different sword; it looks like having a different curvature, or is it my short sight . You will check if it fits correctly .

9th November 2017, 04:03 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	hopefully it's just the bendy leather. does appear to be a bit longer than the sword blade tho . i too hope it fits if not, i have a couple of swords that need scabbards it may fit. might be the sword used to be a bit longer...we all get shorter as we age. anyhow, capt. cook's sword (if he carried one like this) didn't do him much good against a hawaiian. size did matter there.

9th November 2017, 07:48 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	always use a scabbard, for safety.

10th November 2017, 03:32 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So you face two versions for future record; either the scabbard belonged in another sword or this very one was shortened ... for whatever reason. One staple missing; easier to dismount the chape and trim a portion of the leather. You just have to check if the 'new' scabbard width fits well into the tappering chape; correct ?

10th November 2017, 04:38 PM	#9
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 525	Hello, it is a 19. ct. European, probably German, Hunting dagger (deer catcher). If you follow this link, you will see more examples of the same type. https://www.google.de/search?q=hirsc...w=1670&bih=921 If you find something of interest, I will translate it for you. Sometimes they had been used as a side weapon for upper class on the battlefield. Maybe the extremely long bayonets of late 19.ct. are copies of the deer catcher worn in battles. Roland