German Hunting swords , thoughts and facts

[Akanthus]

I would like to attemp a short summary about facts and thoughts regarding German huntingswords of the 17.th century.Any friendly comments are welcome.
If you look around in museums,collections and auction catalogues,you will often find huntingswords there.However,if you are looking for 17.th century pieces these a rather rare,as the vast majority comes from the 18.th and 19.th century.
But what are the characteristic features of a German huntingsword of the 17.th century and how and why was it used ?
The direct line of ancestors runs from the Germanic seax to the „ Hauswehr" ,an all purpose tool that could be found in almost every house of those times.A medium-length knife,that was used for work,defense and hunting.Than ,step by step,in the 17.th century a weapon emerges,that can ultimately be characterized as primarily for hunting use, the huntingsword.
Usually the blades are single-edged,rather inflexible,50 to 60 cm in length,without ricasso and with or without fullers.The blades have a variety of decorations,such as deers,wildboars or even hares.Rather simple pieces don't have any decor.According to Döbel and v. Heppe,backblades were used,so that the dogs that grabbed the game ,could not be injured so easily.Frevert says the tip should not be too pointed ( Knochengierig) ,to avoid the blade getting stuck in the bone of the game
The hilts of the early pieces are made from iron.There is a crossguard and a knucklebow connected to it, which is about half,three quaters or full length of the grip.The knucklebow either ends freely or has a connection to the grip.Ironcut decorations are often found, depending on rank,name or the financial possibilities of the owner.
To increase the torsion stability from blade and hilt,the crossguard is often perforated by the blade,so that you can see the blade through a recess in the crossguard.( Pic.2) Welded ferrules also hold the blade.
Shell-shaped guardplates are often found,which are usually bent towards the blade.The guardplates are almost always welded or riveted ( Pic.3 ) to the crossguard.The later form of guardplate attach ment,using a ring on the guardplate that is pushed over the tang( Pic.4)is rare in the early times,but common in the 18.th century.
The tang of the blades is formed flat and griplike and the gripplates are fixed to the tang by hollow rivets ( Pic.5) These are filled with a small piece of wood and decorationnails are fixed there.So from the side you can see the handle-shaped tang between the gripplates.( Pic.6) In Germany you call this „Heftmontage".Another way to fix a grip to the tang ( Angelmontage),is less common in the early times.Here you put the grip over a narrow tang.The end of the grip often looks like a stylized bird's head,with it's „ beak" towards the knucklebow( Pic.7+8).
But why did huntsmen develop these weapons in the 17.th century ? Surely it's caused by the changed hunting techniques.In addition to the „Hatz" ,where the game was hunted from horseback with dogs,the enclosed hunt ( Eingestelltes Jagen) developed.(Pic.9 ).Here a lot of game was captured in an area ,which was fenced by high rags.The game was killed by a group of hunters in close combat. In the confined space and in the general confusion,the use of firearms was dangerous.This resulted in the need for a shorter,less unwieldy weapon in comparison to the pigsword( Sauschwert).Also the boarfeather ( Saufeder) was used here.Interestingly,on the wonderful pictures painted by Valentin Wagner in 1633 on the occasion of a boar hunt by Landgraf Georg II.von Hessen Darmstadt,you can also see hunters with non -hunting edged weapons participating the hunt.( Pic.10) In addition to it's hunting use ,the hunting sword was also used in cases of selfdefence in those uncertain times.Last but not least it was a symbol of honor for the hunter and was ceremoniously handed over and allowed to carrie only after a education of several years, concerning hunting skills and rules.
Something else about German nomenclature :
The weapon of the 17.th century i have referred to is called „Jagddegen“ in German.The heavy huntingsword ( Jagdschwert) is the weapon of the mounted hunter of the 16.th century.The „ Hirschfänger" is the huntingweapon of the 18,th century.Seifert, the grandseigneur of edged weapons says : „ The „ Jagddegen" is a short „ Jagdschwert" or a long „ Hirschfänger“.
For me the huntingswords of the 17.th century are fascinating ,because they have a heavy and stabile appearance.They seem to be a combination of tool and weapon and are made for rough hunting use.Later forms of hunting weapons are changing more and more to status symbols ,rank signs and costume decorations. This should not exclude their hunting use in many cases.
Thanks to Jens,that i was allowed to take pictures from some of his great huntingswords.
Literature :
- Gerhard Seifert, Der Hirschfänger,1973
- Herbert H. Westphal, Hirschfänger,Zur historischen Entwicklung jagdlicher Seitenwaffen
- Frevert Walter,Das jagdliche Brauchtum
- Döbel,Jägerpractica, 1746
- V.Heppe,Aufrichtiger Lehrprinz oder Praktische Abhandlung von dem Leithund ,1751
- Niddaer Sauhatz von 1633