Hunting Sword

[mgolab]

This is a hunting sword which I have owned for a few years now. Appreciate any comments. Thanks

[Triarii]

Interesting that the hilt has hunting scenes but the blade has a trophy of arms. Wonder if its a replacement blade?

[M ELEY]

Many of these short hangers saw usage in both the naval and infantry/foot soldier settings. the blade looks spot-on to the period (1750's-90's). Even with the hunting motif on the hilt, I'd wager this was how the piece was made originally IMHO. Nice piece, Mark! See "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" by G. Neumann for similar examples-

[mgolab]

Thank you Mark. As always, I appreciate the feedback. I was told from the seller that it may have German origin, but who knows... reminded me of jaeger swords from the 18th century.

[Jim McDougall]

Im with the Capn on this, and think this is most likely English of mid 18th, with the stag horn grip, and general character. The downturned shell is indeed reminiscent of the German 'hirshfanger' (cuttoe) and the hunting scene typical, the dog on the pommel cap I think simply reflecting the importance of the dog to the hunter.

It is interesting to see the now indiscernible motif on the blade, and though it may be with arms suggesting military association its hard to see. As hunting was of course an activity of gentry and high station any number of motifs of this character might have been present.

The blade seems to be of German form, mid 18th, but it is heavy and straight while it seems most cuttoe types have lighter slightly curved blades. The nature of the hollowed channel stopping in the upper part of the blade to form an extended block type forte compares to a narrower blade with same style fuller on a French cuttoe c. 1760s with the blade noted as German.

As noted, these kinds of hangers were much favored by officers on vessels, and stout heavy blades like this favored, most regulation style cutlasses had straight heavy blades.

[Ed]

I had an interest in these critters some time back. The example on the right is a real "hunting sword" blade etched with hunting scenes. Blade 13 inches. This one is relatively recent.

The middle and leftmost ones (blades 20 and 25 inches respectively) have slightly curved, unmarked blades. Decoration on hilt elements is nondescript, vaguely floral.

I recall reading that the protrusion on the quillon element on the middle example was indicative of 17th century manufacture.

I had assumed (HA!) that they were both non-reg officers swords. Why not?

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
One of mine, probably French, also with a stand of arms.
Regards,
Norman.

[Akanthus]

Hallo mgolab,
For me it looks like a German Huntingsword ,made in the second quarter of the 18th.century.It shows the characteristic stag horn handle and the brass grip with hunting related motives.With the 18th.century brass began to become the most used material for hunting sword grips and the earlier iron grips disappeared slowly.Also the straight,massive backblade is often used.To kill a wounded animal it iwas the best choice. Curved blades were used to immobilize a wounded stag or a wildboar.We see that form follows function.These " Hirschfängers" are widespread in those times.Hunters ,working for noble families,had to learn their profession in a three years education.They learned dog - and horsekeeping, hunting techniques,tracking,blowing the horn and also writing and calculate.In Germany exists a certain hunting language ( up to now) which they also hade to learn.When the three years ended and the young man had shown his learning success he received his huntingsword from his master as a sign of status and honor.

[mgolab]

Thank you very much. I am curious whether the "trophy of arms" on the blade may point to military use of the sword by hessian/anspach/brunswick jagers.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks

[Akanthus]

For me this trophy of arms is a sign for noble might,often to find on blades of this time.This huntinsword is not a first class made piece.First class noble swords are often gilded and decorated with fine elaborated etchings.This one is good but rather simple in comparion with high class swords.Nevertheless it shows the trophy of arms !!
For me it's clearly a hunting sword for practical use,no military weapon.On similar swords you often can find no decoration ,etchings of hunters or hunting animals, or Chiffres ,phrases and baroque decorations.Often in combination .In German Collections there are lots of these swords.Which ways it has taken in usingtimes ? Nobody knows.

[Jim McDougall]

Here is one with ivory? grip and notable three button rivet motif. Blade is the heavy straight form, do not have length presently.
The open guard seems unusual......18th c?

For some reason I have always felt this was naval officers sidearm late 18th, probably British, but the actual hunting intent was not discounted.
As officers were of course notable 'of station' in civilian status, their participation in 'the hunt' would have been part of the social expectations.

The hunt was in this convention a fashionable event, and ones weapons reflected such fashions, so a bit of 'showing off' was of course expected.

I wanted to include detail toward the use of 'hunting swords' as used by military officers with the noted hanger of Capt. John Benbow who was in the merchant navy then achieved high rank in the Royal Navy 1680s-1702. His command and repute in the West Indies' notoriety was noted later in literature as the name of the Inn told by Robert Louis Stevenson in "Treasure Island".
The pages illustrated from "Naval Swords" P.G.W.Annis ,1970 show the staghorn hunting hanger which served as his sidearm late 17th c.

[Jim McDougall]

From "Hunting Weapons" Howard Blackmore, 1971, p.42;

Discussing the magical signs and numbers often occurring on hunting sword blades "..most of these magical signs appear on hunting swords which originated in Germany or which were used in Germany".

The running wolf is noted as a mark of quality, however , "...in fighting and hunting the swordsman often needed more than confidence in his blade. It had to possess some mystical quality to spur him on to greater deeds or to bring him luck. On many hunting sword blades, therefore, magical signs or numbers are engraved for this purpose"

On p.42 (Blackmore op. cit.) it is noted "... in the second half of the 18th c. decoration on the blade was often confined to a band of interlaced strapwork with some sprays of foliage or martial trophies".


The running wolf with ubiquitous magical number 1414 is seen as among the many such themes and devices on blades 17th through 18th c.

This saber with unusual cavalry length blade and staghorn grip which is cleft at pommel suggests the kind of oriental influences favored by Pandour units of Maria Theresa forces mid 18th c. These were auxiliary units which acted independently with military forces acting as skirmishers as well as foragers which of course included hunting. Their dual purpose in both combat cases as well as hunting rather brings together the character of this unusual form.

Note the Royal cypher on the blade, the three 'button' grips .
Interestingly it seems that the conventions of magic markings and numbers extended from hunting swords into the fighting swords of military officers, most notably the flamboyant hussars. These kinds of magically imbued and fashionable baroque designs became widely copied throughout Europe and England in the mid 18th into 19th c.

It stands to reason that reciprocally, the martial associations of an officer would extend to the hunting weapons he would use. The hunt was not a lightly taken sport, and there were notable and profound dangers which often in degree equaled combat.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi,
One of mine, probably French, also with a stand of arms.
Regards,
Norman.

This is a beautiful example Norman! and these French versions (cuttoe) were so elegant, not only in the hilt design, but overall character. They were beautifully appointed and light, which seems to have fallen in line with the conventions of French swordsmanship of these times. While in the fashion of the couteau de chasse, it is not hard to imagine these being a formidable weapon in close quarters.