Two handed swords

[Jean-Marc S.]

Hi,
Thanks for the posts.
Indeed, the first katzbalger is from Lee. You are right on the different points and also when saying that one should have the sword in hands to analyze it with better feeling and accuracy in judgment. Last week, I have shown the beast to an old senior collector owning an incredible collection of antique swords and armors he started in the 1970's (of course very rich ! I got the landsknecht captain armor with him); After careful expertise de visu, he confirmed the katzbalger is fully renaissance period (not composite), similar to the advised opinion of Ton Bolk.

Jm

[Jean-Marc S.]

Hello all,

I discovered an interesting find (at least to me): when looking at the book entitled 'The Landsknechts' (Mens-at-arms series number 58, Douglas Miller and GA Embleton), I noticed that, facing the third quarter of coat-of-arms depicting the 'three moons' motif (which is found on katzbalger's blade), the fourth quarter of the same coat-of-arms shows the personal flag/standard of Georg Von Frundsberg (Lord of Midelheim), the father and supreme commander of Landsknechts !
Therefore, it appears clear that this particular 'three moons' motif should be somehow 'linked' to the Landsknechts...

jm

To Michael: for information, the etching ('Passau wolf' and 'three orbs and crosses' motifs) on katzbalger's blade is not light (the pics of poor quality do not actually render justice to etching).

[cornelistromp]

the third quarter of sachsen-lauenburg coat of arms are no moons but three water-lily leaves, standing for the County of Brehna! see picture count Friedrich.
the crossed swords indicate the Saxon office as Imperial Arch-Marshal meaning the Saxon privilege to elect a prince.
This weapon of "kurzschwerter"are widely spread among the German nobility.

Unfortunately the logic of your theory in the previous post escapes me completely.

Due to the average execution and workmanship, this katzbalger is not very convincing. it looks like there is not much support to find, to designate this katzbalger as original 16thC.

though I also incline strongly to a later 19thC reproduction, it can still be authentic.
if you can live with this that's fine, if you want more certainty, you can ask a specialist/authority in the known auction houses.
For example, Hermann Historica; Robert Weis or Nicholas McCullough
they have made an excellent cataloque describtion of the Karsten Klingbeil collection.

best,

[Jean-Marc S.]

Thanks Cornelistromp for giving your opinion, that appears to have now evolved (and which is not mine).
In heraldry, the quarters of almost every coat-of-arms vary significantly over the years or decades. Accordingly, I found another shape for the same quarter, also resembling the 'three moons' motif but still different from the two presented here.

jm

[Matchlock]

A documentation of typical 19th-20th century Katzbalger copies similar to the one posted here in post 45 is available!

I do not wish to post them here so anybody interested please pm me and you will receive that documentation, including close-ups and current market prices!

Best,
m

[Jean-Marc S.]

Hello,

According to the last post of Cornelistromp, I have sent yesterday a series of detailed pics (up to 5.5 Mo resolution each !) of my katzbalger to famous Andrew Garcia for expertise (Armor4Sale: Authentication and Valuations of Antique Arms and Armor, including a service of museum restorers). He just replies that, from the pics, this katzbalger is actually all 16th century
This opinion is shared by advised persons or experts in antique swords, such as Juan J. Perez (moderator at Sword Forum International), David Gray, Raymond Tort and Ton Bolk (Bolk Antiques, a leading specialist dealer in Europe of Fine Antique Arms and Armor). Of note, some of them have had the katzbalger in hands.

jm

[Matchlock]

Hi JM,

Would you be interested in reading the documentation on Historismus Katzbalgers I announced?

If so, please pm me and leave your email.

Best,
Michael

[Jean-Marc S.]

Hi Michael,

Ok. Thanks. Please send it to my email address, as I cannot access your page due to a limited access account.

jm

[cornelistromp]

Hi Jean-Marc,

After seeing Michaels mail, which can not be published here in this thread because it is about a similar/same katzbalger as yours in a future auction, (it can be published after the Hermann Historica auction).
Iam unfortunately 100 percent sure that your katzbalger is a reproduction.
Iam very sorry for this information.

Best,