A Fine and Very Rare South German Landsknecht Saber, ca. 1540

kisak · 10th February 2009, 10:57 PM

Quite interesting to see such a wrap done with normal cord, instead of metal wire.

Gonzalo G · 10th February 2009, 11:55 PM

Not a very uncommon wrapping in medieval swords, usually combined with a cover of leather, I think. Indeed, a very interesting weapon, Matchlock, thank you for posting it.
Regards

Gonzalo

Matchlock · 12th February 2009, 06:12 PM

Of course you are right, Gonzalo, in expecting the cord binding typically to be covered by thin leather. According to my experience, plain cord bindings are quite common to 'military' swords of the first half of the 16th century.

Michael

Gonzalo G · 13th February 2009, 03:47 AM

Thank you, Michael. I was not sure in which period those bindings without leather were used, though I was sure I have seen them in some antique weapons. European edged weapons from this period are not my "strong" area (maybe I don´t have any strong area, hahahaha).
My best regards

Gonzalo

Jim McDougall · 13th February 2009, 04:18 AM

.Very nice Michael!! Thank you for posting this great katzbalger.
You know that that extremely unusual marking pattern is driving me nuts! so another sleepless night......
Cannot find anything in Wagner, Wallace or otherwise that refers to any such patterning on sword blades, though the cross and orb inlay is pretty much regular in these regions as noted in that period.

Is that pattern actually lozenge? it seems more like intersecting triangles.

The lozenge is of diamond (like the suit of cards) shape, and Wagner does make a note on p.73 in the grouping of symbols saying it represents good luck, and a rather bizarre medical reference to human anatomy!
Discounting any possibility of that association to the pattern, I think of the elaborate costume of the Landsknechts, not only in garish color combinations, but in some cases unusual geometric patterns.

This seems to have a kind of 'harlequin' type pattern, and while this may relate to this effect on the apparantly disturbing effect intended with the Landsknechts garish costumes, I am unable to discover reference to magic symbolism. It is clearly a geometric design, and that is a device often used in magic esoterica, but no luck yet finding it.
Can you offer any clues?

All the best,

Jim

Matchlock · 13th February 2009, 06:04 PM

Hi Jim,

Of course you are right about the style of blade decoration and your reference to Landsknechts garish costumes, my friend! I just could not seem to find the right expression and chose the wrong word. As to the possible magic meaning behind the decoration, my friend who is the owner of the sabre and has excellent erpertise in early edged weapons told me so. I must admit that I never reflected it.

Several stylistic elements, like the serpent pattern and the dotted geometrical lines, can be found on contemporary iron work as well as on harquebus barrels. E.g., for stylistc comparison I attach a few details of similar patterns on barrels of matchlock harquebuses, hoping that that will convey some addidtional impression.

In fact, this saber should not actually be referred to as a Katzbalger. There is seemingly no distinguishing English word for this kind of saber other than Landsknecht sword, which is commonly used to describe a Katzbalger. A Katzbalger, however, is defined by the characteristic pretzel shaped quillons. Pics of actual Katzbalgers attached.

All the best,
Michael

Matchlock · 13th February 2009, 06:05 PM

More Katzbalgers.

13th February 2009, 06:04 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Jim, Of course you are right about the style of blade decoration and your reference to Landsknechts garish costumes, my friend! I just could not seem to find the right expression and chose the wrong word. As to the possible magic meaning behind the decoration, my friend who is the owner of the sabre and has excellent erpertise in early edged weapons told me so. I must admit that I never reflected it. Several stylistic elements, like the serpent pattern and the dotted geometrical lines, can be found on contemporary iron work as well as on harquebus barrels. E.g., for stylistc comparison I attach a few details of similar patterns on barrels of matchlock harquebuses, hoping that that will convey some addidtional impression. In fact, this saber should not actually be referred to as a Katzbalger. There is seemingly no distinguishing English word for this kind of saber other than Landsknecht sword, which is commonly used to describe a Katzbalger. A Katzbalger, however, is defined by the characteristic pretzel shaped quillons. Pics of actual Katzbalgers attached. All the best, Michael Attached Images

13th February 2009, 06:05 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	More Katzbalgers. Attached Images

10th February 2009, 10:57 PM	#1
kisak Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stockholm Posts: 182	Quite interesting to see such a wrap done with normal cord, instead of metal wire.

10th February 2009, 11:55 PM	#2
Gonzalo G Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nothern Mexico Posts: 458	Not a very uncommon wrapping in medieval swords, usually combined with a cover of leather, I think. Indeed, a very interesting weapon, Matchlock, thank you for posting it. Regards Gonzalo

12th February 2009, 06:12 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Of course you are right, Gonzalo, in expecting the cord binding typically to be covered by thin leather. According to my experience, plain cord bindings are quite common to 'military' swords of the first half of the 16th century. Michael

13th February 2009, 03:47 AM	#4
Gonzalo G Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nothern Mexico Posts: 458	Thank you, Michael. I was not sure in which period those bindings without leather were used, though I was sure I have seen them in some antique weapons. European edged weapons from this period are not my "strong" area (maybe I don´t have any strong area, hahahaha). My best regards Gonzalo

13th February 2009, 04:18 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,587	.Very nice Michael!! Thank you for posting this great katzbalger. You know that that extremely unusual marking pattern is driving me nuts! so another sleepless night...... Cannot find anything in Wagner, Wallace or otherwise that refers to any such patterning on sword blades, though the cross and orb inlay is pretty much regular in these regions as noted in that period. Is that pattern actually lozenge? it seems more like intersecting triangles. The lozenge is of diamond (like the suit of cards) shape, and Wagner does make a note on p.73 in the grouping of symbols saying it represents good luck, and a rather bizarre medical reference to human anatomy! Discounting any possibility of that association to the pattern, I think of the elaborate costume of the Landsknechts, not only in garish color combinations, but in some cases unusual geometric patterns. This seems to have a kind of 'harlequin' type pattern, and while this may relate to this effect on the apparantly disturbing effect intended with the Landsknechts garish costumes, I am unable to discover reference to magic symbolism. It is clearly a geometric design, and that is a device often used in magic esoterica, but no luck yet finding it. Can you offer any clues? All the best, Jim