Katzbalgers and Related Landsknecht Swords

[Matchlock]

The remaining attachments.

At the bottom a late painting by Brueghel, with a Seitenwehr pictured in the left part of the picture.

Next, a detail from a Nuremberg painting Landsknechts Fleeing Death, ca. 1510.

And a woodcut Peasant's Dance, by Hans Sebald Beham, Nuremberg, 1546-7.


m

[Matchlock]

For anther good and lively discussion on the authenticity of Katzbalgers, plesase see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...174#post141174,

posts 113 ff.

m

[Matchlock]

Close-ups from a painting by Lucas Cranach the Younger, dated 1584, in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nuremberg.
The arms and armor are of course depicted in the old traditional style of the 1540's.

As in several other instances of contemporary illustrative sources of period artwork, the artist even considered depicting the characteristic cross and orb mark - plus, near the tip, a typical wavy, serpent-like ornament - on the blade of the saber!!!

Please note that the hilts of both arms are blackened!


Author's photos, 1995.


See also
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...714#post141714


Best,
m

[Matchlock]

A Katzbalger of characteristic type, the forte of the blade fullered, the bone nodus of the hilt damaged; early 16th c.
Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nurembeg.

m

[cornelistromp]

Michael,

Di you maybe know which saints are engraved on the brass grip plate?

best,

[Matchlock]

Sorry, Jasper,

I am not familiar with most of the Acts of the Saints.

Best,
m

[Matchlock]

This is a painting by Melchior Feselen, Bavaria: The Battle of Alesia, dated 1533 (Bavarian State Gallery Munich), which is hitherto unrecorded in arms armor studies.

For more, please see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16116


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Over 42,000 views - WOW!

Thanks a lot for looking, folks!
I will keep updating this thread.

Best,
Michael

[theswordcollector]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

More details.

Amazing sword incredible workmanship I am suprised the museum doesn't own this one. Very nice!



.

[Foxbat]

Sword from my collection.

[fernando]

Welcome to our forum, Foxbat
What a wonderful start; this is a stupendous sword
Can we see more pictures of it ?
Could you tell us something about it ?

[Foxbat]

Thank you! Can't really tell much about it besides the fact that it has 36" blade with wolf mark on it, with wonderful balance. The only other picture of it is here, shown with its sister sword.

[cornelistromp]

Hi,

re: the guard
circular tracks (due to mechanical rotation?) can be seen on the flat side of the guard finals.
Can you please post a picture where you can see how these finals are attached to the guard?

Do you maybe have a provenance of this sword, collection, dealer or auctionhouse?

best,

[fernando]

Magnificent. Is the 'sister' also from your collection ?

[fernando]

Oh Jasper, i didn't know that you were posting before me.
I see what you mean; a sharp eye from an experienced collector !
Let us hear from Foxbat.

[Foxbat]

As far as I can tell the finials and the bars are one piece, together with the block.

[broadaxe]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

As far as I can tell the finials and the bars are one piece, together with the block.

The circular grooves could have been made by the tool used to turn the hot iron bar in the process of making, to create the screw-effect on the guard branches.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by fernando

Magnificent. Is the 'sister' also from your collection ?

Yes, they hang together.

[cornelistromp]

I apologize if I kick someone against the sore leg, my personal opinion in all frankness.
some style attributes, especially on the guard and ricasso block, combined with the extreme rarity of this type make me suspect that this is probably a later reproduction.(20thst or 19th century)

Only two authentic swords of this type are known to me;

- one in the Berliner Zeughaus, published by G. Hitl, p.58 waffensammlung Nr.334 and Mueller/koelling/Platow, Europaische Hieb und Stich Waffen p.189 Nr. 96.

- Another one sold by Hermann Historica 19 mai 2001 lot 64

best,

[Foxbat]

No apology is needed, we are all entitled to our opinions. In addition things like auction records are not 100% reliable, as some of us have discovered. Having this sword in my hands, I rule out 19th or 20th century replica idea. Could it possibly be a very early, perhaps even a period, composite? Yes. My level of expertise does not go that far.

[cornelistromp]

I do not expect it to be a composite from the 16th century. I can say with reasonable certainty that the guard is much later.
it may be of course the case that original parts are used, for example, the blade and/or the grip.
However, the patina, colour and pitting of the blade are almost identical to the other sword, this is highly unusual, Do they come from the same source?

It is difficult to give some kind of (final) opinion merely based on the posted pictures, if you have the opportunity and want to have more certainty, I would advice to submit it to a specialist of the well known auction houses;
Thomas del mar, Bonhams or Hermann Historica. A first impression they can give on the basis of photographs.

best,

[cornelistromp]

Two soil finds from the Netherlands, the katzbalger is 87cm and the sword is 94cm allover.

[Matchlock]

For an undisputed original piece retaining its sheath and bodkins, please see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17364

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

From a fine and important early painting by the Master of the Worcester Carrying of the Cross, active in Bavaria, where I live, ca. 1425.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

A fine and rare Swiss hand-and-a-half sword with single-edged blade (double-edged for its last third, Schnepf), ca. 1530.
Sold at auction: Tom del Mar, 10 December 2008, lot 122.

Enjoy!


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

One more image.

[Matchlock]

A late Katzbalger, ca. 1540, with recurved but open 'pretzel' quillons and a flat pommel; at the Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts.

m

[cornelistromp]

some better pics.
authenticity? don't know, I will check their HAM files for the provenance.

good: is shape of guard, bras finals "riveted" to guard, copper alloy washers used in grip, blade outline.
bad(unusual): is shape of fullers, non-gothic 4 mark, condition of leather grip, shape of pommel.

very bad is that somebody cleaned the blade with heavy sandpaper.

1540 is a bit too late this type came around 1500, this type occurs frequently in the work of Albrecht Duerer.


best,

[Matchlock]

Thanks a lot, Jasper,

Do you have a close-up of that cypher 4 you mentioned?

Best,
m

[cornelistromp]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Thanks a lot, Jasper,

Do you have a close-up of that cypher 4 you mentioned?

Best,
m

Michael, look at the first picture!

more open the guard, the earlier the Katzbalger!
late 15th century, even with a straight guard into the middle of the 16th century with a completely closed guard.

best,
jasper