A hirschfanger named Marie

[mrwizard]

Hello Everyone,

here is a piece i would like to hear your opinions about.

The well balanced sword is 59cm long with a staghorn hilt and a rather massive cross-guard. But the interesting part is the blade that shows markings from three different eras.

The oldest markings are engraved on the sides of the ricasso: "F. Herzog" and "zu Braunschweig" (engl. "F. Duke of Brunswick").
Could this be Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel (1721- 1792)? I don't think the blade is earlier than 18th century and this one is the only one with a single "F." in his name.

Then there are etchings on the broad sides of the blade that show the crest and the monogram of William, Duke of Brunswick (1830-1884).
The IMHO latest marking is located on the broad side of the ricasso and reads "Marie". The style of the letters indicate a late 19th-early 20th century origin.

I think the blade has been reworked at least once during its life. I remember having seen this kind of blade before but cannot remember on what kind of sword.

Oh, and before someone asks: the two mottos on the crest are
"Nec aspera terrent" and "Honi soit qui mal y pense"

Best Regards,
Thilo

[fernando]

Originally Posted by mrwizard

... I remember having seen this kind of blade before but cannot remember on what kind of sword. ...

A shortened Katzbalger blade ?

Originally Posted by mrwizard

Oh, and before someone asks: the two mottos on the crest are "Nec aspera terrent" and "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ...

Puzzling. These mottos are usually seen in British crests, right

[A Senefelder]

"Honi soit qui mal y pense"

This is I believe the motto of the English Order of the Garter founded by Edward III in 1348 ( still around today, this isn't meant to date the blade in any way ). This sword looks a bit messer like.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by A Senefelder

This is I believe the motto of the English Order of the Garter founded by Edward III in 1348 ...

Actually it (still) belongs in the British Royal Coat of Arms; this not impeding that it was often adopted elsewhere.

[mrwizard]

Hello Fernando and A Senefelder,

Thank you for your comments.

Fernando, you are right this looks a lot like the katzbalger blade in this post http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...67&postcount=3
I didn't even think about katzbalgers because i dated this blade much later. Maybe the swordsmith was inspired by katzbalger blades.
In the unlikely case that this is indeed a shortened katzbalger blade i would have made the deal of my life...

As i wrote the crest is definitely that of William, Duke of Brunswick (1830-1884):
http://diglib.hab.de/?grafik=exlib-berlepsch-19-1-00130 *
The "honi soit..." motto is indeed from the Order of the Garter
and "Nec aspera terrent" is the motto of the Welfes. So, no surprise there.

I think the blade is older than the etching mainly because of the older
encraving indicating a "F. Duke of Brunswick". I wonder who could be meant by that...


Best Regards,
Thilo


* sorry for the link but i am not allowed to copy the picture to this forum

[fernando]

Originally Posted by mrwizard

... * sorry for the link but i am not allowed to copy the picture to this forum ...

Sure you can. This is precisely the first one that popped up in my search

.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by mrwizard

... As i wrote the crest is definitely that of William, Duke of Brunswick (1830-1884): ...

Well, you can't say old William favoured originality

[fernando]

Originally Posted by mrwizard

... In the unlikely case that this is indeed a shortened katzbalger blade i would have made the deal of my life... ...

Not impossible; people of lineage fancied mounting their ancestors blades in their present swords .

[A Senefelder]

Not impossible; people of lineage fancied mounting their ancestors blades in their present swords

Actually Fernando, the similarity between the blade of the katzbalger on the right in your pic and the one mrwizard posted are substantial. The fullers of wizards blade running through the tip seem to indicate as he said that it has been reshaped. I'd say theres a chance for your idea of a rehilted kat blade being at least possible.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
I wouldn't discount the possibility of a cut down Scottish broadsword blade, regimental or otherwise might help explain the 19thC style etching.
Regards,
Norman.