Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Notching of sword blades -Austria 18th century

Jim McDougall · 1st August 2009, 05:34 PM

Hi Jeff,
Thank you so much for responding! I pretty much thought this would get zero traffic, but you are always up for a good mystery. As you know, we've been kicking this one around for over a decade now, and it seems about as elusive as ever.

What really puzzles me is that these 'notches' are so deliberately placed, but not on all swords, more of an appearance on singular ones. As noted, the 'practice' seems relegated to Austria just prior to, during, and after the War of Austrian Succession, mid 18th century.

Typically we think of nicks and notches at the back of a sword blade as combat related, but on your M1796, again the notch is seemingly deliberately placed, not random as if from accidental damage.

In the past, I have encountered numerous suggestions of these notches having actual purpose, such as a suggestion of application in catching the reins of an opponents horse. It is known that cavalry tactics often unfortunately required action toward the horse, and disabling the opponent by eliminating control of his horse sometimes was accomplished by sword cuts to the bridle.
These notches do not seem sufficiently sized to accomplish any sort of hooking of reins, particularly in the dramatic movements of pitched combat.

I have even heard of utilitarian use such as camp functions such as lifting hot pots off campfires, but again, the size of the 'notches' are far too shallow for such use.

What we know is that this was done, and deliberately, and though the number of instances is relatively limited, it is enough to determine that it must have had some significance.

I have always hoped that someone well versed in the military history of Eastern Europe, especially in these periods, might be familiar with some of the narratives that might mention the notching of blades. Eduard Wagner mentions it in his "Cut and Thrust Weapons" in reference to several of the swords in Austrian chapter, where the line drawings even include that detail as a well known feature of these swords. In his notes he suggests the notches 'increasing wounding potential' , but again, how does a notch on the back of a sabre increase wounding potential?

Thank you again Jeff, it is always great that you are always willing to join me in these ponderous conundrums ! Maybe we'll never get it solved, but its always fun pursuing a good mystery, and I always hope we might get other weapons sleuths to join us

All the very best,
Jim

1st August 2009, 05:34 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,169	Hi Jeff, Thank you so much for responding! I pretty much thought this would get zero traffic, but you are always up for a good mystery. As you know, we've been kicking this one around for over a decade now, and it seems about as elusive as ever. What really puzzles me is that these 'notches' are so deliberately placed, but not on all swords, more of an appearance on singular ones. As noted, the 'practice' seems relegated to Austria just prior to, during, and after the War of Austrian Succession, mid 18th century. Typically we think of nicks and notches at the back of a sword blade as combat related, but on your M1796, again the notch is seemingly deliberately placed, not random as if from accidental damage. In the past, I have encountered numerous suggestions of these notches having actual purpose, such as a suggestion of application in catching the reins of an opponents horse. It is known that cavalry tactics often unfortunately required action toward the horse, and disabling the opponent by eliminating control of his horse sometimes was accomplished by sword cuts to the bridle. These notches do not seem sufficiently sized to accomplish any sort of hooking of reins, particularly in the dramatic movements of pitched combat. I have even heard of utilitarian use such as camp functions such as lifting hot pots off campfires, but again, the size of the 'notches' are far too shallow for such use. What we know is that this was done, and deliberately, and though the number of instances is relatively limited, it is enough to determine that it must have had some significance. I have always hoped that someone well versed in the military history of Eastern Europe, especially in these periods, might be familiar with some of the narratives that might mention the notching of blades. Eduard Wagner mentions it in his "Cut and Thrust Weapons" in reference to several of the swords in Austrian chapter, where the line drawings even include that detail as a well known feature of these swords. In his notes he suggests the notches 'increasing wounding potential' , but again, how does a notch on the back of a sabre increase wounding potential? Thank you again Jeff, it is always great that you are always willing to join me in these ponderous conundrums ! Maybe we'll never get it solved, but its always fun pursuing a good mystery, and I always hope we might get other weapons sleuths to join us All the very best, Jim