New broadsword marking Wundes head

[M ELEY]

Hello all. I know the Forum rules about posting the whole sword/item, but it is not in hand and the the poor pics don't do it justice. I will post as soon as I get it. What I do have is the maker's mark. I know it's the Wundes king's head stamp as opposed to the Blackamoor stamp and later German trade markings.

What I can say is that it is a broadsword blade with the Wundes family mark pictured. Auction description says there are four head stamps total? Surfing the web, I thought perhaps Peter Wundes the Elder (1580-1630) or Peter the Younger (1630-85)?? I'm only going by wht little info I can get from the web, so I'm hoping we can narrow it down somewhat.
Mark

[Jim McDougall]

Ahoy Cap'n!!
It seems things have been damnably becalmed of late in these waters! Its good to see a flare!
The sword sounds really interesting (I loves intrigue).....and I think you're on the right mark with PETER Wundes sr. and jr. as they used the kings head WITHOUT beard. The same data you have in your entry appears in "European Makers of Edged Weapons and their Marks" (Staffan Kinman) and notes these two as using the beardless kings head.

The multiples (of four) seem a convention of the Wundes'.

According to Gardner(1963) Johannes Wundes (1560-1610) used kings head and orb with 'W'.
Peter Wundes (1580-1600) used kings head.
These Wundes' were all related according to this ref.

In Wagner (1967) Johannes uses kings head (bearded) but on other blades he spells out name with cross and orb at each end and in the center was the Passau wolf. These it notes were for consignments to merchants there for swords for mercenaries of Arch Duke Leopold V.

It sounds most like Peter Wundes but hard to tell which, as they both used the beardless kings head. It sounds as if the mark was used in general by the family, and perhaps which one may have been determined by the number of heads? These guys were the only ones using them, especially multiple.

[M ELEY]

Hello my friend and thank you for responding! Always good to hear from you, Jim. Thank you as well for confirming my suspicions as to which Wundes it might be. Of course, I know there's room for more speculation, but I think we at least have the time-line correct, being circa 1600-80-ish. Great information on the other markings of family members, which does seem to narrow it down to the two 'Peters'. Thank you also for identifying which volume the Wundes markings were listed in. I found the page with the multiple kings-head stamps on another forum, but no listing as the the source. Can't wait to have the item in hand in order to get more of everyone's feedback-
Mark

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... I know the Forum rules about posting the whole sword/item ...

Not so rigid as a rule Mark; more a convenient requirement. Exceptions to consider, of course .
Wait till we see the whole thing. Remember the (Wundes) Kings heads are one of those symbols known to be replicated by the competition.

[M ELEY]

Good point, Fernando. As the sword will take a while to get to me, I might post the auction pics once I download them.

I am assuming the competition was still contemporary with the Wundes family? If that is the case, at least the time line would be the same (roughly)...

[M ELEY]

Hey everyone. I posted this broadsword (with existing auction pics, don't have the sword yet!) under 'Basket hilted swords' (Cathey's post). I'll post more pics once I get sword in hand to narrow down the Wundes marks.

[M ELEY]

Well, I'll post it here as well. The German broadsword blade is fitted into a nice Scottish basket hilt, circa 1700. Here's the sword-

[M ELEY]

I love the fact this sword is on the timeline of 1715 and "the 45" (Jacobite Rebellion). The rounded thin bars and 'S' guard indicative of the Stirling sword makers.