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

Matchlock · 10th February 2009, 08:28 PM

The original cord binding with strands of fine copper wire, one side of the blade engraved with magical lozenge line and dot patterns and struck with a mark in brass tausia, an orb and cross (characteristic of South Germany, Austria and The Tyrol).

Overall length 106,5 cm.

Bavarian private collection (not mine

).

Michael

kisak · 10th February 2009, 11:57 PM

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

Gonzalo G · 11th February 2009, 12:55 AM

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, 07:12 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, 04:47 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, 05:18 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

Andrew · 22nd February 2009, 06:14 PM

I have linked a "sticky" thread to the Rules found heretofore in the main forum.

Jim McDougall · 24th February 2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

I have linked a "sticky" thread to the Rules found heretofore in the main forum.

Thank you so much Andrew!

10th February 2009, 08:28 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Fine and Very Rare South German Landsknecht Saber, ca. 1540 The original cord binding with strands of fine copper wire, one side of the blade engraved with magical lozenge line and dot patterns and struck with a mark in brass tausia, an orb and cross (characteristic of South Germany, Austria and The Tyrol). Overall length 106,5 cm. Bavarian private collection (not mine). Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 10th February 2009 at 10:12 PM.

10th February 2009, 11:57 PM	#2
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.

11th February 2009, 12:55 AM	#3
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, 07:12 PM	#4
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, 04:47 AM	#5
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, 05:18 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,957	.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

22nd February 2009, 06:14 PM	#7
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I have linked a "sticky" thread to the Rules found heretofore in the main forum.