The Bavarian Sabre Halberd

[CSinTX]

A number of these have come up in auction recently. Some of them were sold from the Higgins museum as well as other collections. A quick google search will bring up other examples.

http://www.thomasdelmar.com/Catalogu...5/lot0233.html

I have been really intrigued by them and really wanted to own one. I bid at the recent auction but was not the high bidder. Not long after, a friend pointed me to an article suggesting that they originated in the 19th century. Once I stopped and thought about it, this would make perfect sense. Every example I have seen appears to be in excellent unused condition with original hafts and little to no pitting. This would not be consistent with items from the 17th century.

A closer look at the metal just below the blade reveals tool marks that are also not consistent with 17th century weaponry. This can be seen by zooming in on this HH image- http://www.hermann-historica-archiv....rtic_A_GB&co=1

Has anyone ever held one of these in their hands? As always, all thoughts are welcome.

http://www.waffensammlung-beck.ch/waffe154.html

Translate-

"The in the currently relevant weapons SCIENCE literature as "Bavarian saber half Arte» Marked Polearm one of the most impressive objects of any weapons collection. Their authenticity and fitness for combat, however, must be called into question with some justification. The little handy weapon is very long, difficult and poorly balanced. You can be guided only by using considerable forces targeted, length and heaviness make it impossible for the to handle a half species necessary swing. The place of the usual at the half-types of the 16th / 17th century four-sided or double-edged impact tip occupies a saber blade. Pushes the fragile blade on a fixed resistance so there is a danger that they will bend or break off. For the two typical combat functions of the semi-Arte, cut and thrust, the saber half Arte is unsuitable.

In his published in several episodes contributions, "... the history of the armament in the Middle Ages", noted the director of the Germanic Museum in Nuremberg, August O.Essenwein, in December 1881, some half-types in possession of the museum before. Because he contributed to illustrate object faithful drawings can be identified as the weapon No.8 «saber half Arte» .. Essenwein provides the first description of these weapons, which he regarded as belonging to the half-typological species. Provenance, he writes: "The piece comes from Augsburg, where a number of similar [weapons] was in the stuff at home, and heard the time Charles V [reg.1519-1556] on, so actually goes even beyond the scope of our essay addition ». Because the "golden age" of Augsburg coincided with the climate of Emperor Charles V Era and food wine was of the opinion that the unusual weapon from the armory of Augsburg urban tribe, he is likely to have these acquired for the Museum. His dating of weapons into the 2nd quarter of the 16th century can not be maintained for a design and functional analysis of the object. If the weapon assigning the late 17th century in accordance with current normal practice, it would be logical to assume that they must have been adopted at a later date as of Essenwein in Augsburger Zeughaus possession. A consensus on the name, the provenance and the dating of the "saber half Arte" can be, as show in the result is ascertained until early 1900's.

So it appears in the auction catalog of 1888 to collect A.Ullmann, Munich, as a "storm Sense" or "Cracovienne" and is dated to the 15.Jahrundert. In memory of the makeshift armed with scythes Polish insurgents and the downfall of the former Free State of Krakow 1846, apparently still little known weapon is likely to have the last name "Cracovienne» obtained. Also on the occasion of the auction of the second part of Slg.Ullmann 1891 another "Cracovienne» offered. As 1904, the large and famous collection of arms of Karl Gimbel was sold in Berlin, the "Cracovienne" appears in the catalog simply as "halberd from the end of the 16th century with curved ax and a long sword blade." Hans Müller-Hickler, the 1909/11 his "studies of the halberd published, writes for saber half Arte:" Instead of Spies blade is disposed a saber blade. At 1 [Figure] the so-called. Schaffhauser halberd one should be surprised at all the insight, because it obviously comes from good time of the beginning of XVI.Jahrhunderts ». Although Müller-Hickler acknowledges that the saber half Arte is not "grown on Swiss soil," he does not provide justification for the allocation of the weapon to Schaffhausen.

Only in the opulent auction catalog for weapons collection of the Munich architect Max dome Mayr in 1895 reference is made to Bayern: "Nr.400 war sickle, 1690-1730, with a long, saber-like sword, along with a large ax to quadrangular spout and the original shafts. From the foot people Max Emanuel. From the kgl.bayer.Arsenal to Munich ". Dome Mayr had two "war sickles," she achieved in the auction per 150-Reichsmark. The "war Sickle» or saber half Arte belonged after 1905 also to stocks of 1879 by Ludwig II. At the request of the Minister of War of Maillinger founded Bavarian Army Museum. The museum was originally housed in the Zeughaus Munich and was located in 1905 in the newly built Museumsmonumentalbau am Hofgarten. Served in the newly designed exhibition of the Army Museum, a series of half-saber ca.sechzig species as martial backdrop in an area of ​​the elector Max Emanuel (reg.1680 - 1726), the popular Turkish conqueror before Belgrade was dedicated in 1688. In the Hans Fahrmbacher 1906 authored museum guide is also scheduled on the saber half Arte: "An exceedingly strange form of polearms point (42-71) and (218-249) on, although undoubtedly rooted on home soil on their genesis, unfortunately the acts completely ausschweigen. Presumably it is the sword helmet Barten, with whom you had equipped before Belgrade in 1717, the first members of the storming infantry for clearing away the Turkish barricades ". After initially in collectors and museum circles in this unusual Polearm regards the designation, also of origin and age-wise, was at a loss, dating to the 15th / 16th Century and localizations to Augsburg, Krakow and Schaffhausen circulated, was established with the auction catalog dome Mayr and the museum guide of Fahrmbacher the "Bavarian saber half Arte». It was also Fahrmbacher who donated a phrase "saber half Arte" in the historical expertise.

The so to speak, "museum-based" attribution and dating was well received by the collectors and experts. When selling the formerly exhibited in the fortress Hohenwerfen weapons collection of the Archduke Eugen 1927 in New York led the newcomers as an expert weapons curator of the Metropolitan Museum NY, Bashford Dean (1867 - 1928), the saber half Arte under Nr.1107 as "Bavarian was Sickle, 17th Century ... Arm of Maximilian Emanuel's infantery, rarity, "on. The 1906 by Fahrmbacher expressed suspicion that by Bashford Dean as a "war sickle" Marked saber half Arte is Bavarian origin and come from the reign of elector Max Emanuel thus transformed within twenty years to a recognized in weapons SCIENCE experts "fact". Another provenance and user group brought Anita Reinhard, who edited the polearms for 1963 published catalog of C.Otto of Kienbusch, into play. The former employee of Bashford Dean dated now as "Bavarian Saber-Halberd" captured weapon into the 17th century and delivers to the following comment: "This type of weapon which Carried by the civic guard of Munich. The old Munich Arsenal have had a Considerable stock of thes arms at one time, for today a large group Still Remains in the Bavarian Army Museum, notwithstanding the disposal of a member in the 1880's and again after The First World War ". The attribution of Anita Reinhard can be such a request from the Bavarian Army Museum showed no evidence source moderately. About the provenance of the present in the collection saber half species, the museum could not give valid information (Director Dr.Erwin Schalkhaußer). The saber half Arte belongs as a historicizing polearms-creation from the 3.Viertel of the 19th century a group of polearms derived from the same unknown workshop whose products have similar production characteristics."

[Cerjak]

Very interesting .
In this case the study of the period paints could perhaps have raised the doubt?


Best

Cerjak

[fernando]

"HAFTED WEAPONS IN MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE EUROPE"

BY JOHN WALDMAN



Would you care to read this publication ... with focus to page 76 ?


.

[CSinTX]

Originally Posted by fernando

"HAFTED WEAPONS IN MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE EUROPE"
BY JOHN WALDMAN

Thanks so much fernando! More evidence to the 19th century origin. I am glad I was not the winning bidder.

With a large interest in pole arms, I really need to get a copy of that book. Not cheap though at $150.

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by fernando

[B]
Would you care to read this publication ... with focus to page 76 ?


.

Hello Fernando,

according to german Wikipedia this type of Halberd was used in the 16th and 17th century. In the Thirty Years' War for example.
It seems that some very rare original examples survived in museums.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A4belhelmbarte


Roland

[fernando]

So it appears, Roland

[ulfberth]

Hi Casey,

Here is one from Château du Haut-Koeœnigsbourg in Alsace France.
The fact that it is on display in a castle is not conclusive on its own for being 17th C or not, each item should be examined on its own to be absolutely sure.
However it remains strange that all those who turn up are almost identical in form and condition.

Kind regards

Ulfberth

[CSinTX]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

Very interesting .
In this case the study of the period paints could perhaps have raised the doubt?


Best

Cerjak

I could not find any art from the time that shows similar weapons. There is another halberd type that has been in recent auctions with similar appeal and question. I need to gather info on it when time allows.