Katzbalgers and Related Landsknecht Swords

[cornelistromp]

Hi Gentlemen,

very nice, this is another type of messer, more of the "Hauswehr" type, with shorter quards and characteristic "Parierdorn".

best regards
Jasper

[Micke D]

Hi Jasper!

Do you have any measurements for that nice messer?
Is it your's? How old is it?

/Micke D

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Micke D

Hi Jasper!

Do you have any measurements for that nice messer?
Is it your's? How old is it?

/Micke D

Hi Micke D,

All I can say is that I would date Jasper's Messer to ca. 1490-1400, and that is exactly the period this thread is all about, the high time of the Landsknechte. The short and heavily swamped quillons are characteristic for the Late Gothic stylistic period.

A very nice and nearly identical Messer or Seitenwehr is illustrated in Johann von Schwarzenberg's Die Bambergische Peinliche Halsgerichtsordnung (Constitutio Criminalis Bambergensis) of 1507. This illustration was originally posted by our member Samik earlier in this thread.

I am sure Jasper will give you the measurements you required.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Let's start with a really great two hand sword (spadone a due mani) with richly fullered blade, Veneto, ca. 1510, overall length 1,73 m.

Next in line is another, the hilt Venetian, the blade German, ca. 1535-40, overall length 1,53 m.

Then there is another, Italy, ca. 1560, oa. length 1,505 m.

The fourth item was made in Venetia using a German blade, ca. 1565, oa. length 1,38 m, a piece from the end of the period of Landsknechte.


So far for the great swords.

There is also a fine Landsknecht hand and a half sword with a single edged blade, South German or Swiss, ca. 1560, oa. length 1,28 m. Please note the perfectly original black and blueish colors of the hilt!

And, last not least, a fine South German or Swiss Katzbalger-Degen, the fine blackened hilt and Brezel-quillons characteristic of the 1540s;
oa. length 1,05 m. The grip wire binding including the Turk's heads is a later alteration.

Best,
Michael

[cornelistromp]

Originally Posted by Micke D

Hi Jasper!

Do you have any measurements for that nice messer?
Is it your's? How old is it?

/Micke D

Hi Micke,

this one is not my property but I do have the measurements for you.
allover length = 49.0 cm, cross-width = 10 cm

Blade: length = 36.5 cm, width = 3.8 cm

weight: 502 gram

Michael gave exactly the right period for this messer. around 1490

best,
jasper

[Zwielicht]

Ahh... again so many great things!

A few questions:

1) Are there a remains of a second ring on the messer's hilt? Two broken pieces in the center of a guard look like having a cross section just like a ring on another side, and remind it very closely, as for me.

2) And the first за those four two-handed swords - what are it's more detailed dimensions, if they are available? Weight, blade width and thickness, hilt length etc.

[Matchlock]

Hi Zwielicht,

At the beginning of my latest post on the Italian Swords I gave all the measurements I had, according to their line of appearance.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

... preserved in the Castel Sant' Angelo, Rome, the Katzbalger of unusual length and therefore probably mounted with a later blade!

m

[fernando]

Ah Michl,
Definitely your picture is much better than mine, 'secretely' taken with a friend's camera, when i visited the Castle last year.

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

A Katzbalger ... preserved in the Castel Sant' Angelo, Rome, the Katzbalger of unusual length and therefore probably mounted with a later blade!
m

The pretzel quillons on this are a modern replacement of course. I just wished to make that perfectly clear.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Right, Jasper,

It's a so called Seiten- or Hauswehr, tool and weapon in one.

The grips and hollow rivets seem to be new.

Best,
Michael