Katzbalger found at excavation and restored.

[E Farrell]

I thought I had seen something similar:

McNab, C. (Editor) (2010). Swords: A Visual History. London, Dorling Kindersley Limited.

Horrid book if you're looking for information, but not a bad place to find examples. Pages 150-154 are useful to you. I'll upload reduced images on here per forum rules, and imgur link to the full res versions of the scans. Apologies for doing it in parts; my scanner isn't large enough to do the entire two page spreads.

Both are German, dated 1662. A bit late for your date range, but the associated toolkit looks very, very similar. Perhaps an earlier occurrence of the same purpose?

Imgur links (should be sufficiently high-res to read what text there is):
http://i.imgur.com/Ha0i5Sz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/FhSf3cR.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3FTI5Ib.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/SYJ91cP.jpg

[cornelistromp]

the Katzbalger with comb like the one under discussion is a very rare appearance among the already scarce known group of Katzbalgers.

The ones with a comb that I am aware of, I will enumerate them all, come from Dutch soil, Dutch museums and/or old Dutch collections.
This may be a coincidence, but it may also be that this type has been manufactured. in the Low Countries
the style attribute "comb" also occurs on helmets and body protection in the first half of the 16th century.
The Blade of two of the examples mentioned in this post can be traced to southern Germany;
-the blade of the Katzbalger in the Dutch army museum has crossed flails and bavarian arms, a checked shield struck into the blade of Melchior Diefstetter, a blade smith working in or around Munich in the second quarter of the 16th century (1520-1555). another found in Millingen has the Passau wolf inlaid in the blade.
There was a thriving trade of quality blades in the 16th century, it can be that this type was Katzbalger made or let say composed ​​in the Low Countries with an imported blade.

In art, the Katzbalger with comb sporadically appears, a clear example is a drawing made by Heinich Aldegrever and dated 1529.

1. Katzbalger legermuseum dated by JP Puype 1520-1550, blade by Melchior Diefstetter.
2. katzbalger, auctioned by Thomas del Mar in 2006 and dated in the second quarter of the 16th century.
3.Katzbalger found in Millingen and published by J.Ypey.
4.Katzbalger found in Rotterdam
5.katzbalger probably found in zeeland
6.Katzbalger in private collection, published by J.Ypey.
7. drawing By Heinrich Aldegrever.

best,
Jasper

[ThisisDustin]

I would hate to burst bubbles but I personally cannot believe that is an actual restoration and not a recreation. What's important to realize with a sword in a heavily excavated condition like that is that you're not just seeing a layer of rust on top but a complete decomposition and oxidation through the metal. From a conservation standpoint there is literally nothing you can do. There is nothing left to work with . Plus all of the pieces have essentially fused together making it impossible to access parts of the sword. Having handled pieces like this I can attest to how absolutely brittle they are. It would destroy the sword to even attempt to wipe at it let alone buff it. Hence, I am curious where you saw this. A link would be most welcome.

That said it is very cool! And even if it is a recreation it seems to really capture what this Katzbalger may have looked like in its working life.

[cornelistromp]

Originally Posted by ThisisDustin

I would hate to burst bubbles but I personally cannot believe that is an actual restoration and not a recreation. What's important to realize with a sword in a heavily excavated condition like that is that you're not just seeing a layer of rust on top but a complete decomposition and oxidation through the metal. From a conservation standpoint there is literally nothing you can do. There is nothing left to work with . Plus all of the pieces have essentially fused together making it impossible to access parts of the sword. Having handled pieces like this I can attest to how absolutely brittle they are. It would destroy the sword to even attempt to wipe at it let alone buff it. Hence, I am curious where you saw this. A link would be most welcome.

That said it is very cool! And even if it is a recreation it seems to really capture what this Katzbalger may have looked like in its working life.

I have a little more information I can not share unfortunately due to a possible future publication.
when I look at the pictures I see a water find in exceptionally good condition, even the cutting edges and thin point are not oxidized, do not be fooled by the buckling/nick and remains of organic material eg leather sheath.

a decomposition or strong oxidizing through the metal, is absolutely no question and not the case here.
I think it is a sublime carried out expert restoration.

best,

[cornelistromp]

I would like to add another landknechtsword with comb pommel, it is a composite sword cq. ex. Katzbalger found in 2012 in Oirschot/Netherlands.

the pommel and blade are belonging to a early (first half of 16thC) Katzbalger as the examples shown in this thread.
but the parry guard is of a later date (mid 16thC) and has been added later and adapted to the new sword function.The upper bracket and pas d'ane are broken off.

it looks like a developed Katzbalger without the 8 shaped guard.
very interesting is that it probably has been done in the 16thC.

also note the serrated edge of the pommel that can be seen even at some landsknecht dagger guards. fe http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15420

best,