Hunting sword , King stamp???

PhDBrewer · 31st August 2023, 11:53 PM

Hello all, I am new on this site and would like to add another Hirschfanger to this thread.
This also has the forward facing kings head. It appears to match the original sword marks well. Could be the same stamp. I am trying to gather more information if anyone has any new information on this mark and/or dating of sword.
I will post measuments after I make them.
Many thanks to Fernando for his assistance!
William

M ELEY · 3rd September 2023, 03:51 AM

Very nice hunting hanger. Yours dates to 1740-80 era based on the folded down guard and plain knuckle guard (earlier examples have 'knobs' at the mid-juncture of the bow or cherub's faces). While many of these are thought of as 'hirschfangers', hanger swords such as these were used throughout Europe. Along with the gentry, who used them for the hunt, they were also popular with the infantry and among sailors on ships (their smaller size and mostly brass fixtures were resistant to rusting). Also, remembr that the vast majority of swords (or at least the blades) were being made in the German states at the time and shipped all over the place. The king's head' marking in profile was a common mark for the Wundes family of smiths, which goes back well into the 17th century and often found on blades of the period. I've always liked these types-

Jim McDougall · 19th September 2023, 02:54 AM

A thought on this unusual face marking. While the Wundes' of course did use the kings head in variation, there could be a possibility of the typical wry British sense of humor at play here.
With the running fox used apparently at Shotley Bridge, and later by Samuel Harvey of Birmingham.....seemingly a take off on the running wolf of Passau..perhaps such a parody might have been applied here. (a Wundes type kings head with green man wearing a crown).

The sometimes almost whimsical figures on hilts such as the mortuaries, as well as the green man figures mentioned.........it seems that gun makers often placed grotesque faces on gun butts, and they seem to have had their own favorites, perhaps even in the sense of markings. Gun makers were often cutlers as well, so possibly such a figure might have extended to blades in this manner?
Often makers marks did not reach the Cutlers Co. in London, but though tenuous seems somewhat possible,

31st August 2023, 11:53 PM	#1
PhDBrewer Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Posts: 5	Hello all, I am new on this site and would like to add another Hirschfanger to this thread. This also has the forward facing kings head. It appears to match the original sword marks well. Could be the same stamp. I am trying to gather more information if anyone has any new information on this mark and/or dating of sword. I will post measuments after I make them. Many thanks to Fernando for his assistance! William Attached Images

3rd September 2023, 03:51 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,156	Very nice hunting hanger. Yours dates to 1740-80 era based on the folded down guard and plain knuckle guard (earlier examples have 'knobs' at the mid-juncture of the bow or cherub's faces). While many of these are thought of as 'hirschfangers', hanger swords such as these were used throughout Europe. Along with the gentry, who used them for the hunt, they were also popular with the infantry and among sailors on ships (their smaller size and mostly brass fixtures were resistant to rusting). Also, remembr that the vast majority of swords (or at least the blades) were being made in the German states at the time and shipped all over the place. The king's head' marking in profile was a common mark for the Wundes family of smiths, which goes back well into the 17th century and often found on blades of the period. I've always liked these types- Last edited by M ELEY; 3rd September 2023 at 02:53 PM.

19th September 2023, 02:54 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	A thought on this unusual face marking. While the Wundes' of course did use the kings head in variation, there could be a possibility of the typical wry British sense of humor at play here. With the running fox used apparently at Shotley Bridge, and later by Samuel Harvey of Birmingham.....seemingly a take off on the running wolf of Passau..perhaps such a parody might have been applied here. (a Wundes type kings head with green man wearing a crown). The sometimes almost whimsical figures on hilts such as the mortuaries, as well as the green man figures mentioned.........it seems that gun makers often placed grotesque faces on gun butts, and they seem to have had their own favorites, perhaps even in the sense of markings. Gun makers were often cutlers as well, so possibly such a figure might have extended to blades in this manner? Often makers marks did not reach the Cutlers Co. in London, but though tenuous seems somewhat possible, Attached Images