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Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
Hi Luka,
The familiar S shape or figure 8 guards were well known on the 'katzbalger' swords and many 'zweihander' (two hander) huge swords, but cannot be distinctly designated a 'Swiss' style. As mercenary soldiers in these times tended to supply their own arms and equipment, these styles of weapon were being produced in various arms centers throughout these regions, and tended to adopt the popular designs and style of the times.
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Hi, Jim
Great thumbnail overview of the topic, as usual! If I may elaborate on your last sentence, above...
The familiar deeply rounded, almost circular S or figure-8 on the "classic" katzbalger hilt (as amply represented in previous posts) can be traced back to smaller, more rudimentary S forms popular on medieval Hungarian hilt weapons of the 15th cent. The crossguards take the form of a horizontal S composed of ribbed straps of iron curling from each side of the écusson or quillon-block. Both double edged broadswords and kilij-like saber blades can be found on these Hungarian weapons, many of which are preserved in Hungary and elsewhere (see Temesváry Ferenc,
Vas, Ezüst És Arany pl 3 for two examples in the Hungarian National Museum.-- on one of these, the arms of the S are so recurved so as to form almost complete loops}
Medieval Dalmatia (present Croatia) was heavily influenced by Hungary, and S-guard swords became common if not iconic there. In the service of the Republic of Venice, Croatian mercenaries introduced the style to northern Italy,where it eventually became known as
la spada schiavonesca, the Slavonic sword. These remained in use throughout the 15th and well into the 16th cents., made in both standard, bastard, and two handed hilt lengths, until replaced by the basket-hilted
schiavona.
Here is an example of a
spada schiavonesca in my collection. For examples of others including the longer hilts, see some published examples from the Armory of the Palazzo Ducale in Boccia / Coelho,
Armi Bianche Italiane.