Quote:
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Originally Posted by ExLibris
- In the scabbard were several tools found, like a Swiss army knife or a multi-tool. Was this common for this kind of swords of for swords in general?
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Could we get a close-up of the 5 tools?
I can't speak to to how common it is for Katzbalger swords, but it is not uncommon for tools to be associated. I am more familiar with the phenomenon in knives - occasionally happens in Ottoman Crete, and there's an excellent Persian example at
http://www.swordforum.com/forums/sho...d-Persian-kard [see attached photo on, second post] - but I know it occurs elsewhere as well.
The association of a small knife (looking at the second tool of your five) with a sword is relatively common. I know this from later German hunting swords which are often paired with an associated knife, but it may be the case that this is common earlier as well. I do not know enough to comment on 16th century Netherlands.
For later German examples of a sword with small knife, see:
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/co...d-and-scabbard (knife not pictured, but included in description)
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/a...b-8816110ecac0 (Auction has ended earlier today, so I think it's okay to post. Someone throw something at me if it isn't.)
There is a Spanish-made example which is 16th century at
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/co...e-and-scabbard
I am not certain of the 4 tools other than the small knife; I would like a better photo to tell what they are. The 4th looks vaguely like a worm for a musket/arquebus, but take that with a grain of salt. Not sure what the two-pronged tool could possibly be in that context, and in any case not willing to commit to calling it a worm without zooming in a bit.
Really interesting find though, and amazing conservation work. Looks like there's still metallic iron left, but if the blade is down to just compact magnetite then kudos to the conservator for keeping it in one piece. Hell, even with metallic iron left, same; archaeological swords aren't easy things to conserve. Really, really nicely done, that.
Unrelated note, I don't suppose you have a nice, digitized x-ray of the hilt you'd be willing to part with? I'm far more interested in construction/manufacture methods for weapons than I am typology, and there's nothing quite like a good radiograph for that.