Katzbalgers and Related Landsknecht Swords

[Samik]

Not necessary Landsknecht nor Katzbalgers , but Johann von Schwarzenberg's
Die Bambergische Peinliche Halsgerichtsordnung (Constitutio Criminalis Bambergensis) dated 1507 shows some nice messers:



Pic. 1 :Note the curved crossguard , "knifelike" hilt as well as curved blade/scabbard




Pic. 2 : shows the straight bladed variety of the messer ; note again the "knife hilt" ; the short crossguard is more typical of the earlier 15th century messers.



Pic. 3 : Throwing some (presumably, judging from the apparel) "landsknecht" type for good measure. The man on the right from the devil figure carries what appears to be an "early katzbalger". As has already been mentioned in this thread the early 16th century "landsknecht swords" seem to have only a slightly curved crossguard. Of interest is also the longer "hand n a half" grip.


Cheers ,
Samuel

[Matchlock]

Thank you so much, Samuel,

For the great historical illustrations and your comments!

Best,
Michael

[Samik]

Dont mention it Michael

It seems however that the more complex hilted katzbalgers existed even earlier than I (we? ) thought.

A fabulous painting done by Vittore CARPACCIO called " Portrait of a Knight " dated 1510 , shows a young man clad in complete harness (- the helmet) and armed with what appears to be a fully developed katzbalger. Note the "figure-8 or S-shaped guard" as well as the distinctive pommel more typical for the mid/later part of 16th century.
Judging from the picture one could speculate that the weapon was also favoured among the men-at-arms/cream of the fighting nobility , not just the Knecht mercenaries.

Take a look:




Link to the source gallery : http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/htm.../03knight.html


Best,
Samuel

[Matchlock]

Thank you so much indeed, Samuel,

That painting truly is a highly important source of illustration and I fully agree with your thesis that Katzbalgers were not only Knecht (mercenaries') weapons. If I am interpreting it right the pommel on Carpaccio's 1510 painting is gilt; we know of surviving Katzbalgers with gilt hilts and pommels, e.g. in the Vienna Leibrüstkammer.

Sure, we can imagine that some of the more successful mercenaries could afford to have the hilts of their swords gilt - or they just took one from a person they had killed. But the source you have come up with here is sensational in that it proves your surmise that the use of these swords was not limited to the lower people!


Thanks again for sharing it.

All the best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

A few early 16th century sources of illustration from Geiler v. Kaisersberg, The Passion of Christ, Strassburg, 1508 (the first two), and Titus Livius, Mainz, 1514.

M.

[Matchlock]

An illustration by Georg Pencz, Nuremberg, 1530's: The Suicide of Artemesia.

M.

[Matchlock]

By the same artist, dated 1535.

M.