Katzbalgers and Related Landsknecht Swords

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

auctioned at Thomasdelmar this Wednesday, lot 130.


Michael do you recognize the sword from your Photo's at the beginning of the thread?

A RARE SOUTH GERMAN BACKSWORD, SO-CALLED LANDSKNECHTMESSER, SECOND QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY, PROBABLY MUNICH
with straight blade double-edged for the last third, cut with three long slender fullers on each face, stamped with the so-called 'twig' mark on one face, iron hilt comprising a pair of straight quillons with spirally-moulded knob-shaped terminals, shell-guard formed as a fire-steel and pierced with a central cross between two hearts, the front border roped and extending to a scrolling terminal on each side, finely carved ivory crutch-shaped pommel decorated with a female figure in contemporary dress on the top (cracked), a cherubic mask on the front, and scrolls on the reverse, wooden grip bound with fishskin and an early brass inventory tag
82.5cm; 32 1/2in blade

Provenance
Adrian Conan Doyle (as stated below)
Christie's King Street, 9th December 1998, lot 98

A sword with etched blade by Ambrosius Gemlich dated 1532 and with a pommel carved in the same style is preserved in the Museum fûr Deutsche Geschichte, Berlin. See H.Mûller and H. Kölling 1990, No. 157, p. 219. An almost identical guard on another Munich messer, also with an etched blade by Gemlich and dated 1533, is preserved in the Historisches Museum, Dresden. See H. Seitz 1965, Ill. 227.

Hi Jasper,

I must ask: could it possibly be in your collection now?

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Some more impressions of early 16th C. mercenaries swords and a horseman's hammer, late 16th.C., from the Hapsburg Imperial Vienna Arms and Armor collection preserved in the Hofburg.
Photos taken from www.forum.info. - with thanks to the authors!

Enjoy,
Michael

[cornelistromp]

Hi Michael,

that is interesting, I have a similar 2hander, if this one is described under inv. 161.121 nr280(see last picture) it also has the same shield engraved in the blade!, with the characters S H, I don't know the meaning yet. maybe it stands for Hans Staentler.

best,

[Matchlock]

Nice item Jasper,

Although, being dated 1591, this is not really a Landsknecht sword any more but a bearing sword, most probably of Austrian origin.

Btw, I have never heard of a Hans Stantler - do you happen to have records on him?

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Katzbalgers and two-hand Landsknecht swords, by Urs Graf, dated 1523 and 1524 repectively.

m

[Matchlock]

Some more period artwork.

The South Geman/Swiss motto Fryheit on the banner in the fourth image means Freedom.

m

[cornelistromp]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Nice item Jasper,

Although, being dated 1591, this is not really a Landsknecht sword any more but a bearing sword, most probably of Austrian origin.

Btw, I have never heard of a Hans Stantler - do you happen to have records on him?

Best,
Michael

Hi Michael,
there were still some Landsknecht upto the 17th century! seperately of the vatican-guard of course.
Hans Stantler was a swordcutler in the second half of the 16thC in Muenchen, probably the son of Wolfgang Stantler. (CF Ullstein)

best,

[cornelistromp]

some more.

[cornelistromp]

some more. I think we will have to delete some doublures.