Strange Dagger in 16th Century Dutch Painting

[Matchlock]

Hi Chris,

Now I understand your partiality for those daggers - it's no wonder at all as the illustrated Frontiersman sample doubtlessly corresponds to, or is well based on, the so-called Maximilian type of ca. 1500 German Grosses Messer and contemporary daggers, showing the same stylized bird's head pommel.

Sadly my scanner is on strike at the moment but I will try and post some originals of ca. 1500 soon.

From my computer archives, I attach details showing the latest form of a bird's head pommel on a backsword, from a painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder of 1535, titled Judith with the head of Holofernes.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Hi Chris,

For plenty of reference, please also see my thread

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8630

Here is some more period artwork showing 15th and early 16th century bird's head pommels, plus a few others.

From top:

From the Constitutio Criminalis Bambergensis (Bambergische Peinliche Halsgerichtsordnung), 1507: 2 woodcuts

From the Wurzach altar by Hans Multscher, 1437: 1 detail

By Albrecht Dürer, Nuremberg, 1519: 1 image

From the Arnstädter Auferstehungsaltar (the Arnstadt Resurrection altar), Thuringia, Germany, ca. 1430: 2 details

Detail from a woodcut, ca. 1505.

Best,
Michael