Katzbalgers and Related Landsknecht Swords

Matchlock · 6th December 2011, 07:49 PM

Hi John,

Here are better images of the von Schellenberg Katzbalger at the KHM Vienna. Thought I had posted them somewhere here before but can't find them.
The close-ups of the hilt in color at the bottom are mine. Even if you are lucky and get special permission like I did, and are allowed to use flashlight, taking good pictures is extremely critical in the Vienna exhibition (as in most museums when it comes down to guns ...

).

The blade mark on the ricasso is an Italian-style crowned Greek pi.

Enjoy,
Michael

Matchlock · 6th December 2011, 11:13 PM

Those interested in Ulrich von Schellenberg's biography, please see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...689#post129689

m

Matchlock · 7th December 2011, 06:35 PM

They are preseved in the Museum of Hunting History.

From top:

A fine South German or Swiss hand-and-a-half sword, ca. 1540

A Venetian Landsknecht Sword, ca. 1510

A fine Venetian Storta, ca. 1500

Best,
Michael

cornelistromp · 9th December 2011, 04:46 PM

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.

Matchlock · 9th December 2011, 05:11 PM

Of course I did recognize the piece, Jasper,

I helped consigning it with Tom Del Mar.

Actually, your post was a bit quicker than mine; I was waiting for Tom's reluts before posting but it was only a few minutes ago that my browser would update and I could study the results list.

I was sold for GBP 7,800 ((lot 130).

Here's a bit more on the piece.

BTW, it's good the have you coming in again. I much missed your valuable comments and additions.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 9th December 2011, 05:30 PM

Another similar Munich Landsknecht-Messer originally belonging to the Emperor Charles V, with similar style guard and calendar blade etched by Ambrosius Gemlich, Munich, and dated 1533 (the calendar ending in 1542, indicating that this costume sword was expected to be out of fashion within 10 years!). It is preserved in the Vienna Waffensammlung, inv.-no. A 429 (author's photos).

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 14th December 2011, 06:37 PM

The following two items from the Karsten Klingbeil collection sold cheap at Brussels yesterday.
I've just been informed that they both went to a Swiss museum.

1. An early Swiss Landsknecht two-hand sword, ca. 1550.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 16th December 2011, 12:41 AM

Quote:

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 · 16th December 2011, 01:07 AM

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 · 16th December 2011, 05:52 PM

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,

6th December 2011, 07:49 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi John, Here are better images of the von Schellenberg Katzbalger at the KHM Vienna. Thought I had posted them somewhere here before but can't find them. The close-ups of the hilt in color at the bottom are mine. Even if you are lucky and get special permission like I did, and are allowed to use flashlight, taking good pictures is extremely critical in the Vienna exhibition (as in most museums when it comes down to guns ... ). The blade mark on the ricasso is an Italian-style crowned Greek pi. Enjoy, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 7th December 2011 at 01:43 AM.

6th December 2011, 11:13 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Those interested in Ulrich von Schellenberg's biography, please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...689#post129689 m Attached Images

7th December 2011, 06:35 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Fine Landsknecht Swords in the Museo Storica della Caccia, Florence They are preseved in the Museum of Hunting History. From top: A fine South German or Swiss hand-and-a-half sword, ca. 1540 A Venetian Landsknecht Sword, ca. 1510 A fine Venetian Storta, ca. 1500 Best, Michael Attached Images

9th December 2011, 04:46 PM	#4
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	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. Attached Images

9th December 2011, 05:11 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Of course I did recognize the piece, Jasper, I helped consigning it with Tom Del Mar. Actually, your post was a bit quicker than mine; I was waiting for Tom's reluts before posting but it was only a few minutes ago that my browser would update and I could study the results list. I was sold for GBP 7,800 ((lot 130). Here's a bit more on the piece. BTW, it's good the have you coming in again. I much missed your valuable comments and additions. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 10th December 2011 at 12:54 AM.

9th December 2011, 05:30 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Another similar Munich Landsknecht-Messer originally belonging to the Emperor Charles V, with similar style guard and calendar blade etched by Ambrosius Gemlich, Munich, and dated 1533 (the calendar ending in 1542, indicating that this costume sword was expected to be out of fashion within 10 years!). It is preserved in the Vienna Waffensammlung, inv.-no. A 429 (author's photos). Best, Michael Attached Images

14th December 2011, 06:37 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The following two items from the Karsten Klingbeil collection sold cheap at Brussels yesterday. I've just been informed that they both went to a Swiss museum. 1. An early Swiss Landsknecht two-hand sword, ca. 1550. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 14th December 2011 at 09:45 PM.

16th December 2011, 01:07 AM	#9
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	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 Attached Images

16th December 2011, 05:52 PM	#10
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	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, Attached Images Last edited by cornelistromp; 16th December 2011 at 06:52 PM.