German Executioner's sword Early 17TH century ?

fernando · 8th April 2017, 06:26 PM

Bonjour Jean-Luc,
The grip and pommel of your sword looks (to me) similar to one kept in the Schweizerischen Museum, said to be German from around 1600.
We can see that these blades may also be free of any allegoric decoration, which makes them be confused with two handed fighting swords as, while most of them do not have worthless pointed blades, they always have a cross guard, which purpose i fail to understand, unless an esthetical one.
We also see out there these blade ends with no (three) holes and also those with one plain single hole, said to be there for hanging the sword.
Obviously these swords, not serving a fighting purpose, hardly fit into weapons typology, although i wouldn't mind owning one in my little collection

.

.

NeilUK · 9th April 2017, 01:05 PM

An excellent example, Jean-Luc, of a 'sword of justice' or executioner's sword. I think that it is more likely to have been an actual executioner's sword rather than a 'bearing sword' for two reasons: the inlaid design of the gallows and the very 'used' condition; a bearing sword would surely have been kept in better condition. As for Fernando's comment about the cross-guard: it could serve to prevent the user's hands from slipping down onto the blade, and also if the recipient of justice (the victim/criminal) is sentenced to 'die by the sword' then the instrument has to look like a sword! even if it is not a real weapon. Just my thoughts.
Best regards,
Neil

Cerjak · 9th April 2017, 07:23 PM

Thank you all for your comments ,
Yes I do think that this sword is a real weapon rather than a 'bearing sword'.
Fernando thank you for the scan.
Best
Cerjak

Philip · 11th April 2017, 05:54 AM

There are a relatively small number of extremely well-appointed versions of the classic Germanic / Central European "heading sword" -- with intricately engraved or etched blades, gilt-bronze guards and pommels, and wire braid wrapping with Turks' head knotting on the grips (of the sort common on civilian rapiers and similar swords). These, which tend to show no signs of repeated sharpening or extensive wear, were undoubtedly the "Swords of Justice" paraded before judicial officials as symbols of office. An outstanding example sold at Sothebys Summers Place (West Sussex), 7 Dec. 1998 (Lot 3050). More recently, a slightly more lavish one, with scabbard, was featured by Peter Finer at his Ilmington, Warwickshire gallery.

I agree that the example posted in this thread is almost certainly an executioner's implement, judging from its starkly utilitarian finish. Quite an impressive thing, clearly designed to do a specific task with great efficiency.

Philip · 11th April 2017, 06:07 AM

Headsman's swords with broad lenticular blades without points are often referred to as German/Austrian/Swiss, but there are examples which originate in neighboring, non-Germanic countries as well. Hermann Historica's Auction 49 (2005), featured a Hungarian example (Lot 258), mounted up on a hussar-saber-type hilt with an L-shaped knuckle guard. Its blade is engraved with two warrior figures out of classical mythology in a rather East European folk-art style, and with Latin inscriptions. I have seen a couple others similar to this elsewhere.

The Muzeum Narodowe in Kraków, Poland, has several with purely "Germanic" hilts (the generic form seen in this thread). I have handled a couple others in the museum's depot. A couple of the swords in this collection are named to Polish towns.

Cerjak · 11th April 2017, 08:52 AM

Thank you Philip for your comment.
There is also a nice collection of execution swords kept at the Gravensteen Museem Gent Belgium .Unfortunately I don’t have any more the pictures.
https://gravensteen.stad.gent/en/content/arms-museum-0
Best

Cerjak

Jim McDougall · 11th April 2017, 09:33 PM

It is great to have input from Philip on this, as it seems in discussions over the years he has placed most valuable insight into this esoteric topic, much of it gained from his research in locations key to much of the history.

As I continued my own research on this, I have found that many of these swords were indeed in use as 'heading swords' in German states and East European, some Slavic countries. Those which indeed served as 'instruments' in this grim purpose were usually quite austere, though often with the latten gibbet and wheel (of justice) inlaid in the blade.
It does seem, from some sources, noted that many of these swords when no longer 'in service' , actually became 'swords of justice' which were held up or paraded in judicial circumstances. It is suggested that this seems to have been the occasion when many of these were given the three hole application near the point.

This much disputed feature seems to elude any pragmatic solution, or even any other explanation, but the release of evil after its use in dispatch of criminals through the three holes (of the Holy Trinity) appears to be most widely held.

Many of these swords were finely embellished and decorated, and were probably intended as swords of justice as a court accoutrement from the beginning.

With these findings as well as with Philip's well observed notes it seems well supported that this is most likely an true heading sword as surmised.

8th April 2017, 06:26 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Bonjour Jean-Luc, The grip and pommel of your sword looks (to me) similar to one kept in the Schweizerischen Museum, said to be German from around 1600. We can see that these blades may also be free of any allegoric decoration, which makes them be confused with two handed fighting swords as, while most of them do not have worthless pointed blades, they always have a cross guard, which purpose i fail to understand, unless an esthetical one. We also see out there these blade ends with no (three) holes and also those with one plain single hole, said to be there for hanging the sword. Obviously these swords, not serving a fighting purpose, hardly fit into weapons typology, although i wouldn't mind owning one in my little collection . . Attached Images

11th April 2017, 05:54 AM	#4
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	Judicial regalia or executioner's tool? There are a relatively small number of extremely well-appointed versions of the classic Germanic / Central European "heading sword" -- with intricately engraved or etched blades, gilt-bronze guards and pommels, and wire braid wrapping with Turks' head knotting on the grips (of the sort common on civilian rapiers and similar swords). These, which tend to show no signs of repeated sharpening or extensive wear, were undoubtedly the "Swords of Justice" paraded before judicial officials as symbols of office. An outstanding example sold at Sothebys Summers Place (West Sussex), 7 Dec. 1998 (Lot 3050). More recently, a slightly more lavish one, with scabbard, was featured by Peter Finer at his Ilmington, Warwickshire gallery. I agree that the example posted in this thread is almost certainly an executioner's implement, judging from its starkly utilitarian finish. Quite an impressive thing, clearly designed to do a specific task with great efficiency.

11th April 2017, 06:07 AM	#5
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	use not limited to German-speaking countries Headsman's swords with broad lenticular blades without points are often referred to as German/Austrian/Swiss, but there are examples which originate in neighboring, non-Germanic countries as well. Hermann Historica's Auction 49 (2005), featured a Hungarian example (Lot 258), mounted up on a hussar-saber-type hilt with an L-shaped knuckle guard. Its blade is engraved with two warrior figures out of classical mythology in a rather East European folk-art style, and with Latin inscriptions. I have seen a couple others similar to this elsewhere. The Muzeum Narodowe in Kraków, Poland, has several with purely "Germanic" hilts (the generic form seen in this thread). I have handled a couple others in the museum's depot. A couple of the swords in this collection are named to Polish towns.

9th April 2017, 01:05 PM	#2
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 126	An excellent example, Jean-Luc, of a 'sword of justice' or executioner's sword. I think that it is more likely to have been an actual executioner's sword rather than a 'bearing sword' for two reasons: the inlaid design of the gallows and the very 'used' condition; a bearing sword would surely have been kept in better condition. As for Fernando's comment about the cross-guard: it could serve to prevent the user's hands from slipping down onto the blade, and also if the recipient of justice (the victim/criminal) is sentenced to 'die by the sword' then the instrument has to look like a sword! even if it is not a real weapon. Just my thoughts. Best regards, Neil

9th April 2017, 07:23 PM	#3
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,065	Thank you all for your comments , Yes I do think that this sword is a real weapon rather than a 'bearing sword'. Fernando thank you for the scan. Best Cerjak

11th April 2017, 08:52 AM	#6
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,065	Thank you Philip for your comment. There is also a nice collection of execution swords kept at the Gravensteen Museem Gent Belgium .Unfortunately I don’t have any more the pictures. https://gravensteen.stad.gent/en/content/arms-museum-0 Best Cerjak

11th April 2017, 09:33 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	It is great to have input from Philip on this, as it seems in discussions over the years he has placed most valuable insight into this esoteric topic, much of it gained from his research in locations key to much of the history. As I continued my own research on this, I have found that many of these swords were indeed in use as 'heading swords' in German states and East European, some Slavic countries. Those which indeed served as 'instruments' in this grim purpose were usually quite austere, though often with the latten gibbet and wheel (of justice) inlaid in the blade. It does seem, from some sources, noted that many of these swords when no longer 'in service' , actually became 'swords of justice' which were held up or paraded in judicial circumstances. It is suggested that this seems to have been the occasion when many of these were given the three hole application near the point. This much disputed feature seems to elude any pragmatic solution, or even any other explanation, but the release of evil after its use in dispatch of criminals through the three holes (of the Holy Trinity) appears to be most widely held. Many of these swords were finely embellished and decorated, and were probably intended as swords of justice as a court accoutrement from the beginning. With these findings as well as with Philip's well observed notes it seems well supported that this is most likely an true heading sword as surmised.