An Extremely Rare North Italian Arquebusier's Auxiliary Armament Saber, ca. 1510-15

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Dmitry

Hello,
The term you're using - Arquebusier's saber, why do you think this weapon was carried by an arquebusier?

Thanks!

Hi Dmitry,

I think it was most of all the relatively light workmanship (which is far from the solidity of a Katzbalger) and the missing of a pronounced yelman on the blade that convinced me that this was not an item of primary but rather of auxiliary armament, meaning that the main weapan for this landsknecht to rely on must have been an arquebus.

Please note the small swords resp. sabers of the arquebusiers in Ruprecht Heller's painting The Battle of Pavia, National Museum Stockholm (dated 1529, the battle took place in 1525) with their developed hilts! (s images attached). These hilts are very close to that on my saber while the pommels in this painting are what we would normally assign to the 1550's-60's!

Best,
Michael

[cornelistromp]

Hi Michael,

the sword hilts in the painting look a bit like this one.

Best regards

[cornelistromp]

Ewart Oakeshott states that the early venetian but also the later form of landknechtssword (later forms are developed landsknecht hilts with a half developed basket or a full basket, in the picture H en J) are both ancestors of the Schiavona hilt.

picture 2 quote from Ewart Oakeshott European arms and armour;
"it is generally held that some of the late form of landknecht sword hilts had a lot to do with the development of the schiavona too".regards from Holland

[Matchlock]

Thank you so much, Cornelis,

I am much flattered (and a bit flattened as well ) to hear that Ewart Oakeshott interpreted the stylistic late Gothic and Early Renaissance developments quite the way I have come to do by experience that includes, besides weapons, all kinds of work of art.

How would you date the light Italian sword the hilt of which resembles those illustrated on the Pavia painting?

Best wishes,
Michael

[cornelistromp]

How would you date the light Italian sword the hilt of which resembles those illustrated on the Pavia painting?

Hi Michael,

Do you mean the sword in my collection, it is not so light piece

I would date it around 1560-1570, but this one is not so easy
the shell shaped pommel with pierced holes appeared already at the end of the 15thC.
the simple hilt form with ring guard and knuckle guard with disk shape terminals
like this are seen around second quarter of the 16thC on-wards. the Counter guard with this type of "hook" and thumb guard can also be seen on many later 16thC swords (Fe Tussacks) and the same striped decoration can be found on a 1510 sword hilt published by Oakeshott in European A&A.

best regards from Holland

So what do you think Michael

[Matchlock]

More questions than replies, that's the way it's gotta be in schlolarly discussions ...

The 1560's would, in my opinion, mark the upper limit for your item but let me ask a friend of mine who has specialized in this field amost all of his life.

Be patient.

Best regrads as always,
Michael

[cornelistromp]

Hi Michael,

Ok, thank you
herewith a sketch of the portrait by Dosso dossi of Alfonse d'este, duke of Ferrara C.1510(Brera gallery Milan). Please have a look at the Pommeltype and hilt decoration.


the pommel is Norman type 12 and is commonly used between 1515-1535.

the tumbring counter guard of the hilt I can not explain but think 1515-1535 is too early.

best regards