Origin of the term Eisenhauer

Dmitry · 30th August 2010, 03:37 PM

This blade inscription often appears on Solingen-made blades of the second half of the 1800s. Eisenhauer, i.e. an 'iron-cutter' marked blades indicated a particularly high quality [nothing more than a marketing trick, in my opinion].
However, I have seen at least two blades marked Eisenhauer, which, at least in their appearance, may date well prior to the 1850s. What is the earliest example of the blade marked Eisenhauer that you have seen?

Jim McDougall · 31st August 2010, 08:21 AM

This is really a good question, and it seems pretty well established that this term indeed appears on blades of mid 19th and into 20th century Germany; also that it is often mistaken for a makers name.
According to John Walter in "Sword and Bayonet Makers of Imperial Germany" blades were designated 'eisenhauerklinge' or 'iron cutter' as a declaration of quality, with similar terms in Belgium and a number of other countries.

Jean Binck had noted (2003) that it was a practice of early Passau swordsmiths to test blades by placing iron wire on a piece of wood, so its not as if the blade was to cut into iron plate. It does not seem that the term itself was used on blades until the 19th century. It is important to note that the quality of sword blades was obviously of key importance, and this implied guarantee was typically the purpose of the trade and guild markings which became so widely copied, the wolf and sickle marks among the best known.

In the latter 18th century, there was considerable competition between English swordsmiths and the imported German blades from Solingen which brought about what became known as the 'sword scandals' colloquially.
One of the main proponents for the English cause was Thomas Gill, who began marking his blades in 1788 with 'warranted never to fail', with several other makers following with variations of the phrase.

The imported German blades, aside from those marked by importer JJ Runkel, were often unmarked. The practice of these warranted phrases or the word alone seems to have carried into about the end of the Napoleonic Period on English sword blades, and by the mid 19th century the advent of proof marks took the place of these warranty notices on British swords.

It does seem quite plausible that the German use of this pronouncement of power or quality may have evolved out of the conflict mentioned, or simply as noted, a marketing device.

Other examples of pronouncing or guarantee of blade quality in terms would be that of Andrea Ferara on well known Solingen blades, typically for Scotland. It has been suggested by a number of arms writers through the years that this may be a term, 'Andrea =true, trustworthy; Ferara= iron', rather than a name..obviously the subject of ongoing dispute.

I once spent a great deal of effort having a Manchu inscription of only several characters translated (not many out there reading this

from a blade on a willow leaf sabre......hoping for something meaningful, it simply expressed 'tempered steel' .......apparantly significant note of quality in the 18th century in China in this same fashion.

Dmitry · 31st August 2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

It has been suggested by a number of arms writers through the years that this may be a term, 'Andrea =true, trustworthy; Ferara= iron', rather than a name..obviously the subject of ongoing dispute.

That is cool! Makes sense. I've never heard this interpretation before.

Tonight I will post a couple of photos of the Eisenhauer inscriptions on the blades that, in my opinion, date prior to the 1850s.

Jim McDougall · 31st August 2010, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

That is cool! Makes sense. I've never heard this interpretation before.

Tonight I will post a couple of photos of the Eisenhauer inscriptions on the blades that, in my opinion, date prior to the 1850s.

Thanks Dmitry!!! Looking forward to the eisenhauer inscriptions, I had never realized the placement of the term hadn't been used before mid 19th c.

Dmitry · 31st August 2010, 10:23 PM

Blade no.1.

This just ended on eBay. If you look really close, you will see the Eisenhauer markings on both sides of the blade.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Two things can be assumed -

1.This is indeed an 18th century Hungarian blade, with an early Eisenhauer mark.

2.This is a mid to late 1800s German-made blade in the earlier Hungarian style, decorated with a Hungarian motto, and made either for Hungary around the time of the 1848 rebellion, or a blade made specifically for the Middle-Eastern market, emulating the Hungarian style as a mark of quality. Let's not forget that Solingen was producing archaic-looking blades for Ethiopia well into the 20th century.

So, which is it?
We will find out!
As the man said, "Oh, do not ask, “What is it?” Let us go and make our visit."

Example no.2 is coming up later.

Jim McDougall · 1st September 2010, 02:41 AM

Looks like a well worn Bedouin sabre with the typical Syrian hilt style, the blade ? ...according to Robert Elgood (citing Burton, 1855) it is noted on p.22 ("The Arms and Armour of Arabia") that;
"...the shintayan is the common sword blade of the Badawin, in Western Arabia; it is called Majar (from the Magyars?) and is said to be of German manufacture".
Elgood notes that these were distinctive blades, often with an etched hussar, and popular from the Caucusus to South Arabia. These were usually regarded as Hungarian, though typically Solingen produced to meet demands, and known to have been Daghestani made as well. These were based on 18th to 19th century cavalry sabre blades.

One of my earliest collected sabres was presented as an 18th c. Hungarian hussars sabre, and had similar etched motto (not Eisenhauer) on the blade, while the hilt was of Ottoman pistol grip type. The quillons were remarkably stubby as I recall. It was not until years later that I learned this was actually a Bedouin sabre and of the 19th century. I later saw a number of sabres with Syrian hilts and Hungarian inscribed blades being hawked again as Hungarian 'patriotic sabres'. ...again clearly Arab swords.

In my impression this is a Solingen trade blade, and the Eisenhauer being a quality term as discussed, probably in the 19th century period, I do not recall seeing this term on the other sabres I described.

All best regards,
Jim

30th August 2010, 03:37 PM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Origin of the term Eisenhauer This blade inscription often appears on Solingen-made blades of the second half of the 1800s. Eisenhauer, i.e. an 'iron-cutter' marked blades indicated a particularly high quality [nothing more than a marketing trick, in my opinion]. However, I have seen at least two blades marked Eisenhauer, which, at least in their appearance, may date well prior to the 1850s. What is the earliest example of the blade marked Eisenhauer that you have seen?

31st August 2010, 10:23 PM	#5
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Blade no.1. This just ended on eBay. If you look really close, you will see the Eisenhauer markings on both sides of the blade. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT Two things can be assumed - 1.This is indeed an 18th century Hungarian blade, with an early Eisenhauer mark. 2.This is a mid to late 1800s German-made blade in the earlier Hungarian style, decorated with a Hungarian motto, and made either for Hungary around the time of the 1848 rebellion, or a blade made specifically for the Middle-Eastern market, emulating the Hungarian style as a mark of quality. Let's not forget that Solingen was producing archaic-looking blades for Ethiopia well into the 20th century. So, which is it? We will find out! As the man said, "Oh, do not ask, “What is it?” Let us go and make our visit." Example no.2 is coming up later. Attached Images

31st August 2010, 08:21 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,738	This is really a good question, and it seems pretty well established that this term indeed appears on blades of mid 19th and into 20th century Germany; also that it is often mistaken for a makers name. According to John Walter in "Sword and Bayonet Makers of Imperial Germany" blades were designated 'eisenhauerklinge' or 'iron cutter' as a declaration of quality, with similar terms in Belgium and a number of other countries. Jean Binck had noted (2003) that it was a practice of early Passau swordsmiths to test blades by placing iron wire on a piece of wood, so its not as if the blade was to cut into iron plate. It does not seem that the term itself was used on blades until the 19th century. It is important to note that the quality of sword blades was obviously of key importance, and this implied guarantee was typically the purpose of the trade and guild markings which became so widely copied, the wolf and sickle marks among the best known. In the latter 18th century, there was considerable competition between English swordsmiths and the imported German blades from Solingen which brought about what became known as the 'sword scandals' colloquially. One of the main proponents for the English cause was Thomas Gill, who began marking his blades in 1788 with 'warranted never to fail', with several other makers following with variations of the phrase. The imported German blades, aside from those marked by importer JJ Runkel, were often unmarked. The practice of these warranted phrases or the word alone seems to have carried into about the end of the Napoleonic Period on English sword blades, and by the mid 19th century the advent of proof marks took the place of these warranty notices on British swords. It does seem quite plausible that the German use of this pronouncement of power or quality may have evolved out of the conflict mentioned, or simply as noted, a marketing device. Other examples of pronouncing or guarantee of blade quality in terms would be that of Andrea Ferara on well known Solingen blades, typically for Scotland. It has been suggested by a number of arms writers through the years that this may be a term, 'Andrea =true, trustworthy; Ferara= iron', rather than a name..obviously the subject of ongoing dispute. I once spent a great deal of effort having a Manchu inscription of only several characters translated (not many out there reading this from a blade on a willow leaf sabre......hoping for something meaningful, it simply expressed 'tempered steel' .......apparantly significant note of quality in the 18th century in China in this same fashion.

1st September 2010, 02:41 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,738	Looks like a well worn Bedouin sabre with the typical Syrian hilt style, the blade ? ...according to Robert Elgood (citing Burton, 1855) it is noted on p.22 ("The Arms and Armour of Arabia") that; "...the shintayan is the common sword blade of the Badawin, in Western Arabia; it is called Majar (from the Magyars?) and is said to be of German manufacture". Elgood notes that these were distinctive blades, often with an etched hussar, and popular from the Caucusus to South Arabia. These were usually regarded as Hungarian, though typically Solingen produced to meet demands, and known to have been Daghestani made as well. These were based on 18th to 19th century cavalry sabre blades. One of my earliest collected sabres was presented as an 18th c. Hungarian hussars sabre, and had similar etched motto (not Eisenhauer) on the blade, while the hilt was of Ottoman pistol grip type. The quillons were remarkably stubby as I recall. It was not until years later that I learned this was actually a Bedouin sabre and of the 19th century. I later saw a number of sabres with Syrian hilts and Hungarian inscribed blades being hawked again as Hungarian 'patriotic sabres'. ...again clearly Arab swords. In my impression this is a Solingen trade blade, and the Eisenhauer being a quality term as discussed, probably in the 19th century period, I do not recall seeing this term on the other sabres I described. All best regards, Jim