Old short sword

Multumesc · 4th March 2012, 10:08 AM

Dear fellow forum, I put some pictures with a sword and want to know in what time is and the part of Europa.Sword measures 72cm. Thank you.

fernando · 4th March 2012, 10:50 AM

Very nice.
A XVIII century German hunting sword?

Henk · 4th March 2012, 01:04 PM

I agree with Fernando.

A so called Hirschfanger.

SERGIU · 4th March 2012, 06:33 PM

end 18 th -beginning 19 th century hirschfanger,hunting sword carried by noblemen to prove courage by giving the wounded animal the coup de grace.Sometimes used also as dress sword during meetings and feasts.This one surely had a double scabbard to contain also a little knife or a fork, used to eat by the fire on the field after a good hunt .pofta buna!

Multumesc · 6th March 2012, 03:32 PM

In the past, hunting swords were used in wars?

Henk · 7th March 2012, 10:29 AM

No, these weapons were used during huntingparties.

M ELEY · 7th March 2012, 01:57 PM

Hangers were popular weapons not only for the hunt, but also as infantry and naval swords. There are many, many examples of plain, straight and curve-bladed hangers with shell-type guards in the literature (Boarders Away, Naval Swords by Annis, May's Naval Weapons, Vol I & II). If you look up "Roc the Brazillian" and "l'Olonnais", you will see much earlier examples of hunting hangers which went to sea.

That being said, not ALL hangers were battle swords. Examples with highly decorative hilts, figured hilts with hoof finials, blades etched with hunting scenes/stags/powder horns/snared rabbits, etc and those with obvious mottos ("In Treu Feist" comes to mind) were strictly hunting implements.

Naval and infantry examples would have been extremely plain. Naval examples frequently had brass hilts (don't rust with sea air), plain, short blades that allowed for more room to jab/swing on crowded/tight ships decks, and possibly nautical decorations, such as anchors, sea shells, etched ships, fish, etc. Even then, it might be hard to prove they are naval without some provenance. What can be said is that they are "associated" with naval weaponry.

All that being said, yours is a very nice example that is more than likely as stated a hunting example, the kind sometimes found with a trousse of utensils/carving tools. Cool sword...

Dmitry · 7th March 2012, 03:48 PM

Hello,
Imho this sword dates ca.1850 or so. It's a 17th c. revival piece, made in one of the German countries.

M ELEY · 8th March 2012, 12:58 AM

Excellent point, Dmitry. I agree. That's why the shell-guard and floating knuckle bow reminded me of those much earlier naval hangers.

4th March 2012, 10:08 AM	#1
Multumesc Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Romania Posts: 202	Old short sword Dear fellow forum, I put some pictures with a sword and want to know in what time is and the part of Europa.Sword measures 72cm. Thank you. Last edited by fernando; 7th March 2012 at 12:43 PM.

6th March 2012, 03:32 PM	#5
Multumesc Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Romania Posts: 202	In the past, hunting swords were used in wars? Last edited by fernando; 7th March 2012 at 09:31 AM.

7th March 2012, 01:57 PM	#7
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,066	Not necessarily... Hangers were popular weapons not only for the hunt, but also as infantry and naval swords. There are many, many examples of plain, straight and curve-bladed hangers with shell-type guards in the literature (Boarders Away, Naval Swords by Annis, May's Naval Weapons, Vol I & II). If you look up "Roc the Brazillian" and "l'Olonnais", you will see much earlier examples of hunting hangers which went to sea. That being said, not ALL hangers were battle swords. Examples with highly decorative hilts, figured hilts with hoof finials, blades etched with hunting scenes/stags/powder horns/snared rabbits, etc and those with obvious mottos ("In Treu Feist" comes to mind) were strictly hunting implements. Naval and infantry examples would have been extremely plain. Naval examples frequently had brass hilts (don't rust with sea air), plain, short blades that allowed for more room to jab/swing on crowded/tight ships decks, and possibly nautical decorations, such as anchors, sea shells, etched ships, fish, etc. Even then, it might be hard to prove they are naval without some provenance. What can be said is that they are "associated" with naval weaponry. All that being said, yours is a very nice example that is more than likely as stated a hunting example, the kind sometimes found with a trousse of utensils/carving tools. Cool sword...

4th March 2012, 10:50 AM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Very nice. A XVIII century German hunting sword?

4th March 2012, 01:04 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I agree with Fernando. A so called Hirschfanger.

4th March 2012, 06:33 PM	#4
SERGIU Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Timisoara, Romania Posts: 32	end 18 th -beginning 19 th century hirschfanger,hunting sword carried by noblemen to prove courage by giving the wounded animal the coup de grace.Sometimes used also as dress sword during meetings and feasts.This one surely had a double scabbard to contain also a little knife or a fork, used to eat by the fire on the field after a good hunt .pofta buna!

7th March 2012, 10:29 AM	#6
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	No, these weapons were used during huntingparties.

7th March 2012, 03:48 PM	#8
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Hello, Imho this sword dates ca.1850 or so. It's a 17th c. revival piece, made in one of the German countries.

8th March 2012, 12:58 AM	#9
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,066	Excellent point, Dmitry. I agree. That's why the shell-guard and floating knuckle bow reminded me of those much earlier naval hangers.