Sword remains found at Babberich Mannor - NOT!

[werecow]

The remains of a sword were found at Babberich Manor in Zevenaar, Gelderland, The Netherlands. The sword was found underwater "somewhere around the manor". The house likely stems from the 14th century, but was rebuilt in the 18th.

The manor is also known as "Halsaf" ("neck off") due to a legend. It goes something like this:

The servant girl was at home alone at night in the castle. She discovered a group of seven robbers were trying to break in through the cellar door. As soon as the robbers peeked their heads in one by one through the small door, the servant girl decapitated them with a sword. She killed all but one of them this way.
Later, she was invited by a handsome young man for a ride in his carriage across the meadows of Babberich. When his wig blew off, the girl recognized him as the last robber, and threw him from the carriage. He fell in front of the wheels of the carriage and was killed instantly. According to the legend, she still watches over the castle and its inhabitants.

Robbers 2-6 don't sound too bright, is all I'll say.

Obviously, the connection to the legend (and the legend itself) is to be taken with an enormous grain of salt, but also dominates every headline. }|:oP

Does it look genuine to you? The crossguard looks a bit unusual to me with that bolster attached. Maybe a hunting sword/hanger?

[David R]

Have a search using "hauswehr" as the search prompt.

[werecow]

Something like this, you mean?:



That could work. Maybe the circular bit in the center of the crossguard is the rivet for the nagel?

Also, as an aside, hauswehr is a very appropriate name for the sword in the folk tale (although the mention of the wig sounds very >=17th century so that wouldn't really work too well with a 15th century sword, of course).

[CSinTX]

Guessing the guard is brass? Looks to be in great condition.

[werecow]

Hah, apparently he bought it on marktplaats (Dutch ebay, basically)!
He tried to pass it off as the sword from the folk tale. Whether or not it is a genuine antique is unclear (to me, anyway). According to the listing on MP it was dug up in Germany.

I can't edit the title of the thread anymore, but perhaps it should be changed to reflect this.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by werecow

... I can't edit the title of the thread anymore, but perhaps it should be changed to reflect this.

And what would that be ?

[werecow]

Originally Posted by fernando

And what would that be ?

Not sure really. But the remains weren't actually found at/near the manor, so the title of the thread is incorrect.

[corrado26]

The style of the blade, especially that of the tip of the blade and the grip made of cast brass makes me think that this is nothing else than a European fascine knife of the 19th century. For me this is not as old as it is said to be!

[Will M]

Never pay for provenance that cannot be proven and this is a great example.