Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > Tyrolese Hunting Sword/Messer Reply to topic
This is a Spotlight Topic  
Author Message
Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin


myArmoury Admin

PostPosted: Tue 09 Nov, 2004 8:49 pm    Post subject: Tyrolese Hunting Sword/Messer         Reply with quote

A Rare German Hunting Sword, Tyrolese, circa 1500


Click for detailed version

With a hilt of iron, its pommel of faceted asymmetrical form cut on each face with a deep vertical flute, its straight quillons of expanding circular section decorated at their tips with incised lines and issuing from a shaped quillon-block fitted on its outer face with a small robust side-shell, a pair of grip-plates of natural staghorn secured to the tang by six tubular rivets, and hole at its tip, a continuous series of saw-teeth along its back-edge, and a latten-inlaid maker's mark on its inner face.

Overall length: 39 1/2 in; Blade length: 31 3/4 in



Click for detailed version

This rare early hunting sword or Hirschänger, equipped with a saw-back blade suitable for dismembering carcasses, can be dated from its style to the time of the Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1493-1519) whose personal passion for the chase is recorded in lively detail in the woodcuts that illustrate the Theuerdank of 1517 and the Weisskunig of about 1516: both flattering allegorical accounts of his life.

The sword shown here can in fact be compared in its overall form and proportions with one in the Hofjagd-und Rüstkammer, Vienna (Inv. No. Dll), made for the Emperor himself by Hans Sumersperger of Hall in Tyrol in 1496, as well as with another in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Ace. No. 29.158.704), which bears on its blade the same maker's mark as a pair of serving knives in the Wallace Collection, London (Cat Nos. A884-5), made for Maximilian's father, the Emperor Frederick III (1415-1440-1493). Since all three swords possess the same very distinctive form of quillon-block, it seems likely that they represent the products of a single, presumably Tyrolese, school. Closely related to them are two further swords from the armoury of the Emperor Maximilian I, now preserved in the Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer, Vienna (Inv. Nos. A123 and A145). Although both have slightly curved rather than straight blades, the hilt of the former in particular is strikingly similar to that shown here.

All of the weapons discussed above are of a notable size, capable of being wielded with either one or two hands as desired, and are clearly to be seen as descendants of the type of 'great' hunting sword first recorded in the early 14th century. Although evidence exists for the use of such weapons as late as the mid-16th century, the tendency from the mid-15th century, and particularly the early 16th century onwards, was to employ a shorter form of hunting sword, somewhat similar to the peasant Haustoehr or Rugger, which was evidently found to be more manageable in the chase through heavily wooded country.

Nevertheless, as is evident from the surviving examples described above, the 'great' hunting sword still enjoyed some popularity at the court of the Emperor Maximilian I, an ardent guardian of tradition. Indeed, in his reign and perhaps also that of his father, the Emperor Frederick III, similar swords, known as Kriegsmesser, appear on occasion to have formed part of the equipment of the Imperial Guard. Fighting swords of this kind are clearly depicted in the hands of five fencers, carrying small pavises, in the splendid woodcuts of the Triumph of Maximilian, prepared for him according to his detailed instructions by Hans Burgkmair and others in the period 1512-19. These differ from the hunting swords discussed above only to the extent dial four out of five of them have longitudinally ridged blades, of a kind seen on two swords of the type in question preserved in the Collezione Odescalchi, Rome (Inv. Nos. 550-1).


Copyright © 2001 Peter Finer

.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Scott Byler




Location: New Mexico
Joined: 20 Aug 2003

Posts: 209

PostPosted: Tue 09 Nov, 2004 9:02 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Very interesting sword. I find the mention of the curved blade variety timely, as this particular hilt form is one that I very much like and would like to have mounted with a curved blade as a kriegsmesser.
View user's profile Send private message
Brent Rattan




Location: Texas
Joined: 19 Apr 2004

Posts: 35

PostPosted: Tue 09 Nov, 2004 9:57 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Wow, thanks for sharing Nathan.

I have always been intrigued by the various edged weapons from that region and time period. Also, very eerie, as I was just going through some pictures that I took at the Schloss Ambras armory in Innsbruck, Austria looking to see what came out, specifically messer type swords There is a great armory there and I recalled seeing some strange and unusual edged weapons there including Messers and hunting swords. I can remember many years ago seeing those types of weapons in various museums in that region and have been fascinated by them ever since. I was very happy to see that Albion will being adding two Messer types to their line.

I wonder how effective that sword was at sawing carcasses. I also wonder about the hole in the end of the blade and its purpose. Hmm.

Very neat indeed.

D B
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 5,739

PostPosted: Tue 09 Nov, 2004 10:02 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I'm really developing an intrest in Messers of all kinds. I definetly think one is in my future.
"In valor there is hope.".................. Tacitus
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Brian M




Location: Austin, TX
Joined: 01 Oct 2003

Posts: 500

PostPosted: Wed 10 Nov, 2004 12:06 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

What an interesting weapon. That one seems to show signs of extensive use and honing from the CoP to the tip. Given the fact that it is sawbacked, I wonder what that does to the distal taper. I would think that to maintain an effective and durable sawback, the distal taper would have to be limited, resulting in a heavy blade. Do you have any information on the weight of the blade?
As to the hole near the tip...could it be for the attachment of a cord to provide leverage for sawing, by keeping tension on the cord? Or to allow two men to use the sword like a double-handled (pull-pull) saw?
BTW, I really like the design of the "pommel." Almost modern-looking.

Brian M
View user's profile Send private message
Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin


myArmoury Admin

PostPosted: Wed 10 Nov, 2004 8:44 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Maybe a tapered rod was put in the hole to serve as another handle for the saw-action. This type of rod was used for hunting/boar swords but not so close to the tip. Very strange.
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > Tyrolese Hunting Sword/Messer
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum