A 16th c. German estoc from the Art Institute of Chicago. I fell in love with this weapon on a recent visit to the museum and offer it here as eye-candy. Enjoy! The blade, by the way, is very much like that of MRL's estoc (in general design/proportions, I mean).

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A detail of the interesting grip treatment. The brass(?) tacks have decorative borders.

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Greetings!
Okay, you forced me to de-lurk. I love that estoc and have spent a lot of time in front of that particular case.
Do you suppose the odd pommel was inpired by finding some old Hallsatt dagger?
I don't know of any other precedent for that form. Does anyone else?
On another note, I think the Art Institute is planning to rehab that section. I'm hoping the arms stay on view or get re-intalled somewhere. Lots of museums seem to be consigning these collections to the stacks lately.

Jeff

Now that's handy! An estoc with a built-in musket rest! :lol: That's probably not why the pommel is shaped like it is, but that's the first thing that came to mind. :)

Very intresting. Sean, do you have a date for the piece?

I doubt it was based off a Hallstatt culture dagger, since if I remember correctly the find wasn't discovered till the 1860s and this sword looks earlier. It's an interesting guess, though, since the pommel reminds me more of an insect's anntenae, for some reason.

Overall, I've gotta give it high marks for originality (to answer your second question, Jeff, I've never seen anything else remotely like it), but low marks for personal taste. Not much I like about the sword, and that includes the studs in the grip, which is odd, 'cause I especially love the studs in Nathan's gorgeous custom claymore.

I dont know much about such things, but I wonder whether that sort of pommel shape could be rested against part of the wielder's armor (pauldron?) in order to get more power or leverage when attempting to pierce through an opponent's defenses?

This piece is 1525-1550. Some other folks have mentioned the possibility that this was a musket rest pommel. I'd vote against that for two reasons:

These weapons are very long--not the sort of thing you'd expect infantry to carry.

The blades are so narrow and acutely pointed that I'd expect them to sink pretty deep into the ground, especially supporting a musket. The shooter would end up on his knees.

The idea about resting the pommel on some part of a horseman's armour (a mail-clad armpit?) is very interesting!

I believe this piece is briefly documented in Arms and Armor in the Art Institute of Chicago. My books are currently boxed up due to a recent move, else I'd confirm it for you all.

That is indeed a very unique piece. I support the armpit theory. That would enable the wielder to use that estoc like a lance if needed.

Once you've managed to set the point in an armour-gap or a part that is covered with mail you go into the "lance-position" and force it into your opponent's body. Sounds cruel :eek:
Or you could grab it like a gun/rifle and thus create more force when pushing/thrusting

Very nice estoc Sean! I really like the proportions of that hilt.

I now have *three* hilts in-mind for my MRL estoc blade!

I have wondered for a while if some estoc hilts were designed so that the pommel could be rested against a knee or perhaps held in the off-hand (when on foot) like a push dagger for more umph.

In Stone's 'A Glossary...' he shows a 'Rapier and musquet rest' in Fig. 237. Some of his text doesn't agree with other historians but maybe it was at least possible. And I would assume the sword would be in the scabbard when used as a rest.

Just a few additional thoughts.

Claude Blair mentions (but done not picture) a small set of swords whose pommels served as musket rests is his book European & American arms, c. 1100-1850
. So it's at least a possibility.

That is most certainly a musket-rest/good stiff tuck. Check out similar examples in the combination weapons in the features section, inluding one tuck/pollaxe/musket rest example.