Hey everybody-

By now many people know I'm interested in compound-hilted swords. Over the last few years I've had a particular interest in 16th century compound-hilted longswords.

I'm looking for examples of a particular type. It looks to be a symmetric type with downward sloping quillons, two side rings, finger rings, and loops connecting the finger rings to the side rings. A decorative motif of knobs/balls divide up the bars and act as finials and are often adorned with a twisted motif.

Thank you for any help you may provide.


I'll include some examples here:

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Here is another example though I don't believe this one is necessarily original to the 16th century:

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And you can see an example here just below the 9 o'clock position:

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I wonder what is up with the apparent one-hander at about 8.30 or so, next to the very wide bladed sword?

While I wish I were able to better contribute, I have to say these are lovely pics, particularly the last one. Two handers and longswords galore :D (doesn't this spread look familiar Nathan, minus the multitude of schiavona ;) )

Speaking of the last pic, It's interesting to note that the said sword near 9 o-clock has a back sword blade of sorts, and the grip, unlike the previous two swords, is not waisted. Makes me wonder if it was replaced at a later time maybe? The inclusion of the grip tassels gives me that impression, though I might be wrong. Either way it is distinct from the other swords you've shown and I get the feeling that other swords in the style your looking for are likely similar to the first two mostly.

regards.

What a great photo that last one is!

Am I seeing things, or does that big two-hander that sits on top of that pile of goodness, actually get a lot wider towards the tip of the blade? What a beastly cutter it must be!

Here's one that appears to have all the same makers marks as the first one posted, no further information other than ca.1600.

Cheers,
Michael.

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Flickin' through old files I came across a few more, The one in the group shot from a 'Fricker Historische Waffen' catalouge, the other from 'Fischer Auctions Sept. 2007', catalouge in German so all I could make out was ca.1520, 1315mm.

As with people, I too am quite partial to complex bastards.

Cheers.

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Hey, those are excellent finds of related swords. I like them.

Thank you for adding them here. They're going directly into my files!

Funnily enough, I actually just created an account to ask about a similar type of longsword. It's good to see there's some actual examples of this, and it's not just something that someone sketched up.

All I have is a drawing from a woodcut collection, unfortunately. It doesn't say where the sword pictured actually resides, but its claim on the dates of these swords make them some of the earliest complex-hilts I've seen. I just scanned the whole page, along with the little blurb at the bottom which is all the explanation that's offered. This comes from Medieval Arms and Armor: A Pictorial Archive by J. H. Hefner-Alteneck. Since the picture is a bit too large for me to upload here, I stuck it on imgur.

http://i.imgur.com/uThJY.png

2 more from national Museum in Croatie.

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Nathan,

Not sure about this very specific type of complex/developed hilt, but the Styrian Arsenal in Graz, Austria, has a booklet (which I have a copy of) that includes several photos of this general type of hilt.

http://www.museum-joanneum.at/en/styrian_armo...ications-4

Scott Baltic

While of a different form, some details of this sword remind me of the style discussed here.

Does anybody know where this sword is located?

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Circa 1520

I believe the sword attached below to be the same sword as seen in my first post in this topic. It's been sold and moved around but this has the same blade markings. Interesting! I wondered what had happened to it.

Quote:

A German or Swiss Hand-And-A-Half Sword, Circa 1530-1550, with a broad 107cm tapering blade cut with two fullers on each face, rectangular ricasso, formed with blunted edges for grip, cut with fullers on each side continuing from the blade and incised with a decorative border line, bearing blamarks, steel hilt of circular bars, interrupted by globular mouldings, with a pair of down-turned quillons with globular terminals, with spirally fluted pear-shaped pommel and leather-covered wooden grip, 131cm.

It sold at Baldwins for £6,000 ($10,197 at the time of this posting).

Sources:
Baldwin's & Dreweatts London
PDF Catalog -- Lot 184, Page 80

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A German or Swiss Hand-And-A-Half Sword, Circa 1530-1550

Attached is another sword with some shared details to this hilt style... well, not so much, but it's an interesting pairing.

Quote:

A COMPOSITE GERMAN HAND-AND-A-HALF SWORD Partly 16th Century With tapering single-edged blade cut with a full length fuller below its back edge and stamped with a mark on the inner-face at the forte, iron hilt incorporating moulded down-turned quillons with spirally fluted knopped terminals, a pair of arms, the forward arm connected by a diagonal to the upper-ring, the rear arm extending to form a prong set at ninety degrees to the blade, the entire guard decorated at intervals with chiselled leaf-shaped mouldings, spirally fluted globular pommel en suite, and moulded two-stage leather-bound grip. 38 1/8" (97cm) blade Provenance Col. Ambrose Monell Collection, New York, 1930

© CHRISTIE'S 2014

Source: Christie’s SALE 7468 LOT 102

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A COMPOSITE GERMAN HAND-AND-A-HALF SWORD
PARTLY 16TH CENTURY