This weapon is from the Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen. It actually has the name of Frederik 2 and the year 1585 on the grip.

It is said to have been used by the king when doing “perforcejagt“ (German = parforcejagd), where you rode the animal down until it collapsed, and then dismounted to give the killing stroke. [Perforcejagt was made illegal in Denmark in 1777].

I've seen a lot of later hirschfängers with a clam shaped nagel, though this example seems more disc-like.

Im wondering was the Hirschfänger early on basically a normal langes messer (crossguard and nagel), so the nagel was retained through tradition OR does it actually have a purpose when making the coup de grace on a stag?

I haven't been able to figure out when you have the first Hirschfängers, but they have been used basically to modern times.

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Source: http://dkks.dk/hirschfaenger

For a hunting-sword a nagel is purely ornamental. Most animals don't fight back very much, you see! It has some use if one is carrying the hunting sword for self defense, as some people say they originated as...

The origin of hunting swords is pretty vague. Some sources say 12th century, others say 16th or 17th. I lean a little more towards a later date for specialized hunting swords as I imagine that for a long time they probably did not make a huge distinction between hunting swords and regular blades, although they may have had long knives or messer rather than a normal sword. The general line of thought for a later origin (1600's or so) is that as the wars in Europe wound down, life in the cities became much rougher with all the unemployed ex-soldiers (not to mention all the refugees from destroyed countries) so having a weapon for self-defense became a very desirable thing. A small sword turned out to be the ideal thing as it was easier to conceal under a coat. Turned out to be useful for hunting as well. The question is, was it used first for hunting or self defense? That one we'll never be quite sure...

You have been posting some very nice pictures lately, please keep it up :)

It is quite common after about the late 1600's or early 1700's for soldiers to be issued swords, very many with brass hilts. The best known is probably the French briquet or cabbage-chopper from the Napoleonic era, but there were very many types issued. These probably saw much more use chopping firewood, butchering meat or being polished bright to look nice with a uniform than actual fighting, though. The military hirschfanger you show are absolutely typical of this kind of use.

That is largely due to the growth of organized fire-arm use in a military context from the 1600's onward. By the start of the 1700's nearly all armies were entirely firearm equipped; the only exceptions were cavalry, which used swords largely because it was difficult for them to re-load on horseback.

I am not familiar with European companies of hunter-soldiers, but it strikes me as an artifact of nobility and European customs where the high families considered hunting to be their sport, versus the Americas where anybody can go out and hunt in the forest.

Ja bringe på de danske billeder!



Or something like that. The by-knives in the first picture looked interesting also. Have you found any hunting swords with antler hilts?

Found some picture of the Norwegian Skiløber (ski-runner) units, that also were Jæger units.
[ Linked Image ]
Source: http://www.elverumske.no/images/skidag01.jpg

They fought against Swedish troops in 1808-09 and 1814.

They originally used Hirschfængers Model 1749 until 1775.
Source: https://www.arma-dania.dk/public/timeline/_AD_blankvaben_view.php?editid1=209
This lost examples was actually found in a river in 1939: http://www.elverumske.no/esc_english/hirschfanger.htm

The swords of the Skiløbere was NOT a Hirschfænger after 1775, but a saber Model 1774, later updated to Model 1798:
Source: https://www.arma-dania.dk/public/timeline/_AD_blankvaben_view.php?editid1=63

Their rifle was a Model 1803 or Model 1807 Jæger-riffel.; which could have an added bayonet that actually was a Model 1801 Hirschfænger converted into a bayonet !! Bad idea adding a such a huge blade to your rifle, so it would probably not have been used in actual warfare (since attempts to aim at anything would make your arms fatigue very fast).

Model 1803 Jæger-riffel: https://www.arma-dania.dk/public/timeline/_ad_gevar_view.php?editid1=35
Model 1807 Jæger-riffel: https://www.arma-dania.dk/public/timeline/_ad_gevar_view.php?editid1=39

Converted Model 1801 Hirschfænger into bayonet: http://norskevaapen.no/?p=2019

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Norwegian “Skiløber“ 1811.
Source: http://www.elverumske.no/esc_english/history.htm