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John Piscopo
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 Posted: Sun 18 Apr, 2004 11:35 am Post subject: German Hirschfangers C. 1740s |
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Dear Friends,
It is not very often that my hear flutters because I have made a great discovery in the field of hunting swords. I was the high bidder on a Hirschfanger last month on eBay, offered by a good friend of mine Jan Zajac who sets up a dealer table at various gun, civil war and militaria shows to sell his swords.
http://offer.ebay.com/ws3/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewB...2237863606
What makes this sword unusual is that it matched one that was clearly made by the same swordsmith in Germany during the 1740s, a very great odds against occurrance:
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I collect swords and bayonets dated WWI back to the Bronze Age from the US and Europe and ancient swords and other weapons from Eurasia. I participate in many historical forums for the study of ancient history and weapons. I am happy to share what expertise I have. John Piscopo
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John Piscopo
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| Posted: Sun 18 Apr, 2004 12:03 pm Post subject: German Hirschfangers |
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Hirschfangers from the 18th Century differ from those typical of the 19th Century by the length and the robustness of their blades, these two swords have 23.5" blades although one looks a bit shorter because the blade was altered at some time in the past.
The inscriptions read as follows:
Der Jager haben ein Lustiges Leben The Hunters have a lustfull life
Wan Sie Das Wild in Walden angeheben When they hunt game in the forests.
Ein Jager hat allzeit Verlangen A Hunter is always has desire
Mit Wenig Muhe Viel zu ________ With very little to satsify it.
You are welcome to improve my translations if you can.
I purchased my first sword from Fred Coluzzi, a local sword dealer who publishes a catalogue three times a year for $475. in June of 1997. I picked up the one from Jan Zajac yesterday (4-17-04) at a local Civil War show, bringing the sword I had purchased from Fred with me. Everyone agreed that the odds of such uniting of 265 +/- year old swords in one collection is quite astonishing and noteworthy.
Let me know if you have any questions I have not answered or if you wish to add to the narrative.
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I collect swords and bayonets dated WWI back to the Bronze Age from the US and Europe and ancient swords and other weapons from Eurasia. I participate in many historical forums for the study of ancient history and weapons. I am happy to share what expertise I have. John Piscopo
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Harlan Hastings
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Sun 18 Apr, 2004 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Beautiful pieces.
I'm curious as to what is leading you to believe they were both made by the same manufacturer? Is there a maker's mark on each piece or is it more the similar styles? (I admit to being a complete neophyte when it comes to this stuff)
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John Piscopo
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| Posted: Sun 18 Apr, 2004 3:08 pm Post subject: Hirschfanger pair |
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| Harlan Hastings wrote: | Beautiful pieces.
I'm curious as to what is leading you to believe they were both made by the same manufacturer? Is there a maker's mark on each piece or is it more the similar styles? (I admit to being a complete neophyte when it comes to this stuff) |
Dear Harlan,
I believe both swords have the same maker because the writing of the inscription is in the same handwriting, the box that holds the inscription has similar decoration, they share an incised line between the two lines of the inscription that closes each line within a box. The opposite side of the blade shows two frolicking dogs seperated by foliage. This vignette is framed within similarly decorated boxes and an etching below the boxes showing large similar size etchings.
Less conclusive are the miniature shell guards, one of which has a socket to receive a scabbard, this would have shielded the top of the scabbard from allowing water to enter when the sword was carried in the rain. I take no significance in the length or width of the blades although the shapes are the same and the blade profiles are the same, these long robust blades were common in the late 17th early 19th centuries.
Remember that there were no police forces patrolling the forest of Germany during the era when thes swords were manufactured, the hunters were hunting game in the woods where outlaws, highwaymen, tax evaders, army deserters and rebels sought refuge and safety from the nobility. The hunting swords were the only defense hunters had from these potential predators. These swords also served as protection against animals, bears, boars and wolves were still common in the forests at this date, they had not been hunted to extinction.
A Norwegian friend, Nils Hovland, replied to my sending him a link to this thread with the following: Lustig means merry! The end should be: "mit wenig mühe viel zu fangen" This should provide anyone wishing to try a better translation a better base inscription.
I collect swords and bayonets dated WWI back to the Bronze Age from the US and Europe and ancient swords and other weapons from Eurasia. I participate in many historical forums for the study of ancient history and weapons. I am happy to share what expertise I have. John Piscopo
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John Piscopo
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| Posted: Sun 18 Apr, 2004 3:20 pm Post subject: Hunting sword inscription |
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Ein Jager hat allzeit Verlangen A Hunter always has desire
Mit Wenig Mühe Viel zu fangen. With very little trouble to catch.
Am I getting closer?
I collect swords and bayonets dated WWI back to the Bronze Age from the US and Europe and ancient swords and other weapons from Eurasia. I participate in many historical forums for the study of ancient history and weapons. I am happy to share what expertise I have. John Piscopo
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Ludivico filius Leporis
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| Posted: Wed 12 Dec, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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anyone know where I can find Jan Zajac now and inquire about current inventory??
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GG Osborne
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| Posted: Wed 12 Dec, 2007 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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A less literal but better Engliush tranlation might be: " A hunter always desires to catch his game with as little effort as possible."
"Those who live by the sword...will usually die with a huge, unpaid credit card balance!"
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Bram Verbeek
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| Posted: Thu 13 Dec, 2007 1:29 am Post subject: |
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"A hunter always desires/ to catch a lot with little effort
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Fri 14 Dec, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Ludivico filius Leporis wrote: | | anyone know where I can find Jan Zajac now and inquire about current inventory?? |
Check "jzsword" on ebay. When I checked just a moment ago, he didn't have anything listed for sale.
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
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Ludivico filius Leporis
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| Posted: Fri 14 Dec, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, I'll keep my eyes peeled on him there.
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This is a standard topic