BIG BUMP:

Any examples of scabbards or mounts to go along with these? My project is finally progressing.

Hi Dave,

Sorry to only just see this now. Try the Images of late 15th/early 16th C scabbard details? Spotlight Topic for some ideas, if it's not too late ...

Nathan....The circa 1560 German hand-and-a-half you posted on page two....Is this the inspiration for the Hanwei Rhinelander? Except for the lower hilt rings on the original, it looks very similar. Especially the pommel. Yes?..............McM

REALLY good looking swords here. Were these complex hilts a result of superior metalworkers trying to show off their skill (basically meaning they were just for looks) or did they serve a purpose?

Some of them with just the two rings or a single ring definitely look like they serve functions as somewhere else you can grab the sword or parry with but some of them are also kind of over the top ornate.

I believe the structure to be fully functional, while the decoration is fashionable.

The rings extending forward towards the tip of the sword protect the forefinger when fingering the cross, while those that extend towards the pommel protect the rest of the hand.

The later swords coming out of areas that are in modern day Germany are in my opinion some of the best looking swords ever made. I wonder what their reputation was at the time as far as both form and function go?

Hello,
i am new at the forum, and i would like to know where can I buy a original "hand-and-a-half sword"?

Good morning,

And welcome to the forum Aleksander!

As this thread is a discussion specifically talking about compound hilted longsword hilts I imagine you will be encouraged to either try out the search feature or begin a new discussion. If you start a new thread it would help to define "original". Do you mean a modern custom made sword, or an original antique? There are several manufacturers of high quality reproductions, that while not "original" may still fulfill you requirements.

Cheers,
Matthew

Some magnificent examples from Eltz Castle. Should you have closer shots of these superb specimens, don't hesitate to post.
Attached is shot of the Castle itself, epic scenery really. I need to make an A&A tour of Germany, and soon!

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Search all around the web for publications or closer shots to no avail. If you do have something, don't be shy!
These are exactly what I was looking for when starting this thread. Hollow ground large blades, with a later style hilt.
I have a moat regent or earl that would look amazing mounted that way.

Hum...after all, it's just a 5 hours drive from Paris...

I'd love to see more images ... especially after seeing the detail you've captured at other places. I'm personally interested in seeing more of the longsword at the top right, as well as the messer at the bottom.

Five hours is a perfect length for a road trip ... I'm sure a few of us would even chip in a couple of Euros each for the fuel! Come on, Julien, you know you want to! :lol:

These are published in one of the books on my shelves, but honestly, I've no idea where. Sharing, anyway. :)

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Here are some more complex-hilted bastard swords/longswords. These are from Fischer Auction House. It's likely these are all historismus versions, or in the style of the 16th century.

Notice the backwards finger-ring... indicating a left-hand weapon. Authentic left-hand swords of this period were very uncommon... more indication of historismus.

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Bastard Sword, circa 1520

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Bastard Sword, in the style of Lucerne circa 1530

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Bastard Sword, South German or Swiss, 1st quarter 16th century

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Bastard Sword, Swiss, circa 1550

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Hand-and-a-half sword, Italian, second half of 16th century

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Hand-and-a-half sword, Swiss or German, around 1530

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Hand-and-a-half sword, Swiss, circa 1550

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Hand-and-a-half sword, German, about 1520

Here's two from the Thomas Del Mar Ltd auction.

Lot 164:
A GERMAN MILITARY BROADSWORD, CIRCA 1560-80 with double-edged blade of flattened-hexagonal section formed with a short fuller on each side (tip bent), stamped with a latten-lined running wolf mark on one side (small losses), rectangular ricasso struck with a series of marks, steel hilt comprising a pair of straight swelling quillons with bud-shaped terminals, outer ring-guard swelling in the centre, off-set lower ring-guard joining the upper, plain inner-guard incorporating a thumb-loop, faceted conical pommel cut with notches around the centre, later leather-covered wooden grip, the pommel and ring-guards each chiselled with a pattern of foliage, and one quillon incised with and arsenal number on the inner face 112.2cm; 44B in blade A number of swords of related form are preserved in Schloss Ambras. See A.V.B. Norman 1980, p.114. £6000-8000

Lot 166:
A GERMAN MILITARY sword, THIRD QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY with straight blade double-edged towards the tip, cut with a pair of long slender fullers of differing length along the back-edge and stamped with a series of marks, three pairs of sickles and the letters 'ONO' arranged vertically with a pair of stars between on each side, the blade tip very slightly shortened, blackened steel hilt of ribbon-like bars, comprising a pair of straight quillons with bud-shaped terminals, outer ring-guard swelling towards the centre, knuckle-guard, an additional forward arm joining the knuckle-guard to the ring and joined to the centre of the knuckle-guard by a further s-shaped bar, a pair of arms joined to the ring-guard by a pair of diagonal bars, inner-guard formed of a saltire arrangement of slender rounded bars, faceted plummet-shaped pommel, original leather and rayskin-covered two-stage moulded grip, and retaining some early blackened finish 82.5cm; 32I in blade This sword belongs to a distinctive group associated with Schloss Ambras, Tyrol. A number of swords in this group have blades by the Bavarian court swordsmith Ulrich Diefstetter. The so-called sickle mark on the present sword is encountered on blades of both Italian and German type: a number are stamped 'Ferara' and 'Genoa' and further examples are preserved in the Landeszeughaus, Graz. £3000-4000

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Lot 164
A GERMAN MILITARY BROADSWORD, CIRCA 1560-80

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Lot 166
A GERMAN MILITARY sword, THIRD QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY

Swiss Sword, circa 1520

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Swiss Sword, circa 1520

Another beautiful piece, circa 1550

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Swiss or South German, circa 1550
Sometimes referred to as an "Astknauf Sword" or "Swiss Saber"