What Do We Know About Hunting Swords?

[Keith P. Myers]

Boarsword (Sauschwert):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... nt1582.jpg

Boarspear (Saufeder)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/d ... aujagd.png

http://www.hermann-historica.de/auktion ... at54_a.txt

http://swordmaster.org/uploads/2011/eur ... chwert.jpg

I just wanted to point out that none of these weapons look like what I have seen typically labeled as a "hunting sword." What I have seen as a "hunting sword" looked like a "hanger" or "cutlass" as Mike initially noted. Hence, my impression that the "hunting sword" was a general use utility blade...like a large bowie knife or camp knife, and not necessarily specifically for killing game like these more specialized weapons. Again, my impression only.

[Darijan R.]

As can be seen from my quote of what Jeremy Loose wrote, I was specifically only posting pictures of boar hunt related weapons, mostly because of the aufhalter which is the crossguard like thing that keeps the animal from further rushing you. Nowhere have I claimed that these are generic "hunting swords". There is the hirschfänger that in many/most incarnations looks like a smaller messer (the first few items from the left). There is also the military hirschfänger (like Hirschfänger M 1787) and a derived bayonet of the same name and basic form, often also called schwertbayonet (swordbayonet). Then there is the bäreneisen for the bear hunt (in the guy's right hand and leaning against the wall; in his left he is holding a boarsword with said stopper). I know nothing about fencing with either of these.

[Keith P. Myers]

As can be seen from my quote of what Jeremy Loose wrote, I was specifically only posting pictures of boar hunt related weapons, mostly because of the aufhalter which is the crossguard like thing that keeps the animal from further rushing you. Nowhere have I claimed that these are generic "hunting swords"..

My apologies. I should have been clearer. I didn't mean to imply that your examples were "hunting swords." The point I was making (poorly I now admit) was that the "hunting sword" was noted on this thread as being for actually killing the animal rather than as a general purpose tool. Yet the pictures you provided that are clearly weapons purpose-made for killing game are not what is typically labeled as a "hunting sword." Which still makes me wonder if an actual "hunting sword" was simply a general purpose hanger that was taken on the hunt, say when actually hunting with a boar spear or bow or other more "specific" hunting weapon. Again, not my area, so I may well be wrong.

[Jeffrey Hull]

Edged Weapons by Frederick Wilkinson* is an excellent illustrated out-of-print book that features some nice artifactal hunting weaponry from Europa circa 1400-1700, as I recall.

*Hopefully that neutral information does not give anybody undue cause for enragement.

[Richard Marsden]

Lucas Cranach the Elder, Hunt in honor of Charles V, note the items used.

Bears upper left. Stags in the center.