XL.german hunting sword , old blade with wheel and gallows

Jim McDougall · 23rd September 2025, 01:49 AM

This thing far exceeds a dagger, its heavy and huge, definitely a horsemans weapon in form.

The markings on the blade are of course the cypher of CARL THEODORE IV , Prince Elector of the Palatine from 1742; who became Prince Elector of Bavaria in 1777.
These were ecclesiastic titles of the Holy Roman Empire of the rulers who governed various principalities and provinces.

In this case in the example I posted with this cypher, I wanted to illustrate that this form of hirshfanger is similar to examples from the previous century, and seems to follow in the traditions of these swords associated with the authority of these powerful political figures.

The 'oriental' character of my example with the yataghan type blade is from the popular affinity for Ottoman and related fashions and weaponry as favored by the notorious 'pandour' forces of Austro-Hungary in the mid 18th. c.

23rd September 2025, 01:49 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,672	This thing far exceeds a dagger, its heavy and huge, definitely a horsemans weapon in form. The markings on the blade are of course the cypher of CARL THEODORE IV , Prince Elector of the Palatine from 1742; who became Prince Elector of Bavaria in 1777. These were ecclesiastic titles of the Holy Roman Empire of the rulers who governed various principalities and provinces. In this case in the example I posted with this cypher, I wanted to illustrate that this form of hirshfanger is similar to examples from the previous century, and seems to follow in the traditions of these swords associated with the authority of these powerful political figures. The 'oriental' character of my example with the yataghan type blade is from the popular affinity for Ottoman and related fashions and weaponry as favored by the notorious 'pandour' forces of Austro-Hungary in the mid 18th. c.