Swiss lionhead saber with brass covered hilt

werecow · 27th August 2022, 01:11 AM

Speaking of Swiss brass hilted sabers and pommels with heads, might as well post this here: this was on auction on catawiki last week. I did not buy it (although I estimate there is an 89.31% chance that it went to someone reading this forum on occasion), but I haven't seen anything too close to it before, so curious as to your thoughts. 87.5cm, sold as " Switzerland. 17/18 century Artistic, private production.".
Not sure if the head is that of a lion (or bear), but otherwise it seemed to fit this thread title too well not to mention it. Hope it's not too off topic.

EDIT: Also, is that thumb ring bent in the saber posted in the OP, or is that some configuration I'm not familiar with?

M ELEY · 27th August 2022, 09:22 AM

This saber would date to the late 17th/early 18th based on the finger ring configuration. The all-brass hilt indicates infantry/foot soldier, as does the longer curved blade. The usage of acorn finials would point to a Germanic or Swiss possibility, but can't really rule out Dutch due to the side guard. Nice sword!

midelburgo · 29th August 2022, 11:08 PM

I have been collecting some more pictures of these sabers.

Handling it I have reach the idea that it is not a proper cavalry weapon, rather a mounted officer one (infantry I guess). That makes more sense to the lack of Swiss cavalry units.

At the end of XVIIth century there were 12 regiments of Swiss Infantry at the service of the Spanish Habsburgs, so that conciliate my idea when I bought this sabre.

The question remains if it is apropiate to describe this sort of hilt as belonging to the walloon type. And if the lion-bear head pommels are exclusively Swiss, what can be said of swords with the same hilt but straight blades and ovoid/apple pommels?

27th August 2022, 01:11 AM	#1
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 435	Speaking of Swiss brass hilted sabers and pommels with heads, might as well post this here: this was on auction on catawiki last week. I did not buy it (although I estimate there is an 89.31% chance that it went to someone reading this forum on occasion), but I haven't seen anything too close to it before, so curious as to your thoughts. 87.5cm, sold as " Switzerland. 17/18 century Artistic, private production.". Not sure if the head is that of a lion (or bear), but otherwise it seemed to fit this thread title too well not to mention it. Hope it's not too off topic. EDIT: Also, is that thumb ring bent in the saber posted in the OP, or is that some configuration I'm not familiar with? Attached Images Last edited by werecow; 27th August 2022 at 02:59 AM.

29th August 2022, 11:08 PM	#3
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 248	I have been collecting some more pictures of these sabers. Handling it I have reach the idea that it is not a proper cavalry weapon, rather a mounted officer one (infantry I guess). That makes more sense to the lack of Swiss cavalry units. At the end of XVIIth century there were 12 regiments of Swiss Infantry at the service of the Spanish Habsburgs, so that conciliate my idea when I bought this sabre. The question remains if it is apropiate to describe this sort of hilt as belonging to the walloon type. And if the lion-bear head pommels are exclusively Swiss, what can be said of swords with the same hilt but straight blades and ovoid/apple pommels? Attached Images

27th August 2022, 09:22 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,076	This saber would date to the late 17th/early 18th based on the finger ring configuration. The all-brass hilt indicates infantry/foot soldier, as does the longer curved blade. The usage of acorn finials would point to a Germanic or Swiss possibility, but can't really rule out Dutch due to the side guard. Nice sword!