UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Hunting, Forestry, and Shooting Forum Ebony and sliver hilted forestry cutlass

I'm wondering what, if anything, the ebony grip and silver-plated furniture tells us about who wore this cutlass. I've seen a number of similar forestry cutlasses, but they are typically ivory gripped with gilt fittings.

It was made by Weyersberg Kirschbaum and Co. and features a 3/4-length etch to both sides of the 14.5-inch blade showing a hunter and his dog, a stag and doe, rabbits and stands of arms. The etching is vertical rather than horizontal on most of these I have seen.

The ebony grip is in great condition, as are the acorns imbedded in it. The metal must be plated brass as it is non-magnetic. The knucklebow and guard terminate in deer hooves and the shell guard depicts a recumbent stag.

The sheath is leather and also wears a silver-plated chape and locket. The accessory knife is absent. It came in a brown leather frog shown.

This must be a beauty once the silver is polished, but I will leave it as is. Anyone care to venture an opinion about how old it is and who would have carried it?

Thanks in advance.
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Hello

It's a nice foresters hirschfaenger from around 1900-1910, certainly pre-WW1. The unusual features are the Ebony grip and the silver mounts, most from this period are gilded brass with the ivory grip plates, nice to see the variations that this firm produced. Very typical WK&c etch from this period, the missing skinning knife is a shame but most of these old pieces are missing these knives. The etch seems nice and clean and the patina is fantastic, your right about not cleaning as it would detract from a great old piece.

Thanks for showing

Cheers

Gary

Thanks for that, Gary. So you are saying the ebony and silver don't necessarily reflect the owner's seniority, but rather just his personal preference? Do I have that right? I've looked at hundreds of online hirschfanger photos, but I have yet to see one in ebony/silver. They all seem to be either ivory and gilt or horn and gilt.

Yes, I believe it to be personal preference even to the extent of the grip material and or fittings depending on what rank you held. I think you could have whatever you wanted as long as you could pay for it, there were grades of foresters and they had a choice of which style they prefered. It's only when you get to the higher ranks that you had to have a specific type, even then you could choose between manufacturers.Lower forestry ranks usually had to stick to stag gripped pieces whilst the middling ranks and above had Ivory or celluloid, the use of Ebony or horn I believe were for the use of lower grade foresters in my opinion.

Gary

Thanks, Gary. I appreciate your input.