Translate German to English - Click here to open Altavista's Babel Fish Translator Click here to learn about all those symbols by people's names.

leftlogo.jpg (20709 bytes)

Upgrade to Premium Membership

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
S
OP Offline
S
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
I recently added this huge and handsome gala hirschfänger to my small collection of hunting swords, and hope some of the forumites here might be able to tell me more about it. (Please excuse my lousy photography.)

The blade is etched with the name P. Küll on one side of the ricasso and Solingen on the other. Various internet sources say that Peter Küll ran his business from 1820-1845 and was known to use either his written name, a stamp depicting a stylized skull, or the capital letter K to mark blades that had passed through his hands. Brothers Gustav and August Küll assumed control of the business in 1845 and, sometime in the 1855-1860 period, the brand passed to the Friedrich Neeff & Söhne company.

The 21-inch blued and gilt blade is unfullered and the etchings depict stands of arms, various vegetal motifs, and a hunting dog in mid-leap.

The gilt hilt is a massive six inches in length, and the grip scales are ivory. I have seen this same hilt mounted on both non-gala blades and on hunting daggers in the "Bavarian" section of a well-known US-based hirschfänger dealer's website (send me a PM if you want links to these), but whether the hilt form is truly associated with Bavaria is unknown to me.

The scabbard is relatively plain, featuring a gilt brass throat and a recess for a side knife, which sadly is absent. The scabbard chape is also AWOL, but the scabbard leather has retained the imprint of the chape's decorative edge. I think it would be possible to recreate the chape very accurately, though I don't possess such skills. If anyone knows of a craftsman who does that sort of thing, I'd be happy to have their contact information.

I'd be interested in your thoughts and opinions about this hirschfänger. Thanks in advance.

[Linked Image]

Last edited by Schnabeltier; 08/15/2021 06:20 PM.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 29
Offline
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 29
Peter

We would need much better pictures to be able to tell you anymore than you already know.

Gary

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,781
Likes: 38
Offline
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,781
Likes: 38
P. Kull is listed as a blade smith in Wien (Vienna). Ernst Kull and Wilhelm Kull are listed as working in Solingen.


[Linked Image from germandaggers.com]
Visit us at www.GermanDaggers.com
Contact me at Vern@GermanDaggers.com
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
S
OP Offline
S
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
Gary: I will make an effort to improve my photo skills, and will post additional shots once I'm happy with the results. Thanks for your interest and your patience.

Vern: Like many of the larger players in the edged weapons trade, Küll maintained retail offices in several cities in Europe and beyond. Here is a brief excerpt from a 1837 travelogue describing a tour of Germany and Holland ("Darstellungen aus einer Reise durch Deutschland und Holland im Jahre 1837" by Friedrich Karl von Strombeck) in which the author recounts a conversation he had with Küll over a dinner:

"This meal I had with the owner of a large arms factory . . . , Mr. Peter Küll from Solingen. When I asked him what kinds of weapons he made, he answered me with a certain amount of pride: 'Firearms and edged weapons!' And he told me how he was on a trip to Turin to conclude a contract with the local war minister . . . He had delivered weapons to the king of Naples, while his son was in Egypt to conclude a contract with the local pasha about cuirassier armor to be delivered."

Obviously, Küll's enterprise -- which the man himself described as being based in Solingen -- was extensive by 1837, and its footprint was likely found in many places, near and far.

Stand-by for more photos. Thanks.

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
S
OP Offline
S
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
Finally managed to shoot some additional images, such as they are.


[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,918
Likes: 3
Offline
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,918
Likes: 3
This dagger would be one of the top daggers in any collection.

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 29
Offline
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 29
Nice old hirschfänger, it shows its age and has a few problems but not every piece is mint, I'm not sure I can possibly tell it is Bavarian but it could be from that State, it's not a piece I would have much expertise in, just enjoy it as a beautiful old hirschfanger.

Gary

Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 188
Likes: 2
Offline
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 188
Likes: 2
👍 , I appreciate too 😎

S+

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
S
OP Offline
S
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
Thanks, all.


Link Copied to Clipboard
Popular Topics(Views)
2,261,619 SS Bayonets
1,760,341 Teno Insignia Set
1,128,793 westwall rings
Latest New Threads
Luftwaffe Swords
by Tanker - 03/27/2024 07:29 PM
Paul Weyersberg Heer
by Tanker - 03/27/2024 07:13 PM
HJ Fahrtenmesser,
by OWN - 03/27/2024 07:05 PM
Wir fahren gegen Engelland - Battle of Britain
by Stephen - 03/27/2024 10:06 AM
Hiddensee brooch
by benten - 03/24/2024 04:13 PM
Latest New Posts
Personalized reproduction honor ring source?
by Evgeniy - 03/29/2024 09:02 AM
Paul Weyersberg Heer
by Gerrit1963 - 03/29/2024 08:21 AM
F Dula with a twist
by C. Wetzel-20609 - 03/28/2024 09:29 PM
HJ Fahrtenmesser,
by OWN - 03/28/2024 06:18 PM
Wir fahren gegen Engelland - Battle of Britain
by Gaspare - 03/28/2024 12:34 AM
Forum Statistics
Forums42
Topics31,652
Posts328,712
Members7,502
Most Online5,900
Dec 19th, 2019
Who's Online Now
13 members (Browning1900, Luftbud, Evgeniy, RookieSA, Gerrit1963, Rainer S, Stephen, Documentalist, Ilya, Ringo69, AntonGrabbe, atis, Sasha), 607 guests, and 134 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5