UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Hunting, Forestry, and Shooting Forum Lastest addition to the family

Trying out the resizing of pictures, so hope these come through ok. Hunting Sword is circa 1850, plain blade, ray or lizzard skin covered, very detailed fittings and hilt, silvered with much of the brass showing, silver fork which I think is original to the piece. All in all a difficult piece to find and in very good original condition. Total of 4 pictures. James

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Last one and Bill Warda, I still owe you the beer. jb

Nice, never saw a sharkskin covered scabbard before.

James,

A nice cold pint sounds good!

Now that's a good looking unit, fabulous condition for something of that age. I believe you're correct about it being rayskin, can't recall ever having seen one with a lizard skin
wrapper? I think the scales would be of varying sizes, much like a good watch-band.

Lots of neat action going on in the clamshell,
crossguards and grip. Is there some hand enhancing to the cast, it looks like the whole assembly is in one piece from here?

The scabbard fittings are all very nicely designed with super motifs. I'd say it looks as though you've scored another very desireable Hirschf�nger for your collection.
Well done!

Thanks for sharing your latest addition with us,
it's always a pleasure to see great hardware like this.

Bill

Bill, The guard assembly is all one piece with wild boar and hunting dogs. The entire hilt assembly has been hand chiseled after cast for fine details. I like the bear eating the hunter as an end cap. jb

jager,

Great piece...Like they say:
"Sometimes you eat the bear....sometimes the bear eats you"...he got the hunter this time.

James
A fabulous score,I've never seen a scabbard like it either, there's so much to look at, there's a whole scene just within the crossguard, grip and pommel. The condition is up there with the best I have seen on a piece so old, certainly a wonderful addition to your collection.

Thanks for the peek

Gary

James,

One of the hobby elders whose opinion I respect
got in touch to discuss the differences between
lizard (Eidechse) and types of rayskin that was used during the 19th century.

According to my friend, original lizard skin would be rough to the touch, especially when
rubbing in the opposite direction of how the scutes or scales are aligned. The rayskin would be much, much smoother to the touch.

Another observation is that under magnification
the lizard would appear to be formed like overlapping fish-scales or even roofing shingles for that matter. I also think that lizard skin would had to have received a coating of some type of glue/shellac, to keep the scales from lifting too much in the wrong direction? That's just an assumption on my part, however, as I can't recall ever having seen an original lizard-wrapped grip or scabbard.

I still think your's is a rayskin example,
so please, give it a rub and let us know?

Many thanks!

Bill

James,
You really out did yourself this time...That's a looker, great catch!

Like Bill said more than likely ray skin. Ray skin sure lasts longer than leather I think. Never heard of lizard skin being used, maybe it's marine Iguana. But anyway stroke it a few times and let us know how it feels? I'm blind as a bat, can you give us a close up shot of the skin. It's Bill's fault he started it.

Since Bill started it: Definitely ray skin for it is like smooth bbs instead of scales. I have a friend in Michigan who also has one with ray skin. Mikee, I will send a closeup picture this afternoon along with another dagger scabbard i have that will be a good topic for discussion. Maybe someone can tell me what it is. Thanks, James

These two closeups are for Mikee.

Last closeup of rayskin

JAMES, It looks like there are close to the same two Hirschfangers that came out of the same period of time.
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS
photo one

photo two (reverse side)
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

Ralph, Hanger is a little different, but otherwise, look about the same. Is your blade plain or engraved? James

JAMES, the blade has a partial gold wash and it is in excellent conditon.
SincerelY,
HUBERTUS

Hubertus am I correct your example has no area for the fork ? This is a treat to find two almost the same .Thanks to both for showing

ED, The piece I have shown has no place for a skinning knife. I believe the slot in the scabbard on the James hirschfanger was for a skinning knife and not for a fork as shown. The knife and fork show up in the early hirschfangers and the ones that I have are mostly in the 1700 period.
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

Knife and fork photo #2

The last photo #2 was a presentation set of these small hunting hirschfanger accessories.
#3

Last photo #4
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS