RARE GERMAN LANDSKNECHT KATZBALGER SWORD CIRCA 1520 IN MINT MUSEUM CONDITION

Description

In my opinion this is a..............
Discussion:
A katzbalger is a no-nonsense powerfully built sword used in close-quarters combat similar in fighting theory to the Roman gladius. The Katzbalger was used by the dreaded Landsknecht mercenaries of Germany.The katzbalger has a unique and distinctive S-shaped guard. There are a couple of theories about the unique name of this sword. (A) The customary act of carrying a sword without a scabbard for quick release. Hence, the idiom “held only by a cat’s skin” (Katze means “cat,” while Balg means fur). (B) The word derives from balgen which in German means brawling. The name refers to intense, close-quarter brutal combat imitating two feral cats fighting for dominance. The most widely accepted translation is “cat-gutter.” Like the gladius they are not long in order to facilitate close-quarters combat.
Description
: Beautifully decorated fluted guard with indentures at the quillon block, guard with circular tips, on a fishtail pommel, thick  blade tapering to a wide tip,  museum condition. Length 76 CM.
Provenance:
From a North European collection.
Comparable:
See European Swords and Daggers, Duffy, 1974, Plate 17-B.
All my items come with a 10 day review period, you are buying with confidence.
All my items come with a 10 day review period, you are buying with confidence.