Katzbalger
| Katzbalger | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Information | |
| Weapon type: | sword |
| Designations: | Landsknecht sword |
| Use: | military weapon |
| Creation time: | Early 16th century |
| Working time: | 16th to 17th century |
| Region of origin / author: |
Southern Germany / France |
| Distribution: | Europe |
| Blade length: | 50 cm to 55 cm |
| Weight: | about 1000 gr. |
| Handle: | Wood |
| Particularities: | Sheath often worked as a "cutlery sheath" |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Katzbalger (also Landsknecht sword ) is a European short sword of the 16th century. The name comes from the comparison of the close hand-to-hand combat, in which the sword was used, with the fighting behavior, the "scrambling", of cats .
history
The Katzbalger was a widespread close combat weapon used by the mercenaries in the 16th century.
The Katzbalger has a relatively short, wide blade with a length of about 50 to 55 cm. The blade tapers towards the location and has a rounded tip. The place is sanded very thin, which is often not visible when viewed from the broad side. The guard is often S-shaped and has small knobs on the guard arm ends. In some versions, a hand guard is attached that runs up to the fan-shaped knob. The handle (handle) is made of wood, the scabbard is made of wood covered with leather. Often these sheaths have secondary compartments in which a knife, fork and awl could be carried (cutlery sheaths ). Around 1570 the shape of the handles changed. From around 1590 the blades became longer and the handle was equipped with a basket . They were influenced by the Italian Schiavona , which then also replaced the Katzbalger. Originals are now in the Blade Museum in Solingen , the British Museum in London and the Historical Museum in Dresden .
literature
- Wendelin Boeheim: Handbook of the armory. Reprint of the Leipzig 1890 edition. Fourier Verlag, Wiesbaden 1985, ISBN 978-3-201-00257-8 .
- Arthur Richard Dufty: European Swords and Daggers in the Tower of London. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London 1974
- David Edge, John Miles Paddock: Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight. 1996.
- Hanns-Ulrich Haedeke: Edged weapons. German Blade Museum Solingen. Rheinland-Verlag, Cologne 1982
- JH Hefner-Alteneck: Medieval Arms and Armor - A Pictorial Archive. Dover, Mineola 2004
- Heinrich Müller, Hartmut Kölling: European cutting and stabbing weapons. From the collection of the Museum of German History. Military publishing house of the GDR, Berlin 1981
- Johannes Schöbel: Ornamental weapons and armor - from the Historical Museum Dresden. Leipzig 1976
- Heribert Seitz: Edged weapons I: History and development of types in European culture from prehistoric times to the end of the 16th century. Klinkhardt & Biermann GMBH, Munich 1981
- Frederick Wilkinson: Swords & Daggers. Ward, Lock, & Co. Ltd, London 1967, ISBN 978-0-85368-673-6 .
- Jaap Ypey: Three newly acquired weapons in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden: an Ulfberht sword, a Katzbalger and a left-handed dagger. 1986