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The Dussack – a weapon of war

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The dusack

Paulus Hector Mair cod.393 1542

Paulus Hector Mair c.93 1550

Paulus Hector Mair c.93 1550

Paulus Hector Mair c.93 1550

Andreas Paurnfeindt hn.236 1516

Vergilius Solis<br />
<br />
fechtschule c1550

Detail shot from Joachim Meyer's 1570 treatise. Notice the hand protection on the dussack in the top left.

Joachim Meyer 1570.<br />
<br />
These appear to be covered with leather and have something which somewhat resembles a "nagel" to protect the hand better.

Joachim Meyer 1570<br />
<br />
These appear to be covered with leather and have something which somewhat resembles a "nagel" to protect the hand better.

Joachim Meyer 1570<br />
<br />
These appear to be covered with leather and have something which somewhat resembles a "nagel" to protect the hand better.

Franz Isaac Brun 1555-1610<br />
<br />
The dussacken here clearly have large nagel to better protect the hand

Illustration to Amman's 'Enchiridion Artis',<br />
Frankfurt: Feyerabend, 1578<br />
<br />
Notice the nagel, again.

Illustration to Amman's 'Enchiridion Artis',<br />
Frankfurt: Feyerabend, 1578<br />
<br />
Notice the nagel, again.

Christoffel Hans Stimmer<br />
Prep work in ink and chalk for Meyer's 1570 treatise.

"Die Fechtschul", by Hanns Senger Maller ca 1550.<br />
<br />
Again, a nagel.

By Conraad Goltzus c1590

Franz Isaac Brun 1555-1610<br />
<br />
The dussacken here clearly have large nagel to better protect the hand. The dussack is also very large, reaching almost to the waist.

Franz Isaac Brun 1555-1610<br />
<br />
The dussacken here clearly have large nagel to better protect the hand. The dussack is also very large, reaching almost to the waist.

Mathematician and fencing master Ludolph van Ceulen (1540-1610)<br />
<br />
These dussacken appear to not include a nagel and also appear to be quite massive. It is unclear if it is a realistic portrayal or an artistic interpretation.

Codex Guelg.83 c1591<br />
<br />
Not much detail on this one unfortunately

Codex Guelg.83 c1591<br />
<br />
Not much detail on this one unfortunately

From the Büchsenmeister und Feuerwerksbuch - BSB Cgm 8143 by Friedrich Meyer, 1594. Quite similar to https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=323500407681222&set=a.322847014413228.80280.304263799604883&type=3&theater<br />
<br />
http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0008/bsb00082353/images/index.html?id=00082353&fip=wfsdryztsxdsydewqfsdrxdsydfsdr&no=&seite=178<br />
<br />
Thanks Keith Farrell for alerting me to this one. :)

Ianz Willem<br />
Van de sinnepoppen 1614

The famous Augsburg Fuggers apparently also enjoyed a bit of fencing. Here is a detail from an image from Cod.Icon.380 of 1618. Notice the dussack and the swords.<br />
<br />
It is hard to tell from this image, but it occurred to me that the grip and the edges might be lined with leather.<br />
<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugger

Frontispice d'un livre-d'escrime 1618

Die wohlabgerichteten Federfechter und Marxbrüder 1689<br />
<br />
Elias Porcelius

Steel Dussack

Steel Dussack

Steel Dussack

Steel Dussack

What is today commonly called a "katzbalger", although that originally refers to the sheath and not the sword. This was a signature weapon for the Landsknechten. <br />
<br />
From Mair's C94, 1542.

What is today commonly called a "katzbalger", although that originally refers to the sheath and not the sword. This was a signature weapon for the Landsknechten. <br />
<br />
From Mair's C94, 1542.

A straight "dussack"-type sword in Mair, from the 1550s.

The Weapon of the Messerschmidt, taken from Joachim Meyer's 1570 treatise (he was a messerschmidt).<br />
<br />
The weapon includes two military dussacken/tasshakar/katsbalger and a rapier.<br />
<br />
Katzbalger? Yes, several museums actually call these so, despite many of us thinking of short, double-edged swords with S-shaped crosses.

Haudegen and dusack on the left

Dussacken, both curved and straight owned by private collector. The double-edged are Reitschwerter, or Rappier rather than dussack though, but according to Meyer, taught similarly.

Swedish/Norwegian Tasshake early 1500s.

Swedish/Norwegian Tasshake early 1500s.

Swedish/Norwegian Tasshake early 1500s.

Swedish/Norwegian Tasshake early 1500s.

Swedish/Norwegian Tasshake early 1500s.

The possible missing link between the messer and the dusack, from ca 1530-40. These may be mashups though and are yet to be confirmed.<br />
<br />
Circa 1530 — 1540<br />
<br />
Period:<br />
mid-16th Century<br />
<br />
Description:<br />
Short sword. Pommel in the form of a crown of three fleusons, the middle on a long truncated cone accommodating the top of the long, which is switched over without a button. Half-basket guard of four elements of flat triangular section. Knuckle-guard turned over at the top, loop-guard, covering the back of the hand, springing from the top of the knuckle-guard and meeting the midpoint of a forward ring-guard. Between these two guards is an S-shaped counter-guard. Straight quillons of the same flat triangular section as the guards. The quillons widen toward the tips, which are cut off straight and finished with small spherical knobs. Back-guard of one bar, springing from the root of the outside quillon and joining the end of a single short outside branch. The grip is of oval section, widening toward the pommel, covered in red-brown leather, very much worn. Broad back-edged blade, with a shallow fuller just inside the back edge which ends in a short cusp at the point. The back is very slightly curved. The blade bears its stamped mark of the City of Basle.<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Place (legacy):<br />
Switzerland, production, country<br />
Germany<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Note(s):<br />
Swiss or South German<br />
The form of the guards of this sword is typically South German of the second quarter of the 16th century, but the pommel is as distinctively Venetian while its blade bears the mark of Basle. It seems that such marks stamped upon blades do not refer to its place of origin of the blade, but of the hilt in which it is mounted. Therefore it seems to be reasonable to assume that this sword is, basically, Swiss, though it has the appearance of a hybrid. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Nolfo di Carpegna's catalogue of its collection, and in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381. A sword with an almost identical pommel and similar guards was sold by the Galerie Helbing in Madrid in 1908, from which sale some of the Medieval swords in the Fitzwilliam Collection came.<br />
<br />
Material(s):<br />
steel; whole<br />
leather; grip cover; worn<br />
<br />
Dimension(s):<br />
length, whole, 78.6, cm<br />
length, grip, 8.2, cm<br />
length, blade, 65.3, cm<br />
width, quillons, 18.6, cm<br />
weight, whole, 1.5, kg<br />
<br />
Acquisition:<br />
bequeathed; 1933-03-16; Henderson, James Stewart<br />
<br />
Inscription:<br />
mark; on blade; stamped; mark of the town of Basle<br />
<br />
Documentation:<br />
Boccia, L.G.. Coelho, E.T.. Nemi Bianche Italiane.<br />
Cf. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381.<br />
<br />
Read more: http://sword-site.com/thread/765/langes-messer-complex-hilt#ixzz3IysFspL8

The possible missing link between the messer and the dusack, from ca 1530-40. These may be mashups though and are yet to be confirmed.<br />
<br />
Circa 1530 — 1540<br />
<br />
Period:<br />
mid-16th Century<br />
<br />
Description:<br />
Short sword. Pommel in the form of a crown of three fleusons, the middle on a long truncated cone accommodating the top of the long, which is switched over without a button. Half-basket guard of four elements of flat triangular section. Knuckle-guard turned over at the top, loop-guard, covering the back of the hand, springing from the top of the knuckle-guard and meeting the midpoint of a forward ring-guard. Between these two guards is an S-shaped counter-guard. Straight quillons of the same flat triangular section as the guards. The quillons widen toward the tips, which are cut off straight and finished with small spherical knobs. Back-guard of one bar, springing from the root of the outside quillon and joining the end of a single short outside branch. The grip is of oval section, widening toward the pommel, covered in red-brown leather, very much worn. Broad back-edged blade, with a shallow fuller just inside the back edge which ends in a short cusp at the point. The back is very slightly curved. The blade bears its stamped mark of the City of Basle.<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Place (legacy):<br />
Switzerland, production, country<br />
Germany<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Note(s):<br />
Swiss or South German<br />
The form of the guards of this sword is typically South German of the second quarter of the 16th century, but the pommel is as distinctively Venetian while its blade bears the mark of Basle. It seems that such marks stamped upon blades do not refer to its place of origin of the blade, but of the hilt in which it is mounted. Therefore it seems to be reasonable to assume that this sword is, basically, Swiss, though it has the appearance of a hybrid. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Nolfo di Carpegna's catalogue of its collection, and in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381. A sword with an almost identical pommel and similar guards was sold by the Galerie Helbing in Madrid in 1908, from which sale some of the Medieval swords in the Fitzwilliam Collection came.<br />
<br />
Material(s):<br />
steel; whole<br />
leather; grip cover; worn<br />
<br />
Dimension(s):<br />
length, whole, 78.6, cm<br />
length, grip, 8.2, cm<br />
length, blade, 65.3, cm<br />
width, quillons, 18.6, cm<br />
weight, whole, 1.5, kg<br />
<br />
Acquisition:<br />
bequeathed; 1933-03-16; Henderson, James Stewart<br />
<br />
Inscription:<br />
mark; on blade; stamped; mark of the town of Basle<br />
<br />
Documentation:<br />
Boccia, L.G.. Coelho, E.T.. Nemi Bianche Italiane.<br />
Cf. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381.<br />
<br />
Read more: http://sword-site.com/thread/765/langes-messer-complex-hilt#ixzz3IysFspL8

The possible missing link between the messer and the dusack, from ca 1530-40. These may be mashups though and are yet to be confirmed.<br />
<br />
Circa 1530 — 1540<br />
<br />
Period:<br />
mid-16th Century<br />
<br />
Description:<br />
Short sword. Pommel in the form of a crown of three fleusons, the middle on a long truncated cone accommodating the top of the long, which is switched over without a button. Half-basket guard of four elements of flat triangular section. Knuckle-guard turned over at the top, loop-guard, covering the back of the hand, springing from the top of the knuckle-guard and meeting the midpoint of a forward ring-guard. Between these two guards is an S-shaped counter-guard. Straight quillons of the same flat triangular section as the guards. The quillons widen toward the tips, which are cut off straight and finished with small spherical knobs. Back-guard of one bar, springing from the root of the outside quillon and joining the end of a single short outside branch. The grip is of oval section, widening toward the pommel, covered in red-brown leather, very much worn. Broad back-edged blade, with a shallow fuller just inside the back edge which ends in a short cusp at the point. The back is very slightly curved. The blade bears its stamped mark of the City of Basle.<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Place (legacy):<br />
Switzerland, production, country<br />
Germany<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Note(s):<br />
Swiss or South German<br />
The form of the guards of this sword is typically South German of the second quarter of the 16th century, but the pommel is as distinctively Venetian while its blade bears the mark of Basle. It seems that such marks stamped upon blades do not refer to its place of origin of the blade, but of the hilt in which it is mounted. Therefore it seems to be reasonable to assume that this sword is, basically, Swiss, though it has the appearance of a hybrid. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Nolfo di Carpegna's catalogue of its collection, and in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381. A sword with an almost identical pommel and similar guards was sold by the Galerie Helbing in Madrid in 1908, from which sale some of the Medieval swords in the Fitzwilliam Collection came.<br />
<br />
Material(s):<br />
steel; whole<br />
leather; grip cover; worn<br />
<br />
Dimension(s):<br />
length, whole, 78.6, cm<br />
length, grip, 8.2, cm<br />
length, blade, 65.3, cm<br />
width, quillons, 18.6, cm<br />
weight, whole, 1.5, kg<br />
<br />
Acquisition:<br />
bequeathed; 1933-03-16; Henderson, James Stewart<br />
<br />
Inscription:<br />
mark; on blade; stamped; mark of the town of Basle<br />
<br />
Documentation:<br />
Boccia, L.G.. Coelho, E.T.. Nemi Bianche Italiane.<br />
Cf. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381.<br />
<br />
Read more: http://sword-site.com/thread/765/langes-messer-complex-hilt#ixzz3IysFspL8

The possible missing link between the messer and the dusack, from ca 1530-40. These may be mashups though and are yet to be confirmed.<br />
<br />
Circa 1530 — 1540<br />
<br />
Period:<br />
mid-16th Century<br />
<br />
Description:<br />
Short sword. Pommel in the form of a crown of three fleusons, the middle on a long truncated cone accommodating the top of the long, which is switched over without a button. Half-basket guard of four elements of flat triangular section. Knuckle-guard turned over at the top, loop-guard, covering the back of the hand, springing from the top of the knuckle-guard and meeting the midpoint of a forward ring-guard. Between these two guards is an S-shaped counter-guard. Straight quillons of the same flat triangular section as the guards. The quillons widen toward the tips, which are cut off straight and finished with small spherical knobs. Back-guard of one bar, springing from the root of the outside quillon and joining the end of a single short outside branch. The grip is of oval section, widening toward the pommel, covered in red-brown leather, very much worn. Broad back-edged blade, with a shallow fuller just inside the back edge which ends in a short cusp at the point. The back is very slightly curved. The blade bears its stamped mark of the City of Basle.<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Place (legacy):<br />
Switzerland, production, country<br />
Germany<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Note(s):<br />
Swiss or South German<br />
The form of the guards of this sword is typically South German of the second quarter of the 16th century, but the pommel is as distinctively Venetian while its blade bears the mark of Basle. It seems that such marks stamped upon blades do not refer to its place of origin of the blade, but of the hilt in which it is mounted. Therefore it seems to be reasonable to assume that this sword is, basically, Swiss, though it has the appearance of a hybrid. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Nolfo di Carpegna's catalogue of its collection, and in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381. A sword with an almost identical pommel and similar guards was sold by the Galerie Helbing in Madrid in 1908, from which sale some of the Medieval swords in the Fitzwilliam Collection came.<br />
<br />
Material(s):<br />
steel; whole<br />
leather; grip cover; worn<br />
<br />
Dimension(s):<br />
length, whole, 78.6, cm<br />
length, grip, 8.2, cm<br />
length, blade, 65.3, cm<br />
width, quillons, 18.6, cm<br />
weight, whole, 1.5, kg<br />
<br />
Acquisition:<br />
bequeathed; 1933-03-16; Henderson, James Stewart<br />
<br />
Inscription:<br />
mark; on blade; stamped; mark of the town of Basle<br />
<br />
Documentation:<br />
Boccia, L.G.. Coelho, E.T.. Nemi Bianche Italiane.<br />
Cf. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381.<br />
<br />
Read more: http://sword-site.com/thread/765/langes-messer-complex-hilt#ixzz3IysFspL8

The possible missing link between the messer and the dusack, from ca 1530-40. These may be mashups though and are yet to be confirmed.<br />
<br />
Circa 1530 — 1540<br />
<br />
Period:<br />
mid-16th Century<br />
<br />
Description:<br />
Short sword. Pommel in the form of a crown of three fleusons, the middle on a long truncated cone accommodating the top of the long, which is switched over without a button. Half-basket guard of four elements of flat triangular section. Knuckle-guard turned over at the top, loop-guard, covering the back of the hand, springing from the top of the knuckle-guard and meeting the midpoint of a forward ring-guard. Between these two guards is an S-shaped counter-guard. Straight quillons of the same flat triangular section as the guards. The quillons widen toward the tips, which are cut off straight and finished with small spherical knobs. Back-guard of one bar, springing from the root of the outside quillon and joining the end of a single short outside branch. The grip is of oval section, widening toward the pommel, covered in red-brown leather, very much worn. Broad back-edged blade, with a shallow fuller just inside the back edge which ends in a short cusp at the point. The back is very slightly curved. The blade bears its stamped mark of the City of Basle.<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Place (legacy):<br />
Switzerland, production, country<br />
Germany<br />
<br />
Production<br />
Note(s):<br />
Swiss or South German<br />
The form of the guards of this sword is typically South German of the second quarter of the 16th century, but the pommel is as distinctively Venetian while its blade bears the mark of Basle. It seems that such marks stamped upon blades do not refer to its place of origin of the blade, but of the hilt in which it is mounted. Therefore it seems to be reasonable to assume that this sword is, basically, Swiss, though it has the appearance of a hybrid. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Nolfo di Carpegna's catalogue of its collection, and in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381. A sword with an almost identical pommel and similar guards was sold by the Galerie Helbing in Madrid in 1908, from which sale some of the Medieval swords in the Fitzwilliam Collection came.<br />
<br />
Material(s):<br />
steel; whole<br />
leather; grip cover; worn<br />
<br />
Dimension(s):<br />
length, whole, 78.6, cm<br />
length, grip, 8.2, cm<br />
length, blade, 65.3, cm<br />
width, quillons, 18.6, cm<br />
weight, whole, 1.5, kg<br />
<br />
Acquisition:<br />
bequeathed; 1933-03-16; Henderson, James Stewart<br />
<br />
Inscription:<br />
mark; on blade; stamped; mark of the town of Basle<br />
<br />
Documentation:<br />
Boccia, L.G.. Coelho, E.T.. Nemi Bianche Italiane.<br />
Cf. A particularly fine sword with a similar guard is in Rome, in the Odescalchi Collection, Mu. no. 185. This is illustrated in Boccia and Coelho's 'Nemi Bianche Italiane', no. 381.<br />
<br />
Read more: http://sword-site.com/thread/765/langes-messer-complex-hilt#ixzz3IysFspL8

Scutching knife for preparing flax

Scutching knife for preparing flax. Notice the grip and the thumb.

Scutching knife for preparing flax

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