Item:
ONSV25TGA179

In stock

Original Imperial German WWI Era Hirschfänger Stag Handle Forestry Dress Cutlass with Scabbard

Regular price $595.00

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. In use for centuries, the German Hirschfänger (Deer Catcher) long hunting daggers have always made lovely display pieces, as well as military sidearms. Many of the early bayonets used by the various German States were based on the Hirschfänger design, which is both simple and elegant, almost a short sword in practical terms.

The Hunting and Forestry organizations under the German monarchy were often controlled by aristocrats and well-heeled businessmen. They were generally not organizations inhabited by the common man. The purposes were generally formed for the conservation of game and forestry. Elaborate hunts were great occasions for the well-heeled, while the ladies used the hunting lodges for match-making and gossip. The cutlasses of these Imperial organizations were often extremely ornate, or they could also be utilitarian, made to perform the final killing thrust on game. Both types were often owned by a single individual. Many examples were used strictly for dressing up the beauty of a hunting/forestry uniform.

This is a fantastic WWI Era German Hirschfänger Stag-Handled Long Forestry Cutlass by an unknown maker, complete with scabbard. The scabbard has a slot for a skinning knife, but it’s absent. The hilt is fit with brass with a stag grip. This is fitted with three brass acorn & oak leaf ornaments on one side, which are slightly loose. Instead of the "S" shaped crossguard with opposed Deer's hoof finials, this grip is "sword" style, and has a hand guard, which terminates in a Deer's hooves at the crossguard and where it meets the grip. There is also a beautiful scallop shell guard on one side, much like those seen on earlier "hunting sword pistols", embossed with a fantastic "stag" scene.

The lovely triple etched blade is still straight, free of major damage and shows only staining and wear to the etching from cleaning. The blade has no post manufacture sharpening to the edge, and these originally were generally intended for thrusting, to finish off their wounded catch. The etched panels on the sides of the blade are simply breathtaking, with one side showing a buck and doe with a dog chasing them. The other side shows a pack of deer galloping. The panels are surrounded by lovely foliate engraving, and the spine of the blade has a lovely oak leaves and acorn leaf motif running up the back, a classic German design.

The leather scabbard is fitted with gilt brass, with an acorn frog button, as often seen. The black patent leather is in good shape, without any bending or major issues with the finish. The scabbard has a slot for a skinning knife which is absent.

A lovely German upmarket Hirschfänger cutlass. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 16"
Overall length: 21 3/8”
Scabbard Length: 16 7/8”

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