Translation of Article on the blade types of the Norwegian Tessak collection
This article comes from the Yearbook of Hærmuseet (Army Museum) 1971-1972 written by Per Terje Norheim. It is a study of the blades associated with the Tessak/Dussack swords in the Norwegian Museum collections. The article is probably only of interest to those with a Dussack love like mine. However, it is interesting information on a very popular sword type with little research done in English.
If you wish a copy of the original Norwegian please let me know.
Translation
One of the types of weapons you often encounter in Norwegian public and private collections are a group of swords with large basket baskets of iron, and powerful, usually curved blades. These weapons went under for a long time the name "Sinclair sabler" because they were thought to have been brought by over the company of the Scottish mercenaries at Kringen in 1612, and also because the Tessak have a similar resemblance to the somewhat later Scottish Baskethilt Swords.
It was later shown that some connection to these weapons cannot be detected, but on the contrary is used by farmers around Norway, from approx. 1600 and for a long time ahead. During their time of use, they often went by the name of tessak (written in many ways, including teszack), derived from the German (Dussagge), which was originally the name of a very simple bohemian saber type, but later went on to designate a saber "deutsch gefasst".
There is reason to suppose that there are issues that are the subject of Christian IV in 1589 in Germany buys guardians to the farmers in Bergenhus county, and possibly also later, in 1617 by the purchase of 4000 side weapons from Schoell (Sul?) And 2000 through a trader in Copenhagen. (See Holger Jacobsen, DVHS Aa I).
One can well today on the basis of similarity, and occurrences of identical and similar weapons establish that the Tessaks come from the area South Germany / Austria, but exact location of production, production scope, and the length of the production period is not yet fixed beaten. Nor exactly what number they came to Norway, and in how many pools, although the above gives some indication.
The answer to these two recent questions must be found in archive studies, while one to get closer to the solution to the other problems before ste number can study the weapons material that are available h a. All in all today there are approx. 400 Tessaks, as well as some loose items, distributed at a number of public collections, primarily the Nordic Museum, Stockholm (NM), the Army Museum, Oslo (HM) and Sandvikske amhnger Lillehammer (SS), as well as some copies in private societies. I have had the opportunity to review all copies 1 HM and
the SS, and most in the NM, as well as a part in private collections, together account for almost 90% of the total material. When it comes to items in private collections, as well as in foreign museums, I have omitted copies that cannot be seen to have any Norwegian provenance. This is quite a few, less than 30 pcs.
The Tessaks that will not be dealt with in this article, they are all without marks or inscriptions that could indicate the origin. However, it is to be hoped that a thorough analysis and classification of the different types of fasteners can be made at a later date. Here are just the main types you can operate with, essentially the same division used at the Army Museum, with an additional type. See FIG. 1.
The type called C is a case of doubt in the case of the case, in that it certainly belongs to another line of evolution of the curve fixes, but it occurs relatively frequently with the same geographical spread as the case, and is therefore included here.
The questions that I want to highlight with the help of the survey are the following:
1. Can you identify any or all of the blacksmiths found on the Tessaks examined, thereby determining the site and time of production?
2. Are the same blacksmiths on different types of kings, so that the difference between the blades is not determined by different production sites?
3. Is there any demonstrable connection between like forges and like fasteners, so that some forges appear on blades in a single or a few attachment types?
4. It has been claimed that the Straight blades found in the fasteners of Tessak type is set later, p.g.a. weapons regulations, and damage to use. Can this theory be substantiated, or rejected on the basis of what this survey shows?
The first part of the survey will be an attempt to divide the existing ones blades in blade types. The total number of cases with blades which must be assumed to be original I have studied is 291 pieces. Plus comes approx. 70 weapons with unoriginal or dubious blades, these are in this regard kept completely outside.
Blade Types
Curved blades
The curved blades included in the survey can be divided into three main types, namely:
Type I:
Blades with wide hollow sealing that extend all the way to the tip, back sharpening to the tip, and "pike" >> (a back side grind at the tip, see ill.). The length varies between 72 and 86 cm, with about. 8 0 cm as the most common. The width varies from 3.3 to 4.0 cm deep at the attachment, and often increases slightly outward toward the tip, allowing the width measured in the middle of the back-dragged portion is approx. 0.2 cm more. Back Slip Ingens length varies from 23 cm to 36 cm. The length of the "pike" is 3 to 4 cm. The thickness of the back at the attachment is 0.7 to 0.9 cm and decreases slightly down to the backrest. Just before the back grinding has the blade back two small downed notches. See FIG. 2.
Fig. 2 Blade type I.
This type is by far the most common blade type in Tessaks, and includes approx. 54% of the number reviewed. Blades work generally well-worn, and with good surface treatment.
Type II:
Flat, curved blades, most often with one or two narrows and shallow hole cuts along the back, and with a back cut. There are two hollow cuts go the one at the bottom of the blade all the way to the tip, while the other stops at the beginning of the backing. The type exists both with and without pike, but are usually without. The length varies from 72 cm to 91 cm, width from 3.4 cm to 4.9 cm, with approx. 4.5 cm as the most common. Unlike type I, the width decreases completely from the inside and beyond. The thickness is 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm when attached, but decreases rapidly,so the middle ones are only 0.2 cm thick and the thickness of the outermost portion can be as low as 0.1 cm.
This type seems far less palatable than type 1, and often has very poor surface treatment. You can see on most blades the original film marks, so no polishing took place.
See FIG. 3.
Fig. 3. Blade type 11.
This type is in number clear # 2, with approx. 28% of the material that has been reviewed.
Type IIa:
Among the type II blades there are a few, I have so far seen 6 pieces, which are even wider than the others, up to 5.2 cm, with 1 hole cut along the back, and with three holes set in an equilateral triangle approx. 2 cm from the headland.
The purpose of these holes is unclear, they may have a symbolic or magical meaning, or be purely decorative.
Type III:
This is a very small group of blades that are characterized in that the back is flattened by approx. 2 mm in a portion beginning 7-10 cm from the attachment down to approx. 25 cm from the headland, so it works as if the blade has a yelman. See FIG. 4.
Fig. 4. Blade type Ill.
The length is somewhat smaller than for the other curved blades, around 70 cm, the width at the attached 3.2 to 4.1 cm. Only 5 such blades are currently registered in Tessak types.
Straight blades
Some of the straight blades found in Tessak types must in any case be kept outside as they are single copies, although many appear to be from the current time period. Only one type of unicorn blades, with 3 or 4 holes along the back are included here, then these are certainly from time to time, and are also known from weapons with related basket fixings.
Even with a very critical elimination, there is a greater number of correct ones, double-edged blades that remain standing, approx. 40 pcs. Common to these is that they have marked ricasso, and one or two hollow cuts that go completely from the attachment and approx. 25-30 cm down on the blade. The straight blades are a lot long, up to 97 cm, the width varies from 2.8 to 3.5 cm. See items FIG. 5.
Fig. 5. Example of straight blade.
Looking at the total number of blades that can be considered original the curved blades approx. 84%, ie the ratio of curvature to straight blades are 6 to 1.
Marks
Most blades, all types seen together, are labeled. As mentioned above 291 blades are believed to be original, of which approx.2/3 mark, but some have marks that are illegible due to the wear or rust, so the number of marks that can be interpreted is approx. 150. The blade type most frequently unmarked is Type I, Type II is currently known not unmarked. The variation in the markings is relatively large, they mark which until now registered is shown in FIG. 6. The marks are for the curved blades the person inlaid on the inside (quartz side) 10 to 30 cm from attached. The straight blades are marked on the ricasso, or in the case of inscriptions in the hole grinding.
Frequency of brands:
The mark that is very much left is No. 1, either alone, or in one of the combinations shown. All in all, I found this brand of 39 blades, all said close as one is curved. The second most common is No. 2 that occurs 14 times, then No. 5 follows with 10, No. 4 with 8, No. 3 with 6, No. 8 with 4, and No. 6 with 3. I have not listed inscriptions of types 20 and 21 as they often are very difficult without being able to say with certainty that they are from the same place.
Brand Distribution:
Mark # 1 is available on Type I blades alone and in combinations of type I, II, and II a
Mark # 2 is found on Type I
Mark # 3 is found on Type I and II
Mark # 4 is on type I
Mark #5 exists as 5 a and b on type, as 5 c pa
Mark # 6 is on Type I
Mark # 7 is on Type I
Mark # 8 is found on Type I, and the ornament with decor on type II
Mark # 9 exists on type II (variant)
Mark # 10 is on Type I
Mark # 11 is on type IT
Mark # 12 is on Type I
Mark # 13 is found on Type I and IT in combinations, and only on the straight blades
Mark # 14 is found on Type I, II and II a
Mark # 15 is found on the straight type I and on the single blade dated 1585
Mark # 16 is found on Type I and II in combinations, and only on the same blade as # 15
Mark # 17 is on Type II (possible variant)
Mark # 18 is on the straight blades
Mark # 19 is on Type III
Mark # 20 is on type III and straight blades
Mark # 21 is on the straight blades
In addition, there are on the straight rings some inscriptions such as f. ex. ANDREA FERRARA, usually unreadable.
On the basis of the review conducted, one can say try to answer the 4 questions asked earlier:
1. Can some or all brands be identified?
The answer must be that none of the brands shown have 100% certainly can be identified, but marks 1 through 4 belong to a group we shall see a little closer. Mark # 1 is similar to one of the marks attributed to one member of the well-known swordsmith family Standler or Stantler in Munich, the man, namely Wolfgang Standler, who lived from 1554 to 1622.
In an article in the Zeitschrift for Historisches Waffenkunde1 several are shown examples of combinations in which this mark is included, see fig. 8. Another member of the family, Christoph Standler d. E., Has one mark of the same type, but with an extra stroke, see fig. 9.
Same brand like this has Christoph Standler d. Y., However also adds a so-called Italian brand, see fig. 10. This combination must be said to be very interesting as it is very similar to combinations found on tea cuttings. ·
Fig. 8. Mark used by Wolfgang Standler .
Fig. 9. Mark used by Christoph Standler d. e.
Fig. 10. Mark used by Christoph Standler d. Y.
The marks attributed to the Standler family are largely found on knives to two-handed swords, and not to knives of Tessak type. This does not mean that one should totally reject that some of the Tessaks come from this family, or their circle. The fact that the material abroad is so weak on the matter does not provide a basis for assessing what may have been there. Timely votes eg. Wolfgang Standler's production time very well, he must be supposed to start his production approx. 1575-80. As mentioned later, there are also others marks on Tessaks found on other blade types.
Mark # 1 alone is found on a two-handed sword in the Historisches Museum, Bern, catalog no. 213.23, attributed to Christoph Standler. There is also the truth with two marks as # 13, as well as the combination the ion of two No. 13 with an S in the middle of a two-handed sword from the end of the 16th century in the Hallwyl collection in Stockholm.3 The whole marking is very similar to what you find on things.
Mark # 2, which is also shield-shaped, and of the same type as No. 1 available in two sizes, as well as in combination with other brands, on the same measure as # 1. This mark, except for the tessellations, found only once, along with two crosses, on a sword, catalog no. 15231, from ca. 1600 in the Historisches Museum, Bern.4 This sword has a straight, double-edged blade, and a bracket somewhat related to the tea cases.
Mark # 3 is of the same type as No. 1 and # 2, and is available in two variants. This brand is known from 2 pcs. two-handed sword in Zeughaus in Solothurn.
Mark # 4 is also of the same type as the previous ones, and I am suppose that these marks are in any case from the same district, possibly even from the same workshop or the same family. It is felt a late 16th century saber blade in Bern with cat. 157086 and from the two-handed sword from 1590-1600 in Museo Civico, Brescia.
Mark # 5 consists of the letters MR in combination with other marks, MR stars probably for the blacksmith's initials, but it can't be customized for some blacksmiths we know the name of today.
Mark #6 and 7 I have not found used on other blades, however the same mark as number 6 is found on a Saxon Bergman's ax in the Hallwyl collection. This ax, however, is dated 1696, and cannot be forged by the same one who has made Tessaks.
Mark # 8 is reproduced in Gyngell: "Armorers Marks", and is here dated to 1480, but without reference to the type of blade marked is found on. The mark is located in Germany. This can be accepted, but the dating must be said to be very questionable, also because this brand seems to belong in a later period.
Mark #9 and #10 are both known from only one blade each, and are both indistinct, No. 9 is most closely a fragment of a larger mark, No. 10 is possibly an arrowhead. Neither of these can be said to be certain are suitable for other types of blades.
Mark #11 and # 12 are anonymous, but stars and crosses are common combination with other brands.
Mark #13, which is also found combined with 1 c, 2 c, 5 a and 8 b is one very well known brand. It is often referred to Milan (or Genoa), and also available on the straight blades. Whether the attribution to Milan is correct is currently an open question, however it can be considered safe that German swordsmen, including the Standler, imitated Italian apparently noticed at the wish of the arms dealers. The Italian brands was probably better known in e.g. Eastern Europe than the South German. Tags like this are also reproduced in many museum catalogs.
Mark # 14, which appears to be, a letter combination, ST (?) Is not identifiable, but is attributed to Gyngell at << Bavaria, mid 16th Century >>, which is fine, though it may be a few decades later.
Mark #15 feels like a straight, double-edged blade in the Army Museum, and nobody elsewhere, but is undoubtedly the same type of mark as Nos. 1-4, in reality # 1 with two strokes added on top. It also feels from a Type I blade, along with Mark # 16.
Mark #16, the letter S is found with No. 1 on blades of type I, and alone on the straight blades. in the Wallace Collection, London, Museo Civico, Brescia and the Hallwyl Collection, Stockholm. In the latter collection there is also a two-handed sword from the late 16th century marked with an S between two marks, about No. 13. 10
Mark #17 is unknown from other places, here are the letter letters in the mark again, IT, possibly the blacksmith's initials, but cannot be identified.
Mark #18 is unknown.
Mark #19, Christ Monogram Program IHS is well known both as a brand and as decorative inscription, i.a. on Norwegian farmer axes, but cannot attributed to any particular location.
Mark #20 And #21 are two of the many variations of inscriptions of this kind, partly the name IOHANNI, written in different ways, and partial distortions of Latin inscriptions, such as INMINI which stands for IN (TE) DOMINE = I (D, EG) LORD.
Very many inscriptions of this type make absolutely no sense, and consists of long rows of one or two different letters. To summarize what can be said with certainty about the brands that are found on Tessaks must first and foremost it is mentioned that some marks point to the Standler family and their circle, or at least Munich and southern Germany. Others do not notice place, some of these point towards Italy. It can in conjunction with this be of interest and, look at some papers in Stadtarchiv Munich. It concerns a trial from 1617, involving both Wolfgang and Christoph Standler is summoned as a witness, in connection with a gun dealer, Johann von Bolandt, accused by the swordsmiths in Solingen for selling Munchnersmidde (Munich forged swords?) swords as Solingen products. On one of the questions both answered, in connection with how they swords they had sold were marked black Christoph Standler according to the legal protocol at: << These fences have been with them for so long all of your rings were struck as to the merchant's desire >>. Therefore, pretty okay that as long as they (he and his dad) had been swordsmiths, they had turned the marks on the blades that the gun dealer wanted. This gives an explanation of the Italian-marked marks found on some blades, possibly in connection with pure Standler marks. In some parts of Europe, e.g. In southeastern Europe, Italian blades were better known, and thereby attempted through the labeling to show that the blades were from the coveted place. In practice, the blacksmith probably became his own mark included with the mark (s) he was asked to avail.
In any case, one can assume from the fact that over half of them existing brands can be attributed to southern Germany, claim that the theory that this area is the origin of the tea business is considerably strengthened. The next of the four main questions is whether the same forge mark available on different blade types. This question has already been answered with yes and with, the ranking of the occurrence of the different marks. Marks Nos. 1, 3, 5, 8 and 14 are found on both Type I and Il, moreover, Nos. 1 and 14 are also on Type Il a. It is therefore clear that both these blade types are extensively forged at the same workshops.
One theory I will put forward in this regard is that type I is the one original, and that type II production has begun either because need of time, or because one wanted to make cheaper blades, this type is as mentioned earlier, less well done, with poorer surface treatment, and has undoubtedly been faster to get done.
When it comes to the straight blades, they seem to have come from other workshops. On the other hand, both blacksmiths mention Standler in the aforementioned lawsuit that they also used Italian and Spanish inscriptions on their blades, and there is nothing in the way of them by this term means the form of inscriptions such as marks 19, 20 and 21 show. There is also a straight blade with mark # 1, and dated 1585. Exactly the same mark, also with the addition of an S exists on a blade of type I. SeIv upon careful examination it looks like surely these brands are completely identical. There are no indications that the straight blades come from a different geographical area than they curl, and so far I would argue that these also come from Munich, or at least southern Germany.
The 5 blades of type Ill that I have seen are only marked with letters,IHS, or variations of IOHANNI, and can be counted as one ligaments strangely seen between the straight and curved blades. The must also be assigned to the same area.
Flat, curved blades with weak yelman, or at least back-grinding, is familiar with such inscriptions, even from older weapons than Tessack ones. Bl. a. There is a Bohemian or Hungarian in the author's collection sword from the second half of the 15th century, with long, slightly curved blade, marked 3 x Johanes. See FIG. No. 7.
Question # 3, whether there are any correlations between blade stamps and group types can be answered with no. This means that either the different attachment types are made in the same place, something like in any case it is probable, or that the fittings are made in one place, and the blades in another, and that the weapons are then assembled in one of these places, possibly a third place. Except that all blades of type III, 5 pieces in type g fittings (see Fig. 1), no correlation can be seen between blade types and attachment types.
Question # 4 is whether the straight blades are original or not in Tessacks. Based on the material I have at my disposal I believe that the theory that the straight blades are later applied because weapon regulations, or that all the straight blades are substitutes for use must be rejected.
The straight blades I have included in this study are all from at the same time as they curve. Also known from Germany and Austria examples of straight blades in Tessak-type groups, and these weapons is not in any case affected by Norwegian regulations. The straight blades are found in all attachment types as close as type g, type c, which I, as mentioned earlier, consider to be another line of development than the Tessaks belong, there are only straight blades. In another this type of case investigation should possibly be deleted.
As a further indication that the straight blades are original, It can be mentioned that there is a clear trend towards the weapons who have the straight blades also have the straight pair of bars, at groups of one type that otherwise has S-shaped mating rods.
The next step in the investigation of the thesis cases must be archival investigations to be able to identify the place of purchase and the year, as well as the exact number. It will be necessary to try to follow some of the issues that have accurate provenance using shift documents so far back as possible, to see when they entered the farms. Likewise, it must be said to be of great interest in determining whether the tea business has been clean alloy armor, or if they may have been used by regular soldiers.
One must also compare the purchase price with regular prices this time, to see if they were purchased because they were cheap or because there was a shortage of weapons in Europe, so you had to take what you got.