Sale!

Styrian (Austria) Dusegge, “Sinclair Sabre”, Late 16th C

Original price was: $2,495.00.Current price is: $2,250.00.

Out of stock

Description

The dusegge is a sword with a curved blade unique to Southern Germany, Austria, and
Hungary. The blade is patterned after the blades of the Ottoman Turks, whom they battled
with for centuries. Many of these swords can be found in the arsenals of Austria,
especially Styria, and can be seen today at the Landeszeughaus (state arsenal) Graz, part
of the Steiermarkisches Landesmuseum in Graz, Austria. They were a very effective
slashing weapon favored by light cavalry. In Britain they are sometimes called a “Sinclair
Sabre”, because a group of mercenaries led by Scottish Colonel Sinclair purportedly
carried this type of weapon on their il-fated expedition to Scandinavia. They were
attempting to join the forces of Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus during the Kalmar War in
1612 when they were ambushed and annihilated at the Battle of Kringen in Norway. It is
said that Sinclair was the first to fall. The example offered here features a single-edged
unfullered 31 5/8″ blade, the last 10″ double-edged. The reverse with an interesting and
unique stamped marking. Iron hilt with flat down-turned quillons expanding toward the
finials; side ring with a pair of looping bars extending upward to join the knuckle bow;
reverse diagonal side ring. Flattened pagoda-shape pommel with chiseled diamond
decoration; grip with later twisted wire wrap. Blade cleaned with scattered pitting; the hilt
cleaned and showing lamination and corrosion. Overall length 36 ½”.

ON HOLD

Sale!

Styrian (Austria) Dusegge, Sinclair Sabre, Late 16th C

Original price was: $3,695.00.Current price is: $2,995.00.

Out of stock

Description

The dusegge is a basket-hilted sword unique to Southern Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
The curved blade is patterned after the blades of the Ottoman Turks, whom they battled
with for centuries. Many of these swords can be found in the arsenals of Austria,
especially Styria, and can be seen today at the Landsmuseum in Graz. They were a very
effective slashing weapon favored by light cavalry. In Britain they are sometimes called a
“Sinclair Sabre”, because a group of mercenaries led by Scottish Colonel Sinclair
purportedly carried this type of weapon on their il-fated expedition to Scandinavia. They
were attempting to join the forces of Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus during the Kalmar
War in 1612 when they were ambushed and annihilated at the Battle of Kringen in
Norway. It is said that Sinclair was the first to fall. This example features a hilt of forged
laminated flat iron bars, comprising double side rings, vertically recurved quillons, and two
sweeping bars extending from the obverse side ring and joined to the pagoda-form
pommel. A simple design is chiseled into the quillon finials and around the edges of the
pommel. Grip has twisted iron wire wrap with turks heads. Broad 29″ curved blade with
full length central fuller, expanding toward the point and double edged for the last 10″.
Three deeply stamped marks of a cross in an oval are stamped on the ricasso on both
sides. Metal surfaces pitted overall; showing lamination and somewhat crude forging. A
relatively scarce style of sword in good condition. Overall length 34 3/4″. This style of
basket hilt predates the basket-hilted swords of Scotland and could be the forerunner of
their designs.