EXTREMELY RARE GERMAN TWO HAND SWORD KRIEGMESSER, LATE 15th CENTURY

Used in Northern Italy, Switzerland and Southern Germany. See Boccia, Armi Bianci Italia, #134 for a fine Italian example. This example, discovered recently in Southern Germany, is in fact an evolution of the Gothic short sword, Bauernwehr, with the iconic side lug guard, evolved to a thickened edge hook. It is 35 ½” long with 29 ½” single edged blade and in sound excavated condition. A sword of this type was made by Hans Sumersperger for Emperor Maximillian in 1496. The Triumph of Maximillian, a wood cut series by Hans Burgkmair of about 1515 depicts the Imperial Guard in Vienna armed with these swords.