Auction Name: 2025 December 8 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 40022

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6325*40022

Antique 18th Century Continental Hunting Sword, Rococo Period, ca. 1740-1780.

An ornately decorated mid-18th century Continental hunting sword, likely German or Saxon in origin. The hand-forged steel blade measures 19 1/2-inches, straight and single-edged with a thick spine, etched with scrolling flora and fauna, including scenes of hunting dogs attacking wild game such as boar or bear. The blade bears symbolic markings, including the letter "V" and an arrow device, which may reference victory, precision, or noble lineage. Worth noting, the spine bears a sequence of marks, deeply and distinctly struck near the hilt. The cast brass hilt features shell-like forms and grotesque faces in high relief, drawing on Baroque and Rococo traditions of satyrs, wild men, and protective spirits, while the grip retains its wood or horn core bound in uniformed braided brass wire. Possibly crafted for an aristocratic huntsman, this sword served both as a functional weapon for dispatching game at close quarters and as a symbol of rank and refinement, later echoed in ceremonial and forestry traditions of the 19th century.

Condition: Brass elements worn but with a nice mellow patina overall. The blade with a scattered mottled gray patina, but visibly pleasing. Hilt a bit wobbly. Wires complete with light play. Tip showing rounding from wear.

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