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German boar-hunting sword, 16th century AD (media.kbin.social)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] Quetzalcutlass 6 points 5 months ago (3 children)

So it's basically a boar hunting spear, except way more dangerous for the wielder?

[–] Diplomjodler3 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

More manly that way, I guess

[–] Quetzalcutlass 2 points 5 months ago

Nothing more manly than scoring a twofer - impale the charging boar on the tip, and yourself on the hilt!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Some hunting swords were just used as secondary weapons to 'finish off' a wounded animal.

[–] Quetzalcutlass 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

That makes so much more sense. The tip was tripping me up - it looks like the tip of hunting spears that are placed in the way of a charging boar, except without wings to stop the boar's momentum along the blade/shaft. Or a butt to stick in the ground so all the force doesn't go directly into your body. Or the thickness to not snap under the massive force of a charge. If it's used to finish off a wounded boar from a distance then that makes sense.

Though wouldn't a spear or even a normal sword be better? The pictured blade looks like it would be incredibly awkward to thrust with enough force and accuracy to puncture heavy hide.

(And I'm guessing this thing's existence is because nobles consider spears to be lower class?)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Though wouldn’t a spear or even a normal sword be better? The pictured blade looks like it would be incredibly awkward to thrust with enough force and accuracy to puncture heavy hide.

I think the shape is so that it doesn't get stuck in the boar (thus staunching the bleeding to some degree). Awkward, definitely though.

(And I’m guessing this thing’s existence is because nobles consider spears to be lower class?)

Probably something like that. A fancy piece for hunting with your noble buddies, wouldn't want to appear like some kind of PEASANT or anything like that.

[–] Sylvartas 2 points 5 months ago

Also a lot cooler tbh

[–] hypna 4 points 5 months ago

It's missing the cross bar near the end. You can see the square hole where it used to be.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16881/lot/425/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

For that one guy who corners you in a party and keeps droning on about some shit?!?