Original German 19th Century Short Hunting Sword

This short hunting sword features a straight, single-edged carbon steel blade showing a dark grey age patina. The hilt is composed of a carved staghorn grip, a brass shell guard, and an S-shaped crossguard, preserved without its original sheath. Dating from the 19th century, short swords of this type, called Hirschfänger, were widely used in Germany and Austria. They served as functional tools for dispatching game and as ceremonial sidearms for forestry officials and noble hunting societies. The brass crossguard ends in acorn-shaped terminals, a common Germanic hunting motif. The staghorn handle is capped with a brass pommel button. The blade has a broad fuller running along two-thirds of its length for rigidity.