HUNTING SWORD

German, Bavarian, Eichstätt ca. 1697.
Iron hilt, octagonal knuckle guard, set with silver-plated brass rivets. One quillon defective. Small conical guard plate. The grip covered on both sides with buckhorn plates. Single-edged blade (L 58.2 cm), traces of corrosion, both sides with double-hollow cut and fluting, etched decoration: coat-of-arms of the Prince-Bishop Martin von Eyb.
L 71.5 cm.

Johann Martin von Eyb (1630-1704) was elected Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt in 1697 at an advanced age and reigned only until 1704. The sword on offer is an exceptionally rare hunting weapon, which is likely to have come from the Prince-Bishop's hunting chamber. Cf. La Roche Collection, Landshut Castle, v. Bistram, Die jagdhistorische Sammlung, 1984, Plate 5, No. 13.