1774) SWISS SEMPACH HALBERD BY ABRAHAM PERRELET CIRCA 1650: Bernese halberd version ( “Sempacher Halbarte,”) made in Le Locle NE, a municipality in the Canton of Neuchâtel in
Introduction: Staff weapons with original shafts are an extreme rarity and highly sought after by collectors and museums.
Why? Even with the advent of the gun, staff weapons were used as third-line weapons in Europe up to the 19th century. Staff weapon hafts (wood poles) were replaced one to four times during their working life due to use and age, which can cause the haft to dry, crack, and bend, rendering them useless. Staff weapons had to be ready for use at a moment’s notice (see pages 119 and 353 in my book). Replaced hafts do not have “custom features” like the original production line marks, or haft makers marks, or fit perfectly.
This type of halberd was incorrectly dated to the 15th/16th century. It is still incorrectly dated in older publications and many current auction houses.
Description: Solid stout quadrilateral (four-sided) reinforced tip tapering to the two-sided blade, tapering to a flat fluke, arched blade, blade edges with curvatures, maker’s mark “IP” at the lower base of the fluke, center socket, two long straps, octagonal shaft—length: 203.5 cm.
Provenance: from the old Basel armory inventory. —inventory control
Discussion: By the late 15th century, the halberd had developed into a devastating weapon with three distinct functions. The head of the halberd included:
(1) a spear point for thrusting and stabbing,
(2) an axe head for chopping and cutting, and
(3) a hook or fluke used to pull a rider from his horse or to trip an infantryman.
The halberd head was socketed and connected to the pole using two to four langets of approximately 24 inches in length. German and Swiss troops used the halberd into the 17th century. After the early 17th century, they were used as third-line weapons up to the 19th century, which explains why almost all halberd shafts are not original. The halberd was seldom used in Scandinavian countries or Spain.
The halberd is a multiuse staff weapon of the Medieval and Renaissance periods. It was used with devastating effects throughout Europe. The halberd was developed in Switzerland and was popular throughout Western Europe.
The halberd was responsible for changing warfare in Renaissance/ Medieval Europe. The Medieval and Renaissance periods were very violent and turbulent. After centuries of careful development, battlefield testing, and refinement, weapons were exceptionally well-engineered for maximum efficiency. Soon, the outcome of battles would be dictated in great part by the latest innovations in battlefield weaponry and tactics. A perfect example of this was at the Battle of Morgarten in 1315. Using a newly introduced halberd, the soldiers of the newly created Swiss Confederation rousted the mail-clad superior forces of the Hapsburgs.
The halberd was first called, “hallembart”‚ by the German poet Konrad of Wurzberg (d. 1287), who described a blade attached to a pole utilizing two rings called ‚eyelids in a poem about the Trojan War. It originated between the 6th and 9th centuries in the early Middle Ages.
The first halberds were a short sword called a ‚scramasax‚ (see page 313 in my book) attached to a wooden pole. The halberd had reached a more evolved form by the late 13th and 14th centuries. It is mentioned in poetry and contemporary records of the period. In 1348, Franciscan John of Winterthur chronicled the Battle of Morgarten in 1315, where his father fought.
Publication: The Collectors Course On Medieval Arms and Armor, 2021, Garcia, pages 345 (15) and 347 (15).
Bibliography: – Schneider, Schweizer Waffenschmiede, 1976, p. 210.
-Wegeli, polearms, Hist. Museum Bern, 1939, p. 50/57, no. 1372/1405.
Conclusion: This halberd has everything going for it.
Provenance…
Condition…
Originality…
Makers mark…
Arsenal inventory Number…
Good looks…
And it’s published.
Among 21st-century collectors, war halberds with original hafts are an extreme rarity. All collectors should strive for one. The typology of the halberd under discussion is, in my opinion, more elegant and, without a doubt, rarer than the more common trapezoidal blade type with an oblique (inclined) straight cutting edge. This halberd is a great addition to any museum or collection. You are getting a lot of value for the price. Priced under 4K for a quick sale.!!!*
All my items come with the following:
–Free shipping.
–10-day review period.
–Certificate of Authenticity.
–Autographed copy of my book.
– If it’s a helmet, a custom wood stand.
– In the event of an international shipment, we will help assign the lowest correct Customs tariff so you pay the least as low as 5% or even nothing.
I believe you will be very pleased.
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