Longsword and Dusack

From Jakob Sutor’s “New Illustrated Fechtbuch” of 1612

Jakob Sutor’s Fechtbuch of 1612 has long been disregarded as simply a copy of Joachim Meyer’s earlier
work from 1570. It has been relatively ignored by HEMA scholars for this reason. While Sutor is
certainly of the “Meyer School”, his work is more than a mere copy. The first two sections covering the
Longsword and Dusack are indeed a summation or overview of the material from Meyer, with all of the
main illustrations copied. However, the third section covers the Rapier and is Sutor’s primary focus.
This section covers material from Meyer, but then Sutor further elaborates with more material. This
section alone comprises half of Sutor’s work. The illustrations do not follow those in Meyer’s work.
Sutor’s Fechtbuch then ends with a section on the Quarterstaff and Halberd and has a grand total of 104
plates.

The main contribution to our knowledge base from Sutor’s Fechtbuch is a better understanding of the
use of the Rapier and its variations in Germany during the Renaissance. But it will also help to clarify
information from Meyer’s work and can serve as a good introduction or overview of the Meyer
approach to Kunst des Fechten for those not wanting to necessarily study Meyer “in depth.”

I present here the first two sections from Sutor. The translation is a work in progress, and I will proceed
with the Rapier and Polearm sections. If anyone sees areas where my translation is in error, or has a
better working of it to suggest, please contact me. Your suggested changes may show up in a future
publication! My contact info is: kmyers3770 @ aol.com.

Jakob Sutor was a prominent Fencing Master in his day and was likely a member of the Federfechter
Guild. He was from Baden, but his Fechtbuch was produced in Frankfurt with the artwork being done by
Wilhelm Hoffmann. His work was republished in Stuttgart in 1849. This translation comes from this
publication which can be seen in its original form here:

http://www.umass.edu/renaissance/lord/pdfs/Sutor_1612.pdf

Watch for updates and further material as I work through the rest of Jakob Sutor’s Fechtbuch.

The following translation is copyright 2010 by Keith P. Myers. It can be used freely with appropriate
credit given.

Thanks to guild brother Kevin Mauer for suggestions and help along the way.

Keith P. Myers

Meyer Freifechter Guild

May 2010
 First Part
Description of Swordfighting in which a man can well (learn)
the sword divisions and from these the positions or guards.

Firstly, the divisions of fencing with the longsword are the beginning, middle and end. The
beginning is the “zufechten”, in which one opposes the opponent which you have in front of you.
The zufechten initially develops skill from the positions with striking from the primary positions
and the secondary positions.

The primary positions are four; the Oberhut (high guard), Ochs (ox), Alber (fool) and the Pflug
(plow). The secondary positions are Zornhut (wrath guard), Langort (long point), Brechfenster
(window breaker), Einhorn (unicorn), Schrankhut (barrier guard), Schlussel (key), Eisenport (iron
door), Wechsel (changing guard), Nebenhut (near guard), and Hengetort (hanging point). The
strikes with the sword are the Priniciple or Haupthaw (primary strikes), Beyhaw (secondary
strikes),and Meisterhaw (master strikes). The Principle strikes are Ober (from above), Under (from
below), Mittel (horizontal) and Zornhaw (wrath strike). The Beyhaw (secondary strikes) are Kurz
(short), Schiel (squinting), Gliez (glancing), Krumb (crooked), Prell (bounce), Wind (winding),
Blend (blending), Kron (crown), Knichel (knuckle), Sturz (plunging), and Wechselhaw (changing
strike). The Meisterhaw are Zorn (wrath), Krumm (crooked), Zwerch (athwart) and Scheittelhaw
(scalp/vertex strike).
The middle division is the Handtarbeit (hand work), when one has come to the Bind with
your counterpart during fighting, setting upon him swiftly.

Pg 3

The second or handtarbeit in the middle division is the greatest skill, and consists of
swiftness in anbinden (binding) the sword, winden (winding), wechseln (changing),
nachreysen (traveling after), verfuhren (inverting), schneiden (slicing), duplieren
(doubling), ablauffen (running off), umbschlagen (striking around), schlaudern (slinging),
vorschieben (pushing forth), zucken (yanking/twitching), rucken (pulling), absezen
(displacing/parrying), ringen (grappling), einlauffen (running on/advancing), verstellen
(deceiving), werffen (throwing), and nachdringen (bringing after). Here we also give
attention to the openings, of which there are four, and this is why there are four primary
positions in the divisions of the man and the sword from which to stand and step correctly.

The ending division is the Abzug (marching off), from which a fencer can move away from
his counterpart without harm and strike him.

The sword’s parts or components are the Knopff (pommel), Ort (point), Creuz
(crossguard), Hefft (hilt), Bundt (grip), and the Klinge (blade). The divisions of the blade
are the Starcke (strong/forte), Schweche (weak/foible), Kurz (short) and Lange (long)
Schneiden (edges). This is to the front and to the rear. The sword’s Starcke is the part
forward of the crossguard or hilt up to the middle of the blade. The Schweche goes from
the middle to the point or tip of the sword. The long edge is the entire length from the
fingers outward to the end. The short edge or half edge is also known as the sword’s back,
and is thus aligned with the fencer’s thumbs. Further, the divisions of the sword are
fourfold. The first part is the hilt or handle, the cross guard and the pommel which are
used for grappling, closing in, gripping, throwing, and other things. The second part is the
Starcke (strong) which is used for cutting, winding, pressing and whatever else follows.
The third is around the middle of the strong and weak of the sword halfway along its
length. The fourth part is the Schweche (weak) which is used for Durchwechseln (changing
through), Schnellen (flicking), Schlaudern (slinging) and whatever else follows from here.
A man should divide everyone into high and low, left and right, as seen in the figure above
on the right side. In regards to a man’s chief method when fencing, it means above the
vertex of the head and below the throat and knees to both sides. Finally, one finds the
positions or guards in no small measure elegant as well as cleverly situated to protect the
entire body with the sword and become divided into above, below, right and left. Out of
this and from the positions spring forth the fencing in the beginning, middle and end.
Pg 4

The man on the left side lies in the position of the Ochsen (Oxen). This is the
high area for the man and is of two variations, the right and the left. In the
right Ochsen stand with your left foot forward and hold the sword with the
hilt near your head high on the right side such that your forward point stands
against the opponent’s face. In the left Ochsen stand with your right foot
forward and hold the sword with the hilt near your head high on the left side,
etc.

The man on the right side lies in the position of the Pflug (plow). This is the
low area for the man and is also of two variations, the right and the left, and is
only a thrusting out from below. In the right Pflug stand with your right foot
forward, hold the sword with the hilt near your forward knee and wind the tip
or the point at your counterpart’s face as if you would thrust out at him from
below. In the left Pflug stand with your left foot forward, etc. Hold it forth as
on the right.
Pg 5

The image on the left lies in the position called the Oberhut (high guard)
thusly: stand with the left foot forward and hold the sword high over your
head such that the point stays completely above you.

The image on the right lies in the position called the Alber (fool) thusly: stand
with the left foot forward and hold the sword with the point extended out in
front towards the ground before your forward foot such that the short edge is
above and the long edge stays below.
Pg 6

The man on the left lies in the position called the Schrankhut (barrier guard)
thusly: stand with your left foot forward and hold the sword with crossed
hands with the point out in front of you towards the ground. The man on the
right lies in the position called the Hangetort (hanging point) thusly: stand
with your right foot forward and hold the sword with uncrossed arms before
you such that the blade hangs somewhat below you towards the ground.
Pg 7

The image on the right lies in the position called the Prellhaw (bounce strike),
this is both single and doubled. The single Prellhaw is used when your
counterpart strikes from above. Meet his stroke with a Schwerch
(zwerchhau) so that you stop it upon contact, then yank the sword around
your head and strike from your left with the outside flat to his ear, such that
the sword bounces away to the rear again and in the bouncing away swing
back again around your head and strike with the Zwerch towards the left.
The image on the right lies in (started in) the position called the Hangetort
(hanging point). Thus stand with your right foot forward, hold your sword
with outstretched arms above and in front of your face such that the sword
hangs somewhat below towards the ground.
Pg 8

The image on the left lies in the position called the Schielhaw (squinting
strike). Thus position yourself in the Oberhut or Zornhut with the left foot
forward. Your counterpart strikes at you and you strike as well against him,
but during the strike wind your short edge against his strike and at the same
time hit with twisted hands inward with him, step with your right foot to his
left side but quickly take the head at the same time with the swinging.
Pg 9

The image on the right lies in the guard or position called the Wechsel
(changer). Thus stand with your right foot forward and hold your sword with
the point or Schweche towards the ground near to your right side
outstretched such that the short edge stands against the opponent.

The image on the left lies in the Schlussel (key). Thus stand with your left foot
forward and hold your sword with the hilt and hands crossed in front of your
chest such that the short edge lies on your left arm and the point stands
against the opponent’s face.
Pg 10

The image on the right lies in the Verkehren (inverter). Thus bind your
counterpart against his left upon his sword, and upon contact thrust the blade
through below your right arm, at the same time pull back your head well away
from the strike towards your right. Then press his sword or arm from below
with crossed hands in front and with that you swing him such that he cannot
work further but you may work sufficiently to an opening.

The image on the left lies in the Zwerchhaw. Thus when you bind someone
from above or together with him upon striking, make note whether he will
strike around with the Zwerch. If so, come to him with the Zwerch below his
sword at his neck.
Pg 11

The image on the left lies in the guard Langen Ort (long point). Thus stand
with your left foot forward and hold your weapon with outstretched arms
long in front of your face such that your forward point stands against your
counterpart’s face.

So you now recover through the striking out and step and strike from your
right high above inward towards his left ear such that he must then respond.
Thus let your sword quickly sink below him with your half edge near his left
and with that press your blade and hilt upward and strike him nimbly with
the short edge to his right ear such that your hands become crossed.
Pg 12

When you come to the closing in the Oberhut, let the sword sink downward in
front against your left side, yank around your head, step and strike a
Mittelhaw (horizontal strike) with the long edge towards the left side of his
neck or temple so that he must bind. Then once again yank around the head,
strike with a second Mittelhaw from your left towards his right also to the
neck so that he must bind. Then strike a third time a high stroke with the long
edge straight downwards from above. These three strokes must happen
quickly one after the other. If you then have more openings, lift your blade
upwards on your left, then yank it around your head, take the gap with the flat
or short edge from below at your left through his right side such that your
sword once again slices around in the air and strikes down with the half edge
from above with crossed hands near his right ear as a feint. In the running
over from above strike with the short edge a Zornhaw to his left side and thus
you knock him away.
Pg 13

The image on the left lies in the position called the Zornhut. Thus stand with
your left foot forward and hold your sword over the right shoulder such that
the sword hangs behind and downwards for a backside stroke. Furthermore,
it counters all techniques out of the guard of the Ochsen, yet with unequal
presentation and enticing the opponent.

Your counterpart strikes at you from above, so step and strike through from
your right with a Mittelhaw with the long edge to his free-flying stroke such
that your sword flies around again with the half edge to near to his left ear, let
it run off, yank forthwith from your right to your left again around your head
as you step and strike him with the flat from your left to his right ear cutting
across through the middle line.
Pg 14

So your counterpart brings his sword into the air to work at the closing, thus
place yourself in the right Ochsen (note: where one can do the double
Prellhaw), yank the sword around your head and strike with the inner flat
from your right strongly against his sword such that during the strike your
pommel touches underneath on the forearm. During the stroke step with
your right foot forward well around his left side, thus moving directly. Then
pull immediately upward and travel out at the same time to the left side to
stroke quickly outward with twisted hands, then once again inward to the
same opening, but with the opposite flat.

Note, if you can reach your counterpart from the Ochsen at the onset, then
yank your sword around your head and strike with the outside flat from your
right side a direct horizontal blow to his left ear, then yank back around your
head again and strike with the outside flat from the right side also
horizontally. After these strikes fence however you think is good.
Pg 15

If one binds you upon your sword with outstretched sword, note directly how
he touches, then change through nimbly below, quickly flick the schwech at
him from the other side towards his ear, etc. Think about these many fine
techniques that follow.

If one strikes you at the closing from below, then strike him from above over
his sword. If he sees that you are coming at him in front with the Zwerch
under his blade, where he also wants to come with the Zwerch below yours,
then let your sword hang forth well above his and press with your shield
downward away from you. Thus you can prevent him from reaching you with
his blade.
Pg 16

If one has done a Zwerch to you from below such that you cannot come with a
Zwerch below his sword, then catch his Zwerch on your shield with a forward
shove, thrust your pommel half way over your right arm well away from you
and wind the long edge out over his sword from below to his head, etc.

Note: when one strikes against your long edge with a Schielhaw, then he
exposes his right side. Do not allow him to come in this way upon your sword,
but rather change through below and strike him to his right in the passing
through inward long from your left.
Pg 17

When your counterpart goes out before you at the onset, step and strike from
your left with the short edge and extended hands to or above the right arm. In
doing this Krumbhaw, step well towards him, invert your sword and travel
out downward at your right side. If he moves upward with his arms such that
you cannot bring him downward, then drive with the pommel from the inside
between his arms and release your left hand from the hilt, grab your sword’s
blade with it and travel after (nachreisen) upward. Thus this counter that
frees the left hand consequently renders his follow-up useless and at the same
time drives him upward and back with the cut on his arm. Do not allow him to
get free again and come to another work.
Pg 18

When someone has slipped in on you unseen with his sword so that you come
very close together, throw your sword down away from you, stoop
downwards hastily in front of him and grab with both hands behind his knees,
and yank towards you so that he falls to the rear.
Pg 19

When you find that you and your counterpart have run in together and come
close so that you must resort to grappling, then step with the right foot
between his legs, release the left hand from the sword and grab with the right
hand together with the sword below his right arm through and around his
body, and with the left hand grab him from inside through his right foot, the
lower the better, so that you have stepped with your right foot well between
his legs and can throw him with the obstructing hip. Swing him around and
throw him behind you onto his head.
 Second Part
From the volume on fencing with the Dusack, in what
arrangement such fencing was described, together with the
positions.

The positions in the Dusack are initially five: these are the Zornhut (wrath guard), Stier
(steer), Mittelhut (middle guard), Eber (boar) and Wechsel (changer), which, when you
perform these on the right, you must also work them properly on the left. Note: You also
have in front of you downwards through the vertical line five guards: these are the Wacht
(watch), the Schnitt (cut) which is the Versazung (parry) from above, the Lang Orth (long
point), the Bastey (bastion) which is double, and Bogen (bow) which is the Versazung
(parry) from below. Furthermore, you will now find that the strikes are four and the lines
are four as well, and through these the strokes arise: the vertical line or Scheittel
(vertex/scalp) line through which the Oberhau (strike from above) develops and the
opponent becomes divided into right and left. The second diagonal hanging lines, through
which the Zornhau (wrath strike) develops, are called the Zorn (wrath) and Strich (stroke)
lines from both sides. The Mittelhau (horizontal strike) develops
Pg 21

through the third cross-wise or horizontal lines. The fourth diagonal rising
lines are also found to be double showing the Underhau (strike from below)
also to both sides.

Now from the diagram: “A” is the Scheitelhau (vertex/scalp strike) from
above as far as the middle, and “E” the Underhau from below again as far as
the middle. “B” is the left Oberhau diagonally as far as the middle and “H” the
right Oberhau diagonally also as far as the middle. “C” is the left Mittelhau and
“G” the right Mittelhaw against each other. “D” is the left Underhau from
below as far as the middle, and “F” the right Underhau from below also as far
as the middle.

The secondary strikes are Sturzhau (plunging strike) from above and Zornhau
(wrath strike) to touch, Krumphau (crooked strike), Kurzhau (short strike),
Zwingerhau (swinging strike), Brummerhau (roaring strike), Weckerhau
(waking strike), Rosenhau (rose strike), Gefehrhau (danger strike),
Entrusthau (anger strike), Fehlhau (failing strike), Blendthau (blinding strike),
Schnelhau (snapping strike), Windhau (winding strike), Bochhau (knocking
strike), Wechselhau (changing strike), and Kreuzhau (crossing strike).
Pg 22

Stand in the Oberhut (high guard) with the right foot forward, hold your
Dusack over your head, and let it hang outward to the rear, as the image on
the right illustrates. When you presently stand thus in the Oberhut and your
counterpart strikes to your body, outward or inward, to the left or to the right,
then step well off from his strike and at the same time strike long over the top
of his strike onto his head. Thus you often bring forth from either side such an
Oberhau, and can also often strike with a Mittelhau from the other side
through his face.

Note: If your counterpart does not strike in this position, but rather puts
himself in a Versazung (parry) before you, then step with your right foot
around to his right and strike first from above outward to his right arm so that
he must avoid this. If he then drives against your strike with his Dusack to
stop it, do not let your strike make contact, but rather drive in to fake high in
front and then run off below. Then step quickly again around to his left and
strike him again in front through his face.
Pg 23

When your counterpart is not striking at you, then fence out of the Mittelhut
against him thusly: note whether you can reach him, then strike with a
Kreuzhau through his face. But if he has his Dusack extended to parry, then
strike with the Kreuzhau to the hand. If he instead leads out with the Dusack,
then you drive through him with the same Kreuzhau. If he also strikes like
this (with a Kreutzhau), then quickly strike with two Mittelhau’s powerfully
from both sides through either of his flying strikes. With that you weaken his
strikes and make his arm tired. Thus you can finish him with another “after”
strike to an opening.
Pg 24

When you come near to your counterpart, strike through before him from
your right into a left Wechsel with the Geberden (giver). When you have
struck like this and he attacks your opening from above, then drive nimbly
upwards with a long cut outward against his right arm to parry. If then the
Dusacks touch together, wind the foremost point nimbly upward and stab him
over your hand outward over his arm to his face. Then nimbly yank upward
again, let the blade snap around and strike him with the inside flat under your
hand with hanging Dusack to his elbow. Before he can recover properly, step
back and strike him in front through his face.
Pg 25

At the onset, use the Weckerhau (waking strike) like this: strike into him with
a powerful Oberhau. He parries the strike, so at the same time that his parry
touches, wind the strike into a thrust by pushing your Dusack around and
inward into his face. If he drives this off, then strike upwards with the curved
edge through his arm.

Item: Bind his Bogen with Gerade Versazung (straight parrying, aka: Schnitt)
from an Oberhau. As soon as they contact, wind the long edge while still
remaining bound to his Dusack either upwards or through his face. With that
you drive him upwards and therefore strike him in the driving out
horizontally through his arm.
Pg 26

Your counterpart strikes at you with an Entrusthau (anger strike) from above.
Note this immediately as his Dusack yanks through the air to strike, and
nimbly yank around your head as well to strike from a little below upward
against his strike such that it yet snaps through the air with the long edge onto
his Dusack and so that your Dusack stands between you and him.

Item: Stand with the left foot forward and hold your Dusack in the Eber. If he
strikes from above, then drive out with both arms to parry such that your
Dusack comes to rest with its back on your left arm, spring in under his strike
into a bind and thrust over the outer half of his right arm to his face. Then
step out and strike against his left also through his face.
Pg 27

At the closing your counterpart is positioned in the Gerader Versazung or

Bogen, so strike to his right arm from above as you step and set him aside.
Then let the short edge sink downward hard over his arm, at the same time
yank your weapon upward once again so that you do not bind with the strike
but rather let it thus fail and run over his arm. With that he drives around to
parry, so step out nimbly to his left and strike him straight through his face.

Note: When you come to the closing with your counterpart in the left
Oberhut, then drive from your left from above and from your right from below
strongly together over your forward extended right thigh through his face
striking three or four times into the same strike as long as an opening is seen.
Afterwards again strike nimbly long through the Kreuz (crossing strike), and
with that you defend against his strikes with distance.
Pg 28

At the onset throw a high strike from above to his head. If your counterpart
parries this with his Bogen and drives high and upward, then drive out with
your hilt and sink your forward point over his parry inward to his face. With
that you step still higher than his parry and at the same time sink your body as
you spring a little closer, then drive with your rearward point the hilt below
his Dusack inward to his face. If he follows afterwards with the Dusack, then
stab him once again with the forward point outward over his right arm and
from there strike through with the Kreuz as you withdraw.

Item: When he intends to strike you high and Uberlauffen (run over), then
catch him when he is thus high in the air from below in the Bogen, spring in
with a wide step under his weapon and bind him immediately, then thrust
with the hilt below his Dusack into his face. After that strike through once
again with the Kreuz as you withdraw.
Pg 29

If your counterpart has you in the bind with his Bogen on yours and is high
with his parry, then wind again your short edge under his Dusack inwards to
his left, and with that you give the forward opening which he then hastens to
from above. So cut him from your right and immediately drive back his strike
upon his arm with a step out, and out of this cut drive quickly with the point to
his face.
Pg 30

You come to the closing in the guard of the Stier and your counterpart strikes
you from his right. This is from below or above. Then spring well away from
his blow to his left side and strike with him at the same time, but such that you
remain with your weapon above his towards his face and against his hand.
Thus consequently he has his weapon out with his arms entirely extended
such that your Dusack cuts around again over your head into the Sturzhau
(plunging cut) or left Stier. From this blow throw a horizontal strike with the
outside flat to the right side of his face such that your Dusack once again cuts
around and over your head into the right Stier. These two strikes must follow
each other quickly and strongly. After that carry through from these with a
thrust from below, but pull the thrust back and strike two blows through with
the Kreuz.
Pg 31

If your counterpart is positioned in the Bogen, then step and strike with a
strong blow from above to his hilt. He will want to nimbly strike after this
blow, therefore note this so that your strike does not come through, but rather
binds him. Thus let your blade run off downward onto his right arm, then
immediately yank your weapon upward once again and strike quickly a
second time. At the same time he yanks out towards the strike near his hilt.
However, while he is still leading high to the strike inwards through his face,
see that you do not close with your foot so that your most extended parts can
still reach him well.
Pg 32

You come to the onset in the right Zornhut, with which you present the entire
left side as an opening, and which then your counterpart will attack with a
strike, and forthwith he strikes towards you from above. So step under this
with your right foot well out to his left side away from his blow and strike
together with him but such that your weapon comes over his Dusack into his
head and hand. Therein he holds forth the weapon so that your Dusack
follows after the strike and comes near your left in the Wechsel. From there,
when he strikes towards your right opening, catch his free-flying strike with
the long edge strongly upwards from your right, let your weapon drive
completely around your head and then strike him with a Windhauen (winding
strike) outward over his right arm.
Pg 33

Stand in the Gerade Versazung (straight parrying) or the Schnitt with the right
foot forward and hold your Dusack forward with an extended arm such that
the long edge is directed towards the opponent and the forward point stands
out before him. From here parry his Oberhau with the long edge and thrust
as soon as the Dusacks come together. Then pull your weapon completely
upwards to your left such that you come into the left Stier and from there
throw either an Underhau or a Mittelhau, or also diagonally over his right arm
to his right through his face strong and long away from you. Forthwith strike
further with Kreuzstreichen (crossing strikes) long through his face.
Pg 34

When you are positioned before your counterpart in the Bogen, pay attention
to whether he will strike at your head from his right towards your left. If so,
wind with a hanging Dusack the long edge upwards against his strike and at
the same time as the parry step with your left foot behind your right away
from his strike and let his blow go off of your long edge downward near to
your left. Then step with the right foot further to his left and strike forward
through his face.

Item: You have parried his strike with your Bogen upwards to your left side,
then as soon as it touches yank your Dusack back to your left shoulder and
forthwith strike from your left shoulder diagonally to his right through his
face or arm. From there strike with the Kreuz and horizontal strikes as you
withdraw.
Pg 35

Poem