A Good English Mortuary Hilted Backsword.
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39” overall, 32” single edged tapering blade with single fuller, last 12” sharpened on back edge. Struck with running wolf mark. The hilt is of typical form consisting of a broad saucer shaped guard plate from which two main guard bars extend upwards with the flattened terminals screwed into the pear shaped pommel. The spaces between these bars are infilled with subsidiary bars. The guard plate is covered with chiselled decoration to the outside consisting of panels of foliage plus four busts. Wooden grip, wire lacking.
Blade circa 1610 as dated by Wallace Collection, hilt Circa 1640.
See Cyril Mazansky, British Basket Hilted Swords, pages 233 to 280.and Stuart C Mowbray, “British Military Swords” page 178 to 226.