Jeff, yes, that's him (see my post above, Johann <-> Giovanni /Gio, same name, different versions).
Just some quick clarifications:
Yes, words found underwater can be quite preserved from corrosion if the right conditions are met. For swords, specifically, there's, for example, the archaeological underwater finds of the Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland that gave name to the whole La Tène period (450-50 BC), dated around the first part of it.
The state of preservation of this blade is consistent with the given date (late 17th- early 18th c.) for such an object preserved indoors under not too harsh conditions.
Goes without saying that this blade is, of course, NOT in excavated condition.
The pommel, although presumably genuine (and probably datable a bit earlier, also), is hardly belivable as original with this blade. The configuration of the tang just does not coincide with the use of the type of hilt that goes with this kind of pommel.
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