[Ian]

Alan,

The collective experience expressed here is drawing a blank to your very precise question. I assume there is no blade to go with this hilt. Has the hilt ever been used? If not, then perhaps it is not completely finished and the end that we can see was intended to be worked on further into a more recognisable form. Mention has been made that the "stem" appears well finished and precisely carved, while the end seems rougher in appearance.

EDIT: Sorry, I posted before reading your most recent post. So there is a blade to go with this hilt. This forum does ask that a picture of the entire item be provided in order to facilitate answers to identification questions and for reference in the archives. It is interesting to note the possible multicultural context of the knife and its history. As noted above, "... It seems to be unique. For me, that always raises the possibility of a multicultural item that has been influenced by an element foreign to the local one."

A picture of the scabbard may yield more information that the hilt, particularly if it has features consistent with Spanish influences.