Amazing Norman! Goes to show we never know what venues we end up finding answers. Clearly this sword could date well into 19th c. as the 1868 end for this outfit shows.
Ive always thought the 'mourning sword' factor was kinda intriguing, just due to being rather unusual aspect of the sword as a fashion element.
These cut steel hilts are fascinating as they seem rather 'steam punk' or to that effect. They seem to have evolved in the shop of Matthew Boulton and Joseph Wedgewood about 1790 in Birmingham.
Seems the fashion hung around for a while.
Years back I found an unusual sword that falls sort of into this unusual category, which was classified as a 'corpse carriers' sword (?) and according to details from Austria c. 1880s + Honestly Ive never seen another like this nor listed as a corpse carrier etc. presumably pall bearers.
A most esoteric area of sword fashion.
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