Once again thank you for your input and interesting links, Mark.
Surely i am with you on the type of weapon this must be.
As for its origins, we are not so distant, either. That reminds me that, over here, when a piece can not be distinguished as whether being Portuguese or Spanish, due to the obvious inter influences, they call it Iberian, to give the riddle a sporty solution
.
I confess i get desperate when i can not precise the exact origin of a piece
, but that's the usual invoice when one keeps acquiring "unindexed" stuff
Maybe one of these days i find someone who has actuly seen a thing like this ... either in hand or in books.
Thanks again,
Fernando