Iain,
In checking through Briggs (1965, JAAS, Vol.V) I found this type hilt shown in his plate X(a). In the description of the sword there is virtually no note to this unusual style hilt with this loop extension, with most of the attention to the blade (one of the 'Spanish motto' type trade blades).
What seems significant is that this example also has the sandwiched section extending the blade, and somewhat similar style engraving.
He notes that the example is depicted in Balout & Gast (1958, pl. II) and then returns to discussion of another example of the 'motto' being seen on another blade.
It would be interesting to recheck the Briggs and example he notes from 1958 to see if the hilt anomaly might have some presence in whatever area it might be attributed to.
As mentioned, 'takoubology' is indeed fascinating as one of the specific fields of arms study which is remarkably esoteric, or 'nebulous' as Briggs describes. We are not just studying the history of the weapons....the weapons ARE the history.
|