[kronckew]

antique fencing foils & mask for illustration. the figure eight guards would usually have a solid leather backing pad to further protect the hand. the one with the pink background was a duelling sword with a triangular blade with only the tip sharpened (thrusting only, ie. epee) and the fig. eight guard is solid sheet metal. note the period photo of the man using one has the guard arranged so the long dimension is vertical, like on the subject weapon. like an eight - '8' - not an 'infinity' '00' where the long dimension is horizontal. it is possible the previous owner of the subject weapon assembled the guard 90 degrees out from the more normal smallsword position. the last photo is of an ealry duelling epee with an oval guard with a rayed flame motif.