A cup hilt sword ... atypical

[fernando]

For as much as we burn our neurons, we never sure of how a particular weapon atypical composition came to be as it is ... unless there is visual (written) evidence of its evolution. That these swords in general were used aboard ship we must accept as of common sense; not that they were necessarily naval weapons, but because those who used them were either basicaly in land as also often boarded. I take it that their length, being evetually shorter, is not a purpose for naval use, as when these men came ashore for battle they would need a blade with 'decent' proportions. The fact that there is, at least, one more example with the same bowl dimensions where this one came from, narrows the range of conjectures. I see in another sword that i have, with the same inscription but with a longer blade that, the lettering is in the same distance from the guard. This could (or not) mean that this blade was shortened during its existence, either due to have been broken, which i don't favor, or because its owner was a small person... notwithstanding he wished to have a strong blade.
I would say that the inscription, being written in Spanish, was a Solingen marketing trick directed to Spaniards, a much more potential market segment ... and its similarity with portuguese woul also grant it a ride. Amazingly we can find this inscription in countless swords out there, but always engraved in the same fashion and (mis)spell; so it seems as this pattern was widespread to several blade smiths. In the work AS ARMAS E OS BARÕES (Eduardo Nobre ) comes a sword similar to the one in discussion, with the same inscription, with only slightly larger bowl and quillons, a slightly narrower blade but with a more regular length. Also interesting is that blades with this lettering sometimes bear a crucified Christ in the ricasso, possibly to go along with the expressed in the blade motto; probably, but not that i am certain, to identify a specific blade smith.

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