EUROPEAN OFFICER'S RELIC SMALL-SWORD CA.1695

This late 1600s - early 1700s officer's small-sword was recently found in an old house in Connecticut. It looks to have been made into a hunting implement, probably by a peasant who scavenged it from a battlefield. The hilt is in the Dutch fashion, with the characteristic massive cuboid pommel, decorated in high relief. Broken blade was period-tipped, and is now 52 cm long, maker-marked at the ricasso. Shell was removed, and by the looks of it this sword was used to dispatch wounded game. Similar broken and reused martial swords are known, most have the shell removed, ostensibly for the convenience of carrying in the woods. Knuckle bow has a fracture at the junction with the ricasso, and is weak.
A neat rustic piece.