In the thread with images from the Triumpfzug ( http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...triumpfzug ), I noticed that the boar-hunters were carrying strange swords that tapered along most of their length but then broadened out near the point. Is there any specific purpose for this design?

Well, from what I can tell, they're basically meant to mimic boar spears. I've never quite seen the point of them myself. (Since, you know, one might as well use a spear.)

Arms & Armor has something like this among their custom works: http://www.arms-n-armor.com/custom918.html

There are a number of published examples of that type of sword. Many have lugs/bars that fit into the "spear" point to keep the boar from running up the blade at you.

We have numerous examples in our photo albums:

http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/1029.html
http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/4916.html
http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/4917.html
http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/7737.html
http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/7744.html

I assume the very broad blade end (of either spear or sword) is intended to immediately do the maximum amount of damage to muscles, organs and arteries. There's no need for sharp edges above this tip as this is purely a thrusting weapon. The rest of the blade is of thick rectangular or square section to make the weapon very stiff. It's like an estoc with a flattened tip.

Very interesting. I wonder if it was an attempt to combine the functionality of the boar-spear with the prestige of the sword?