[Maurizio D'Angelo]

ciao all,
I need all possible information about this sword. it is the sword of a Venice Infantryman.
Total length 900 mm.
Classification? Dating? The sixteenth century?
Thanks in advance.

[Jean Thibodeau]

Well Del Tin makes a very similar reproduction and they date it to the early 17th century:
http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ntry+Sword

The Albion Doge is a much finer sword in design and late 15 th to early 16th century I believe but in principle it has a simple hilt giving similar protection to the hand:
http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/ne...an-xix.htm

Both swords I'm sure you already know but I think that guard with knuckle protection with or without a ring guard seem to have been used on infantry sword from a fairly early period.

We tend to think of complex guards more than a simple cross guard as being a late 15th century thing at the earliest but I wonder how early the more basic complex guards where used ?

Very early: http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...y+Falchion
Another: http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ntry+Sword
Another: http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...Black+Grip

Basically " Z " guards with or without a finger ring.

Not sure if I'm helping answer your question or just adding my own questions but I hope this helps a bit.