How early into the 16th century do shell guards go?

Thanks,
Mark

thanks for all the help you guys are awsome.

Wait a little before posting such unnecessary posts. Sometimes it takes some time for a person who knows the answer to stumble upon your topic. If you think of stuff like Sinclair hilted sabers and clamshell hilted claymores, I think they appeared only in the later part of the 16th century. Have you looked through articles on "features" here on myArmoury?

Since your not being specific... you find shell guards on hauswehr at least a century or so previous to the 16th... Rapiers, grosse messer, hunting swords can also have shell guards. I would think some early knives might have had them in relation to St. James.

I was thinking of hunting swords, falchions and simple soldier swords. Sorry if I was flip.

specifically in an English context.