[Sean Flynt]

From a recent Hermann Historica catalog. I'm not crazy about the blade, but I think the hilt is truly beautiful. I didn't realize grips of this form and construction were used this late. Maybe I need to drag my MRL Scottish Backsword back to the workbench....
-----------
Lot Nr.2231

A boy's sword

German, circa 1600
A slender thrusting blade with a double-edged point. Stylized wolf marks are stamped on both sides. S-shaped, curved, octagonal quillons with a guard ring on the obverse side. Original stepped grip covered with leather over cord wrapping. Octagonal oval pommel with a tang button. Length 67 cm.

[George Hill]

S hilts seem to have been common. Do we have any evidence that this was more then decorative... IE, functional more-so then a cross?

[Sean Flynt]

Seems like an s-curve would facilitate trapping an opponent's blade, as would quillon finials. Hard to say if they were used that way. If they were, that information likely appears in contemporary martial texts.