[Jim McDougall]

In sword esoterica we are familiar with the small swords known as mourning swords in the 18th century, typically held to be blackened steel with otherwise similar elements to the regularly worn forms.

However this particular sword seems to have appeared in several sale venues, and seems to be the same sword identified as 'corpse carrier sword' from Austro-Hungarian context latter 19th c. The reference was apparently a book on arms of the Austro-Hungarian empire but cannot recall title and never acquired the book.

While the unusual scalloped shell element on the guard resembles many types of traditional court swords, this one is most unusual, as is the classification presumably referring to pall bearers in official status.

I'd like to know if anyone has seen such a sword type, or any such term used in classification. While on the topic, it would be interesting to know just how old is the tradition of mourning swords, and the characteristics of these into those of the 18th c.