Very pleased with this one Jim. By far the most detailed hilt of its type and best I've seen.
'Proto-mortuary' is another convenient Victorianism (or later) term as these were assumed to evolve into the so-called 'mortuary' swords.
I asume that this is purely on the basis that simpler is assumed to mean earlier.
Noting that both Fairfax and Cromwell (particularly the one with the blade marked 'For the Commonwealth of England') had 'Mortuary' swords, I think the connection to the just and lawful execution of the Man of Blood is debunked. Yes, I'm a Parliament man...
Thanks for the comments on the fullering. I have a leaf-patterned sort of mortuary sword shaped hilt that has similar triple fullering.
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