Quote:
Originally Posted by David R
To me, that hilt looks like a reliquary made to protect the original hilt or elements thereof..... or other items of significance.
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That seems a perfectly reasonable suggestion David. This is a most unusual hilt for hunting swords in my opinion, certainly uncharacteristic of the styles typically seen, and it does seem to have a baroque, perhaps somewhat ecclesiastical sense. It would be interesting to discover more on other similar examples or items of material culture might compare.