A friend's cup hilt sword for comments

[fernando]

This guy, a local fellow collector, has all the luck. He buys obscure stuff for (extremely) cheap prices, gives them a good cleaning and the result is more than successful.
This cup hilt sword, with a lobulated bowl, is no doubt Portuguese. The cleaning is not yet finished and we may already see in one side of the blade a most unusual PELA FÉ DAREI A VIDA (For faith i will give my life) and on the other a not so clear VIVA EL REY DOM JOÃO, most certainly with a faded "IV".
This inscription and this King (1640-1656) are in context of the Portuguese independence restoration from Spanish control.
The mark on the ricasso is not decipherable, but its rubbing would only worsen the situation.
By the way, a lobulated guard is called by the Portuguese "Margarida" (Daisy).


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