The elegant steel guard chiseled with scallop shells beneath pierced, arched rims. The guard of round section with long quillons and knucklebow with turned wrenched and beaded terminals. The engraved ovate pommel lobed, with baluster and turned base, the grip retains its original complex steel and brass wire wrap and turkshead knots. The finely-wrought blade long, double-edged, and continuously tapering to an acute point, with a narrow flat and short fullers to each side, struck IHN SOLINGEN (?) and IN SOLINGEN, together with unidentified marks struck at the tang. Early 17th century. Overall length 114 cm. Light wear. The inscription IHN is an acronym for the Latin, IN HOC NATALI GAUDIO BENEDICAMUS DOMINO (In joy at this birth let us bless the Lord.) Condition II._x000D_