^Lot 4398 WONDERFUL EARLY BRITISH MORTUARY HILT BROADSWORD.

This fine early mortuary hilt measures 42 1/4" in length with a 35 1/4" double fullered blade. The valleys of the fullers are stamped with letters that are difficult to discern, but what we can read looks like "ANDR_A S S TARARA S S" on one side and "S S ANDR A S S FARARA S S". There are also a number of stars stamped into the valleys of the fullers. The underside of the iron hilt is fully chisel decorated with a human effigy on both sides of the blade coupled with various motifs complimenting the effigys. There are three vertical straps screwed into the pommel that are connected by two horizontal straps. The somewhat globular pommel is also chisel decorated. The wire wrapped grip with Turks head knots above and below may be an early replacement. CONDITION: blade has a medium gray finish with some minor pitting. The tip is a bit rounded. The hilt is basically solid, but has a crack in the guard on either side of the blade. The grip has a dark patina and shows some wear. PROVENANCE: Estate Collection of Nicholas Apergis. (02-24733/BF). NON-GUN. $1,500-2,500.