AN ITALIAN CRAB CLAW BROADSWORD DATED 1644.

So-called crab claw form hilt after its curved cross guard. See Armi Bianche Italiane, pl.585-91 for related examples and particularly pl.586 which is closely related. Iron hilt with radially fluted shell guard and fluted pommel. Oval ring guard with scalloped medial and matching scallops to the quillon terminals. Iron wire wrapped grip. 31 ¾ d.e. blade of flattened diamond section. The front with large 1644 and the reverse with the running wolf mark chiseled. This is an infantry sword of well know type. Its blade length is calculated to optimize its effect for close hand to hand fighting. At the time, Venice was a city state which encompassed most of north of the Italian peninsula and the territories north and east of the Adriatic. It was the power which held the Ottoman Turks in check. Her fleet of over 3000 ships protected the coastline from marauding Turks and pirates both on land and at sea. This sword likely saw service aboard a ship as well as on land.