I offer for sale, a lovely, (to my mind) Northern European, c1700 - 1720), Walloon hilted, cavalry Broadsword, however, featuring the North Italian - Genoese armourer guild mark of the "eyelash" or the "sickle" image on the blade.

Genoa was a major maritime and trading hub, swords and blade blanks were forged or exported in large number from Genoa and often bore this stamp as a mark of quality.

The blade is cut with a deep fuller for the first third of its length and it measures just over 35 inches (or 89.5 cm). The blade its nice and clean, and tight with the hilt. It still retains a sharp double cutting edge and has only the odd, tiny burr to its edges.

Each decorated guard plate features a slightly different, stylised Sun- burst. The top of the guard, where it joins the ricasso bears a set of maker hallmarks, thought to be German(?), but they are hard to make out in any detail. The cushion shaped pommel is decorated with a lovely, radiating leaf pattern. The grip bears its original, spiral bound and ridged wire wrap, which is complete and secured with two 'Turk's knots'.

There is also a collection number painted on the underside of one of the guard-plates. There are still traces of the sword's original browned finish on the hilt with just the expected patination for its years. Altogether, a magnificent example of its type of cavalry broadsword.

Price: £2,350 plus cost of posting