A Extra Rare Portuguese or Lusitanian "Crab-Guard" or "Balls" Sword, 15th/16th Century.

A Extra Rare Portuguese or Lusitanian "Crab-Guard" or "Balls" Sword, 15th/16th Century. An exceptionally rare and historically significant Portuguese or Lusitanian "crab-guard" or "balls" sword, dating contextually to the 15th or 16th century, a type famously carried by Lusitanian navigators during the Age of Discovery. This highly unusual weapon features a specialized guard masterfully forged from a single piece of iron, characterized by double quarters where the upper quillons curve dramatically toward the blade to terminate in two large, flat circular discs. These discs are adorned with hand-incised geometric linear markings and cross-hatched patterns, intended both as a distinctive decorative statement and as a striking surface in hand-to-hand combat. The inner lower quillons fold tightly over the shoulders of the blade, ending in two distinct outward-facing buttons designed to secure the weapon comfortably at the hip for rapid deployment. The straight, robust double-edged steel blade is expertly worked with three deep, parallel fullers extending down the upper portion to maximize structural strength while maintaining optimal balance. The hilt is completed by a tapered, turned wooden grip and a classic flattened disk pommel, exemplifying traditional European blacksmithing techniques of the Renaissance era, with its substantial full-length dimensions presenting a formidable and powerful martial aesthetic. This type of sword is among the rarest and most uncommon in Portuguese or Lusitanian-influenced weaponry, with only about two dozen surviving examples known. Total length 106 cm. The item is in good condition.