Hi Jeff,
It is difficult to guess, but I will try anyway. To me it looks as if the guard has been cut off, this could mean that it has been broken – not reparable, or that the (new) owner did not like a guard.
I have another hilt where the guard is missing, but here it is clear, that the guard must have been loose from the start, and must have fallen off. Loose guards can’t have been so seldom as many believe, although I do believe that most guards were forged to the hilt.
Interesting hilt you show, are the eyes mountain crystal?
Jens
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