R. D. C. EVANS reminds us that an easily identifiable sort of Portuguese bayonets were those made in the Azores archipelago, due to the large resource of whale bone in the composition of their grips.
The one posted here seems to have whale bone in the back (taper) section of its grip.
I have already seen a few specimens with a bone/ivory+wood composition, but allways the bone/ivory in the front (swell) section, which makes this specific one an atypical (rare
) item ... my presumption
.
I wouldn't exclude the possibility of this having been a grip repair, but then we could call it a bizarre job.
A pitty the blade engravings are almost gone; and so is what seems to be a mark in one of the quillons.
Most probably end XVIII century.
Blade 22 cms. total length 34 cms.
Fernando
.