French (?) rapier 17th century

[AHorsa]

Thanks Jim for your comprehensive response!

I am quite sure that the hilt is cutted from iron and no cast. It looks a bit like that due to the small corrosion pits.
I searched the web for similar examples. The most fitting one might be that one:

https://www.hermann-historica.de/de/...20lg=1&slide=1

The hilt is also cutted iron and it has at least one pas d´ane ring and shows a thumb ring, which I would attribute more to cut-swords. The blade is also quite narrow. The guad is also fixed to the pommel with a screw (same as the one in discussion).

Here are some other but less similar examples, which also show more or less narrow blades:

http://www.bertrand-malvaux.com/p/17...5-environ.html

https://www.proantic.com/display.php?mode=obj&id=243678

In my opinion this type of swords have been some kind of a compromise between cut and thrust weapons.

I am not sure about my one, but if I compare it to the shown examples, I think there might be a realistic chance that it is a genuine , rather than a historistic piece.

More opinions highly appreciated.

Cheers
Andreas