New pictures.
This time in my back veranda, with daylight, before the sun hits the place.

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Thank you, 'Nando,

Now it's clear even to me that the pitting of the pommel and blade is homogenuous. :)

Please bury my theories at Wounded Knee ... :rolleyes:

Best,
Michl

I thought I'd add two similar ones I ran into recently. This first one is listed on a German site as "Rapier, deutsch um 1600". The inscription is hard to read but according to the seller it's "MERTEN STOS ME FECIT", which sounds German. The quillons are slightly different, maybe a slightly wider blade, different grip wire, wider pommel. Otherwise identical.

This second one is listed as "ENGLISH DUELING RAPIER C.1625". No thrust plate on this one, but the pommel is more similar. Marked "THOMAS D AIELES".