You're welcome Alan, and your observations and thoughts were well placed and I wouldnt consider them guesswork. Most of what we can do with these kinds of anomalies is try to place as sound ideas as possible with information known.
In looking at the wrapped grip and quillons, another possible association for hilt components would be the cottage industry in the Victorian period for reproduced examples of arms and armour. One of the leading producers was the atelier of Ernst Schmitt in Munich ("Arms and Armour from the Atelier of Ernst Schmitt" , Mowbray, 1967) and this is noted on the MyArmoury forum.
He produced from 1870s-1930s and numbers of his items are found at the Higgins Armoury in Worcester, Mass.
Authentic rapier and broadsword blades often entered the U.S. via Mexico and the Spanish Colonies, for example numbers of the swords with blades carrying the 'Spanish motto' , i.e. Draw Me Not Without Reason' etc. were captured during the Mexican-American War and sometimes found use on American officers swords. In the same manner, I have discovered a number of instances where these type blades have been found in Tyler swords in various Masonic lodges in research over the years.
All the best,
Jim
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