Mark and Keith, thank you guys so much for answering!!!
As noted, this 'double' guard was always perplexing to me.....its kinda like a regular cross guard PLUS a cup! Almost as if the Spaniards, so enamored with the beloved cup hilt, just had to keep it there vestigially.
You're right Capn, as we know the 'pirate' eponym was pretty broadly brushed and the Spanish Main was very much a notable haunt for such predators.
Those shell guard swords we discussed years ago and it seems always having old British blades seem to have been around in number, and situated mostly from Gulf regions, Caribbean into the coastal areas of Central and South America.
These curious 'double hilt' forms seem southern Mexico from Oaxaca across. It seems the halved grip (in this case with dark and light halves) was a known Filipino affectation, so perhaps the 'Manila galleons' brought it when docking in Acapulco.
Keith, the blades on early examples were mostly from various sources, mostly European and many Spanish of course. In the Caribbean as mentioned, there seem to have been many English blades in early 19th.. Would love to find a Shotley fox on one.......I;ll bet it happened. We know those were kicking around well through 18th century, and once in the trade networks....who knows?
On this court or officers sword, the blade is almost like a fencing foil and not likely for battle use, but dress.
Pictured, the 'Brazilian' shell guard example mentioned, the makers were in England c.1830s