Tesche Small Sword or Rapier

[Cathey]

Hi Guys

This sword belonged to a late friend of mine for many years and I picked it up at auction last weekend. It is not a particularly attractive thing but feels great in the hand. The guard is unusual and I would like your thoughts on wether this is a Rapier or a Small sword and which Tesche it could be. The instruction on the blade is XX IcHAN X TESCHE X WIERSIERGH XX and on the other side XX IN X ALAVAMASIA X SOLINGEN XX

Shell Guard Rapier or Small sword
Nationality: German
Date: Circa 1650?
Maker/Retailer: Johan Tesche?
Overall Length: 35” 89 cm Long,
Blade length: 29 ¾” 75.6 cm
Blade widest point: ¾” 2cm
Hilt widest point: 3 ¼” 8.4 cm
Inside grip length: 3 3/8” 8.7 cm

Description
Plain round pommel, wooden grip (wire missing) with flat quillon finials, featuring grooved lines by way of decoration. The iron shell guard has a rough pattern decoration. The single fullered blade is engraved on one side XX IN X ALAVAMASIA X SOLINGEN XX and XX IN X ALAVAMASIA X SOLINGEN XX on the other.