blade mystery

[urbanspaceman]

Jim, that first sword is almost identical to mine. In fact, I would not be surprised if my grip binding was not a replacement for the original antler.

Adding it all up, I now think that the 1553 is probably not commemorating the Grey/Dudley tragedy but is talismanic as you suggest.

It would certainly make more sense than trying to consider the blade as early 1500s.

Maybe there was a connection to the date 1553 and its tragedy and maybe not: after all, it was a hundred years later and everything had changed a great deal on the political front diminishing the affair.

Remarkable research Jim, well-done and many thanks.