I found what I think is an old hunting sword on a dealer's website and was drawn to it because of the rather attractive hilt and evidence of some etching on the blade that was faintly visible in the seller's photographs. I asked the seller to tell me what the etching was and they said "letters, but they are illegible." That just made me more curious, so I bought it.
Overall

The hilt is brass and the grip is wound with braided heavy gauge brass wire. The pommel is faceted and the cross guard incorporates a solid side ring that projects 90 degrees from the guard.
Hilt
pommel

The blade measures 22.5 inches in length, 1.5 inches in width at the ricasso. Overall, the sword is 28 inches long. The blade is single-edged, except for the last 6 inches, which is double-edged.

Both sides of the blade are etched with four letters -- either WLZH or WLZM -- in panel that incorporate some floral embellishments. The last letter looks like a capital H, but the cross stroke is an inverted arrowhead, so maybe it is supposed to depict a capital M. Which is letter is right, I can't say.
etching 1
etching 2

Though the etching has been worn away in different areas on each side, I used the visible portions from both sides to draw what the etching would have looked like whole (see sketch). The etcher placed a diamond-shaped motif on both sides of each letter, like this: <> W <> L <>Z <> H <> I think these diamond shapes serve the purpose of periods in a set of initials. The style of the letterforms makes me think late 1700s or early 1800s, but I am by no means well-informed on that topic.
sketch

There appears to be the remains of a design or letters on the ricasso, but unfortunately, virtually all of it has worn away and it is illegible. My guess is that portion of the etching would have revealed the maker's name.

So, my theory is that it is a German/Austrian hunting sword from late 1700s or early 1800s that was owned by W.L.Z.H. or W.L.Z.M.

Anyone have a better theory?

Your links don't work or are password protectected.

Post the actual pictures here, please.

THanks

Nope. Don't load.

Now, post the pictures themselves. Not links

Dave

Finally found the file manager . . .

I'm not even sure this is a hunting sidearm, you probably need to go to a museum to have this checked out, I should think it is of European origins but I really have no clue as to it's use or date.

Gary

Thanks, Gary. I'm not at all certain it is a hunting sword, but it certainly seems to have traits of early examples (i.e., before they became a badge of office instead of a working tool). I've read that the guard at 90 degrees to the hilt is an early characteristic and that, over time, fashion morphed the "90 degree" guard into the downward angled clamshell guard we see on 18/19th century hirschfangers. Anyway, thanks for the reply.

I finally got back to doing the research on this weapon and can now confirm that it is an 18th century Hessian hunting sword.

The letters etched into both sides of the blade stand for Wilhelm Landgraf zu Hesse. There were two Wilhelms who were both Landgrafs of Hesse: Wilhelm VIII (1751-1760), and Wilhelm IX (1785-1805), so the sword dates from one period or the other.

It is definitely a hunting sword, but other similar pieces having the same etching on the blade seem more hunt-oriented than mine, with deer foot finials, antler grips and hunting scenes, etc. I'm wondering if the lack of hunt-related adornment on mine suggests it was intended for use in the military, rather than as a true hunting weapon. Of particular note is the fact that the Hessian Jaeger Corps, which was allied with the British during the American War of Independence, apparently carried hirschfangers instead of hangers and bayonets, so my next angle of attack will be to contact a couple of museums in Kassel and environs to inquire further.

Judging from photos of other examples, the disc guard that projects perpendicularly from the hilt is not uncommon with these older Hessian hirschfangers.

Hello, nice you finally found out what it is. Quite an old, interesting piece, we would get to hear a lot if it could speak to us..
Regards,