Ah, I think it may have been an error with the " Quote " marks placement were your comments were in the body of the my text and I didn't read the whole thing ? At least this might be it ? The text seems fine now.

Oh, getting back to your reply: Yes the ricasso on the Doge is unsharpened and the ring does seem intended to protect the finger but as Bill mentioned in his review he also liked the handling of the Doge without using the ring in a fingering grip.

The small gap between the ricasso and the ring could let a blade hit or cut the finger if it slid in just right: This may just be a design problem with an early type of complex hilt that doesn't protect the finger as well as it could ?

I was just speculating that this ring could be used to trap an opponent's blade and be another possible use of the ring ? Maybe not a use designed for but it is something that could be used this way.

The Condottiere seems very similar but the gap looks smaller than on my Doge in the pic:
http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/ne...photos.htm

The Machiavelli also has finger rings but of a more evolved type that would solve the problem of an opponent's blade sliding in through the gap ! I assume that as hilts got more complex the first things to be improved would be little hazards like this. ;) :lol:
http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/ne...photos.htm

Sort of gives a hint that this gap was more a design error than a feature useful in trapping a blade as the later guard of the Machiavelli does away with it.

I'm surprised by the results of the voting poll.

Ten years ago, I might have been suprised; everything Italian has come into vogue, from coffee to clothes: And now, (happily) Swords. Viva Italia!

I voted "Very interested", but then I also love Italian design in clothing, shoes, cars, bikes, women, and many other things.