Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 25th September 2010, 08:43 PM

These really interesting sabres are well represented using the search under 'Berber sabres', which was the classification used to describe them when they began noticeable appearance in number about 13-14 years ago.
Initially they were thought to be Berber, and from the Rif regions in Morocco, but that association was never really proven to the best of my knowledge.
Tirri showed them as from Spanish Moroccan regions, which seems to apply in degree as in my opinion they are 19th century ersatz type sabre/machetes that appear throughout the 'Spanish Main' of latter 19th century.

It is interesting to note that considerable numbers of these carry the M1796 light cavalry sabre blades. While obviously the British presence in the Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars was significant, and perhaps a number of these blades entered the Spanish trade sphere with that. It should be noted that numbers of these light cavalry blades were exported to the Americas, and may well have entered the 'Main' in those regions.

These, along with the odd swords with distinct 'finger stall' impressions in the grips and deep notch at the pommel, both of which are I would condider late Spanish colonial weapons, and would have still included Republican Mexico ports of call.

I recall acquiring examples of both of these forms back about the time we began becoming aware of them in the mid 90s. The brass hilt finger stall type I acquired was said to have come from Monterrey, Mexico...while the sabre of this form was claimed as Berber, Morocco (it has the MANUEL stamp and the scabbard with vertical protrusion at tip for blade withdrawal).The subsequent research over years revealed these types as primarily acquired during Spanish-American War and from locations in Puerto Rico, Cuba and as far as the Philippines.
I have seen the 'Berber' types in Mexican sword groupings, probably from the ports of call on the Gulf, and have even seen the fingerstall type listed as Algerian (likely from Maghreb associations in trade ports).

It is interesting that many of these sabres with the M1796 type blades have had the blade tips profiled in a kind of ships prow type shape reminiscent of the blades on kampilan, and I always wondered about the association being possible via Spanish trade routes.

The finger stall hilt types are often with added shellguards and knucklebows which led many to think of them as 'espada anchas', which of course they are not. Most typically these occur without guards much as these 'Berber' sabre types, and I have seen them listed years ago in English auctions and 'Mexican sabres'.

The factor that leads away from distinct Moroccan attribution with these is that they were never included in nor mentioned by Charles Buttin, one of the most prolific collectors and researchers of the weapons of the North African Maghreb. He lived there for a considerable period of his life, so certainly would have included them if present in any degree.

Im glad to see this posted, and grateful for the opportunity to collect thoughts from the years these have been researched and discussed.
As always, I look forward to new contributions and examples that may have come up with those out there reading this.

In post #14 by David, showing the silver hilt 'fingerstall' type without guard I mentioned....this basic type as I have described in apparantly most variations is believed attributed to the Ejercito de Ultramar in Puerto Rico and Cuba, and termed 'guanabacoa' (per posting by Gonzalo 7/23/08).

In #15 by Carlos, the excellent grouping here includes the top sword with full shellguard, which we discovered about 3 years ago to be a Brazilian form of espada, and a type established with provenanced examples. These also are known with British blades.

Items 2 and 3 are of course the 'Berber' type and as noted, these guardless hilts are often reflective of 'Moorish' influence either from Morocco or in some cases other Spanish colonial regions carrying Andalusian style. Many of these hilts have the eyelet pierced presumably for lanyard or sword knot, and many are in much cruder even wooden handles, probably reflecting local variation.
With the heavy blades on most, it seems likely many of would have served both as weapons and machetes as previously noted.

All very best regards,
Jim

25th September 2010, 08:43 PM	#18
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	These really interesting sabres are well represented using the search under 'Berber sabres', which was the classification used to describe them when they began noticeable appearance in number about 13-14 years ago. Initially they were thought to be Berber, and from the Rif regions in Morocco, but that association was never really proven to the best of my knowledge. Tirri showed them as from Spanish Moroccan regions, which seems to apply in degree as in my opinion they are 19th century ersatz type sabre/machetes that appear throughout the 'Spanish Main' of latter 19th century. It is interesting to note that considerable numbers of these carry the M1796 light cavalry sabre blades. While obviously the British presence in the Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars was significant, and perhaps a number of these blades entered the Spanish trade sphere with that. It should be noted that numbers of these light cavalry blades were exported to the Americas, and may well have entered the 'Main' in those regions. These, along with the odd swords with distinct 'finger stall' impressions in the grips and deep notch at the pommel, both of which are I would condider late Spanish colonial weapons, and would have still included Republican Mexico ports of call. I recall acquiring examples of both of these forms back about the time we began becoming aware of them in the mid 90s. The brass hilt finger stall type I acquired was said to have come from Monterrey, Mexico...while the sabre of this form was claimed as Berber, Morocco (it has the MANUEL stamp and the scabbard with vertical protrusion at tip for blade withdrawal).The subsequent research over years revealed these types as primarily acquired during Spanish-American War and from locations in Puerto Rico, Cuba and as far as the Philippines. I have seen the 'Berber' types in Mexican sword groupings, probably from the ports of call on the Gulf, and have even seen the fingerstall type listed as Algerian (likely from Maghreb associations in trade ports). It is interesting that many of these sabres with the M1796 type blades have had the blade tips profiled in a kind of ships prow type shape reminiscent of the blades on kampilan, and I always wondered about the association being possible via Spanish trade routes. The finger stall hilt types are often with added shellguards and knucklebows which led many to think of them as 'espada anchas', which of course they are not. Most typically these occur without guards much as these 'Berber' sabre types, and I have seen them listed years ago in English auctions and 'Mexican sabres'. The factor that leads away from distinct Moroccan attribution with these is that they were never included in nor mentioned by Charles Buttin, one of the most prolific collectors and researchers of the weapons of the North African Maghreb. He lived there for a considerable period of his life, so certainly would have included them if present in any degree. Im glad to see this posted, and grateful for the opportunity to collect thoughts from the years these have been researched and discussed. As always, I look forward to new contributions and examples that may have come up with those out there reading this. In post #14 by David, showing the silver hilt 'fingerstall' type without guard I mentioned....this basic type as I have described in apparantly most variations is believed attributed to the Ejercito de Ultramar in Puerto Rico and Cuba, and termed 'guanabacoa' (per posting by Gonzalo 7/23/08). In #15 by Carlos, the excellent grouping here includes the top sword with full shellguard, which we discovered about 3 years ago to be a Brazilian form of espada, and a type established with provenanced examples. These also are known with British blades. Items 2 and 3 are of course the 'Berber' type and as noted, these guardless hilts are often reflective of 'Moorish' influence either from Morocco or in some cases other Spanish colonial regions carrying Andalusian style. Many of these hilts have the eyelet pierced presumably for lanyard or sword knot, and many are in much cruder even wooden handles, probably reflecting local variation. With the heavy blades on most, it seems likely many of would have served both as weapons and machetes as previously noted. All very best regards, Jim Last edited by Jim McDougall; 25th September 2010 at 08:56 PM.