This is truly an amazing article and I'm glad I got a copy of this article, Jim! Along with it's Spanish colonial theme, there is also one of maritime associations. As I've gone on about in the past (
), as the colonial Spanish governments in Central and South America began to fight for their independence ca 1800, the resurgence of piracy in the Caribbean swelled to the limits of the original Golden Age. Any short, chopping sword would have been highly valued aboard crowded privateers, so many of these 'espada' types likely saw sea service.
And here's my 'shell' hanger ca. 1780 to add to the pot of naval contenders!