Apologies for the late update, life keeps getting in the way of things. I could not find the rifle rests I usually use for photography so these are mostly top down. I will not speculate on too much, as almost all of it would be unsubstantiated but I am curious if the hilt is not actual silver but the German Silver/Nickel Silver used by the French. I have taken some comparison photo with this sword next to a standard 1882 and also a non regulation 1855 model of Superior Officer's Sabre with the earlier blade fullers.
Of course like I mentioned earlier, the acorn pommel was threaded. A gentle tug and the blade came out of the hilt quite easily. A bit of steel wool and oil on the tang if only to clean some rust and there is a hallmark on both sides as well.
Right now all I can offer are the photos with no substantive evidence. It appears in my eyes very similar in weighting and feel-in-hand to my French superior officers sabres and others of the same era but I admit I have not handled many Spanish or Mexican swords. Hopefully this will provide more information.
Please bear with me as my replies need approval before posting and I have a few posts worth of photos to upload, sorry!
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