Thanks for that quote, Jim, concerning privateer swords being just as often blacksmith-made rather than from a sword smith. This piece fits the bill. I will definitely look into the possibile Havanna connection, as I seem to recall a museum set up in an ancient Spanish fort there. In my collection, I have another oddity with corrigated iron grip. It is without question a boarding type cutlass of odd construction similar to the m1803 and m1940 English cutlass. I didn't mention it before because posting pics for me is tantamont to writing a thesis
, but it might add to our theories and pool of knowledge, so I'll try and post those soon.