Spanish colonial, Malay pirate or...

M ELEY · 8th February 2010, 11:37 PM

I know I've seen this hilt style before, but can't quite pin-point it. The flat disc guard looks Span colonial, as do the bolts/screws through the hilt. The odd quillon reminds me of Singhalese kastanes as does the odd twisty metalwork. The blade is plain, tip rounded and unmarked, typical trade blade.

M ELEY · 8th February 2010, 11:40 PM

Opps! 3rd won't load-

Jim McDougall · 9th February 2010, 12:52 AM

Well you've done it again Mark!!! You find the most intriguing stuff, and especially interesting items that seem to ever expand the envelope of things Spanish Colonial.
It would be good to see this overall, but the hilt detail is excellent.
At the outset, it does indeed seem Spanish colonial, with elements that allude to 18th century smallswords. The fixtures do seem Spanish, and most fascinating of all is the quillon terminal.....it appears remarkably like the rattles from the well known occupant of Mexican deserts..the rattlesnake!

All the best,
Jim

M ELEY · 9th February 2010, 12:59 AM

Hello Jim! Good to hear from you. Sorry about the minimum pictures, but that was all I had immediate access to. Yes, that quillon does indeed look like a rattlesnake's tail! I hadn't thought of that! Do you think the grip on this one is probably horn? I don't have this item in hand, but am considering a purchase-

Jim McDougall · 9th February 2010, 02:42 AM

Hi Mark,
I am really not good at assessing material, especially by photos, and of course it could be horn, though wood seems more likely. The spiral like coil around the grip seems like it narrows at the bottom like a snakes tail. The bite of the snake seems like a theme on some of the Mexican knives and edged weapons of 19th century.....as always trying to recall where I saw it.
Sure would like to see the blade.....really interesting piece. During the early 19th century, there was a great deal of imitation of European regalia and court type swords etc. Many of these unusual items were composite of military style and courtswords with multibar guards with crossguards under dishguards, and others. This seems an interpretation of a shellguard with the pas d ane space between it and the regular guard assembly.

All the best,
Jim

kisak · 9th February 2010, 02:25 PM

Rather looks like the offspring of a smallsword and a hirschfänger.

8th February 2010, 11:37 PM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,098	Spanish colonial, Malay pirate or... I know I've seen this hilt style before, but can't quite pin-point it. The flat disc guard looks Span colonial, as do the bolts/screws through the hilt. The odd quillon reminds me of Singhalese kastanes as does the odd twisty metalwork. The blade is plain, tip rounded and unmarked, typical trade blade. Attached Images

8th February 2010, 11:40 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,098	Another pic... Opps! 3rd won't load-

9th February 2010, 12:52 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,950	Well you've done it again Mark!!! You find the most intriguing stuff, and especially interesting items that seem to ever expand the envelope of things Spanish Colonial. It would be good to see this overall, but the hilt detail is excellent. At the outset, it does indeed seem Spanish colonial, with elements that allude to 18th century smallswords. The fixtures do seem Spanish, and most fascinating of all is the quillon terminal.....it appears remarkably like the rattles from the well known occupant of Mexican deserts..the rattlesnake! All the best, Jim

9th February 2010, 12:59 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,098	Hello Jim! Good to hear from you. Sorry about the minimum pictures, but that was all I had immediate access to. Yes, that quillon does indeed look like a rattlesnake's tail! I hadn't thought of that! Do you think the grip on this one is probably horn? I don't have this item in hand, but am considering a purchase-

9th February 2010, 02:42 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,950	Hi Mark, I am really not good at assessing material, especially by photos, and of course it could be horn, though wood seems more likely. The spiral like coil around the grip seems like it narrows at the bottom like a snakes tail. The bite of the snake seems like a theme on some of the Mexican knives and edged weapons of 19th century.....as always trying to recall where I saw it. Sure would like to see the blade.....really interesting piece. During the early 19th century, there was a great deal of imitation of European regalia and court type swords etc. Many of these unusual items were composite of military style and courtswords with multibar guards with crossguards under dishguards, and others. This seems an interpretation of a shellguard with the pas d ane space between it and the regular guard assembly. All the best, Jim

9th February 2010, 02:25 PM	#6
kisak Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stockholm Posts: 182	Rather looks like the offspring of a smallsword and a hirschfänger.