A Spanish colonial broadsword/cutlass

M ELEY · 18th October 2018, 08:56 AM

Omitted in error...

M ELEY · 18th October 2018, 09:31 AM

Here we have a Spanish broadsword or cutlass from the first quarter of the 19th century. This distinctive hilt form is discussed in 'Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America:1700-1821' (Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain). See plates 174 175,176.

This form of hilt consists of a small shallow cup with a curved cross guard, flattened quillons, a three branch guard with screws or rivets securing them to the knucklebow. Grips on these colonial pieces are bone or horn, often scored and sometimes of a 'plump' swollen form such as this example.

This sword stands out in that it doesn't have a curved saber blade. Instead it has a much older straight broadsword blade, probably German made with rounded tip and three line fullers. The old corrosion on the edge is a testimony to age and possibly from salt exposure.

M ELEY · 18th October 2018, 09:38 AM

The interesting dot pattern decoration and small design on the cup ( a pic of a bird? Snake?) is commonly seen on these colonial pieces. The riveted branches of the guard always reminded me of later Mexican spurs and iron work. Note the 'fat' horn grip...

midelburgo · 18th October 2018, 09:48 AM

I believe these swords are rather from the 1850s. They have usually Solingen export blades from that time, made expressly for the South American market, and therefore marked as Toledo and spurious dates (made in the 1840s but dated in the 1820s).

Possibly they are contemporary of the Chinaco sabers of the rebellion against Maximilian.

This one is marked as Toledo 1827.

They are another step towards the Guerrilla Commander swords of Porfirio times (last picture).

M ELEY · 18th October 2018, 10:28 AM

Thank you for your fast reply, Midelburgo. I wasn't 100% sure on the origin of this sword, but I figured I'd throw it out there for identification. In lieu of the fact that it isn't from the period of which I hoped (sadly), I will remove the above intro concerning piracy. I am very unfamiliar with the Chinaco swords, but have you seen these types with broadsword blades? I must do some research on this period!

midelburgo · 18th October 2018, 03:12 PM

I think not even Mexicans have put together all the info on these swords yet. Chinacos were a guerrilla. I found some antiquarians have used that term to call the swords they carried. But I am not sure how long does the term extend in time. Were a guerrilla from a different revolution still called Chinacos?

What I think becomes clear is that Government troops tended to use European-like weapons (like the French 1822 light cavalry saber) and uniforms, and the countergovernment troops used local made hilts and recycled blades.

Jim McDougall · 19th October 2018, 07:13 PM

This type of Spanish colonial espada is most interesting as in form it leans more toward more traditional sword forms, but its primary curiosity is that these carry elements put together in a redundant fashion. The crossguard with its usually flattened quillons placed vestigially under the shallow cup is clearly unnecessary , but reflects Spanish adherence to tradition over practicality.

Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain (1972, p.93, plates 174-76) note that .."...the origin of this style cannot be determined precisely, but it may have evolved in the colonies".
While these interesting amalgams in style of course are more interpretive in local examples occurring outside records, regulations or precise provenance in most cases, it seems they began around the early part of the 19th c.

Adams (1985) refers to these as 'round tang espadas' but offers no further insight. I have seen reference to these guard bars as 'gavilan' it seems, having to do with sheaves of wheat.Also, I have seen later examples with this structure which were clearly worn as 'court' type swords by officials or perhaps officers in probably remote settings. Midelburgo has well noted these from latter 19th c. termed 'chinano' but that is the first I have heard of that term, or definitive note of the period.

The blade is of seemingly Solingen form but unusual as most of these blades were the hexagonal section 'dragoon' type. In the times when references were written on Spanish Colonial (1972 and previous) it was typically thought that these blades were from Toledo, however research done in recent years have revealed these blades were invariably from Solingen...and the misperceptions derived from the spurious use of Spanish marks and names.

18th October 2018, 08:56 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	A Spanish colonial broadsword/cutlass Omitted in error... Last edited by M ELEY; 18th October 2018 at 10:29 AM.

18th October 2018, 09:31 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	Spanish colonial Here we have a Spanish broadsword or cutlass from the first quarter of the 19th century. This distinctive hilt form is discussed in 'Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America:1700-1821' (Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain). See plates 174 175,176. This form of hilt consists of a small shallow cup with a curved cross guard, flattened quillons, a three branch guard with screws or rivets securing them to the knucklebow. Grips on these colonial pieces are bone or horn, often scored and sometimes of a 'plump' swollen form such as this example. This sword stands out in that it doesn't have a curved saber blade. Instead it has a much older straight broadsword blade, probably German made with rounded tip and three line fullers. The old corrosion on the edge is a testimony to age and possibly from salt exposure. Attached Images Last edited by M ELEY; 18th October 2018 at 09:48 AM.

18th October 2018, 09:38 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	More pics... The interesting dot pattern decoration and small design on the cup ( a pic of a bird? Snake?) is commonly seen on these colonial pieces. The riveted branches of the guard always reminded me of later Mexican spurs and iron work. Note the 'fat' horn grip... Attached Images

18th October 2018, 09:48 AM	#4
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 257	I believe these swords are rather from the 1850s. They have usually Solingen export blades from that time, made expressly for the South American market, and therefore marked as Toledo and spurious dates (made in the 1840s but dated in the 1820s). Possibly they are contemporary of the Chinaco sabers of the rebellion against Maximilian. This one is marked as Toledo 1827. They are another step towards the Guerrilla Commander swords of Porfirio times (last picture). Attached Images

18th October 2018, 03:12 PM	#6
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 257	I think not even Mexicans have put together all the info on these swords yet. Chinacos were a guerrilla. I found some antiquarians have used that term to call the swords they carried. But I am not sure how long does the term extend in time. Were a guerrilla from a different revolution still called Chinacos? What I think becomes clear is that Government troops tended to use European-like weapons (like the French 1822 light cavalry saber) and uniforms, and the countergovernment troops used local made hilts and recycled blades. Attached Images

18th October 2018, 10:28 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	Thank you for your fast reply, Midelburgo. I wasn't 100% sure on the origin of this sword, but I figured I'd throw it out there for identification. In lieu of the fact that it isn't from the period of which I hoped (sadly), I will remove the above intro concerning piracy. I am very unfamiliar with the Chinaco swords, but have you seen these types with broadsword blades? I must do some research on this period!

19th October 2018, 07:13 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	This type of Spanish colonial espada is most interesting as in form it leans more toward more traditional sword forms, but its primary curiosity is that these carry elements put together in a redundant fashion. The crossguard with its usually flattened quillons placed vestigially under the shallow cup is clearly unnecessary , but reflects Spanish adherence to tradition over practicality. Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain (1972, p.93, plates 174-76) note that .."...the origin of this style cannot be determined precisely, but it may have evolved in the colonies". While these interesting amalgams in style of course are more interpretive in local examples occurring outside records, regulations or precise provenance in most cases, it seems they began around the early part of the 19th c. Adams (1985) refers to these as 'round tang espadas' but offers no further insight. I have seen reference to these guard bars as 'gavilan' it seems, having to do with sheaves of wheat.Also, I have seen later examples with this structure which were clearly worn as 'court' type swords by officials or perhaps officers in probably remote settings. Midelburgo has well noted these from latter 19th c. termed 'chinano' but that is the first I have heard of that term, or definitive note of the period. The blade is of seemingly Solingen form but unusual as most of these blades were the hexagonal section 'dragoon' type. In the times when references were written on Spanish Colonial (1972 and previous) it was typically thought that these blades were from Toledo, however research done in recent years have revealed these blades were invariably from Solingen...and the misperceptions derived from the spurious use of Spanish marks and names.