Espada ancha

Jim McDougall · 7th April 2008, 05:50 AM

Among the very few articles written on the 'espada ancha', the distinct frontier sword of Spanish colonial Mexico, the one written by Lee Jones remains one of the most succinct and is among the other excellent articles that stand on our site. It is most surprising that these classic examples of true ethnographic weapons of the Americas have seldom ever been mentioned here on the forum.

I would like to open a discussion here, in hopes that there may be collectors out there who might have acquired examples of these, and might share them for discussion.

There seem to be early examples of these swords that were fashioned after 17th century hunting hangers, and often were mounted with long cavalry blades, later becoming more machete like with heavy forged blades.

My interest in these interesting weapons began many years ago, as a very young collector in Southern California, I happened upon what I know now was an outstanding example of one of these. I recall it was extremely heavy, and there were engraved brass plates on the wooden grip. Unknowingly, I traded it away, and years later when I began studying Spanish colonial weapons, I always regretted the loss of that mysterious sword I know now was the espada ancha.

I hope those of you fortunate enough to have any of these might share them here, and that that everyone here might find these rugged Spanish colonial swords as fascinating as I have.

All very best regards,
Jim

7th April 2008, 05:50 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,940	Espada ancha Among the very few articles written on the 'espada ancha', the distinct frontier sword of Spanish colonial Mexico, the one written by Lee Jones remains one of the most succinct and is among the other excellent articles that stand on our site. It is most surprising that these classic examples of true ethnographic weapons of the Americas have seldom ever been mentioned here on the forum. I would like to open a discussion here, in hopes that there may be collectors out there who might have acquired examples of these, and might share them for discussion. There seem to be early examples of these swords that were fashioned after 17th century hunting hangers, and often were mounted with long cavalry blades, later becoming more machete like with heavy forged blades. My interest in these interesting weapons began many years ago, as a very young collector in Southern California, I happened upon what I know now was an outstanding example of one of these. I recall it was extremely heavy, and there were engraved brass plates on the wooden grip. Unknowingly, I traded it away, and years later when I began studying Spanish colonial weapons, I always regretted the loss of that mysterious sword I know now was the espada ancha. I hope those of you fortunate enough to have any of these might share them here, and that that everyone here might find these rugged Spanish colonial swords as fascinating as I have. All very best regards, Jim