Old Spanish Colonial Sword-Curious Blade

[Jim McDougall]

The more I look at the striated designs on these shell guards, as well as on the perpendicular guard on this example makes me think they are from the latter 18th century (as in this example) but in first half 19th century with the larger bowl styles. Perhaps the distinct 'bowl' form was toward 'cutlasses' as this type of hand protection was notably present in sea going edged weapons.

It seems that the 'guanabacoa' (near Havana) Cuban forms of 'machete' had quite a range of variation of course, and some had these striated designs on guards. The 'shell' guard was of course popular in Spanish hilt designs as the cockle shell was significant in Spanish material culture.

While this example has been perplexing with all these variables, it is good to see it with new perspectives.

The blade remains a mystery......but I dont think its British...perhaps a 'blank' ? from Germany, but the elliptical fuller seems atypical for earlier than 19th c.