Spanish Model 1840 Cavalry Sword ?

[drac2k]

Thank you for the very helpful information that you have provided and while your explanation of the "RV," stamp makes sense, I feel that based on your mention of the suppression of all things related to the monarchy that the crown would have been struck or disfigured, certainly not placed side by side.

[Gonzalo G]

It could be argued several explanations for the maintenance of the crown, from economic and logistic, to political. In an ideal situation, the crown could be erased, but not necessarily. If I continue speculating, we must take in account: first, that the crown was part of the coat of arms of the first Spanish republic, so it was not indispensable to erase it; second, that the erasing would have more cost and delayings in their delivery back to the cavalry units, in a situation of eminent military danger, and third, the republic only lasted less than two years, with the government embattled amid chaos and financial paucity, which could explain a hasty re-marking of the swords. And don´t forget that an important part of the army still retained their loyalty to the monarchy, as it was proved by the coup d´etat from the General Arsenio Martínez Campos, which conducted to the Borbonic restoration in 1874. It would not be strange that the army only reluctantly re-marked the swords without erasing the crown, specially without the close supervision from the weak government.

Of course, all this is only speculation, but it can point to a possible explanation, in absence of more solid factual/documental data. Take it as a work hypothesis to start with, meanwhile it can be found more information on this subjet.
Regards

[drac2k]

Thanks again for your well thought out reply.

[drac2k]

The crown with the "RV," under it has been driving me little nuts lately so how about a crazy theory?
In the Spanish Colonial Philippines in 1897, the troop numbers were approximately 26,032 Spaniards, 17,032 Native troops, and 2857 Volunteers. The One Battalion Carabineros were volunteer riflemen comprised of 14 Spanish Officers and 415 Native troops.Volunteer Regiment in Spanish is Regimiento de Voluntarios, hence (maybe, hopefully, possibly}, "RV;"does this make any sense?

[Andreas]

Originally Posted by drac2k

The crown with the "RV," under it has been driving me little nuts lately so how about a crazy theory?
In the Spanish Colonial Philippines in 1897, the troop numbers were approximately 26,032 Spaniards, 17,032 Native troops, and 2857 Volunteers. The One Battalion Carabineros were volunteer riflemen comprised of 14 Spanish Officers and 415 Native troops.Volunteer Regiment in Spanish is Regimiento de Voluntarios, hence (maybe, hopefully, possibly}, "RV;"does this make any sense?

The Mod. 1840 was replaced by the Mod.1860, and that by the Mod.1895, so I suppose it is unlikely that it was still in use in 1897. But there is the Regimiento Villaviciosa, a Lancers Regiment during the 1850s and 1860s, today a Light Armoured Cavalry Unit.
Andreas

[drac2k]

Thanks for the information; it sounds like a very plausible theory to me for a sword dated 1849.

[Gonzalo G]

Still, those sabers were not issued with a crown stamped on the handguard, as far as I know. The fact that this item has the crown stamped, points to a cavalry unit assigned to escort a member of the royal house. But again, this is only a logic exercise, not a fact.

Regards