Unusual Sword

[drac2k]

I recently acquired this sword at a Gun Show. The seller stated that it had been with his family for years and that someone brought it back from Europe. The guard is silver plated ,inlayed , or onlayed (it was black when I acquired it). The blade is 37" long, with indistinguishable traces of writing on it and I believe that it is older than the accompanying hardware.To my untrained eyes it looks to be Colonial Spanish or French.
All help would be appreciated.

[drac2k]

pictures

[werecow]

Here is a similar hilt with the following description:

Lot 15: Deluxe 18th-19th C. Sword for Spanish or Mexican General or Senior Officer, Heavy Silver & Gold Overlaid Iron Hilt, Very Fine 1880 Toledo Blade with Exquisite Gold Inlaid Deeply Engraved Scrolled Panels. Rare Example of Seldom Encountered Quality.

Carrollton, TX, US
October 15, 2022

Description

Deluxe 18th-19th C. Sword for Spanish or Mexican General or Senior Officer, Heavy Silver & Gold Overlaid Iron Hilt, Very Fine 1880 Toledo Blade with Exquisite Gold Inlaid Deeply Engraved Scrolled Panels. Rare Example of Seldom Encountered Quality. Total length (inside scabbard if present) : 41 3/4", Blade length : 34 3/8".

[drac2k]

WOW,THANKS,BULLSEYE!!!

[midelburgo]

Your blade seems to be from an early 1728 model Spanish cavalry sword, a Solingen export. Similar ones usually under the name Enrique Coel, circa 1750. Hilt 1860-1890, some of these likely commissioned by Mexican revolutionary officers at the Spanish city of Eibar because of damascening (Zuloaga).

[drac2k]

Thank you for the information! Can I call this an Espada Ancha?

[midelburgo]

Originally Posted by drac2k

Thank you for the information! Can I call this an Espada Ancha?

The proper name is "Espada de Chinaco", being the chinacos the Mexican revolutionary commanders against Maximiliano, and also later.

There was a thread discussing them (in Spanish) here:

https://www.mexicoarmado.com/cuchill...la-hoja-2.html

But it seems gone.

Chinacos are also considered predecessor of charros so you can find them as charro sword as well (espada charra or espada de charros).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nohuanda/16669456566

https://www.shutterstock.com/es/edit...ddle-7647211uz

Espadas anchas belong to a diiferent geographical space and period, but certainly your old military blade could have been in one. These blades can be found in Moroccan nimchas too, but your sword is not a nimcha.

Outside Mexico it will be rare anybody knows what are you talking about with chinaco or charro sword. In USA they will with espada ancha.

Last picture from a book titled Charreria.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=...50684475946264

You can give a look to this thread.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24378