The Espada Ancha Myth

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you for coming in on this Capn!'
This truly is a great example of how many forms of hilt were used on these heavy blades, which as pointed out in my paper, were actually termed 'machete' in period, and actually even in Mexican regions into modern times(Woodward, 1946).

As you have perfectly noted ,
The espada ancha forms with hanger type hilts (or other as seen here) were intended for use in utilitarian purposes such as brushing trails and other use involving heavy vegetation. Their only use as a weapon was the as same kind of 'weapon of opportunity' in brawls or perhaps attacks by Native American tribes if other weapons not usable, where any number of tool forms might have been used.

For me the fascination with these is that though most are of a basic type hilt form with the expected variations reflecting certain decoration and elements favored by the local artisan producing it. .....the huge numbers of anomalies present exciting challenges in identification.

[werecow]

I thought I'd leave this here as he shows one of the types of swords described in Jim's article with the hanger hilt and the multi-fullered broadsword blade (3:47 onward):

https://youtu.be/Q9qA1p_f9qw?t=227

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by werecow

I thought I'd leave this here as he shows one of the types of swords described in Jim's article with the hanger hilt and the multi-fullered broadsword blade (3:47 onward):

https://youtu.be/Q9qA1p_f9qw?t=227

Thank you so much for responding, and interesting video! Sure is one of the 'espada ancha' types from Northern Mexico into Spanish Southwest, much like the 'Avila' sword shown in my paper . This was c.1831, but likely much earlier origin, with the late18th c. blade.