Spanish colonial short sword?

Yvain · 4th November 2023, 06:59 PM

Thanks Kronckew, very interesting to see this hilt paired with a more traditional Mexican machete blade and scabbard.

I'm back home and thus have access to my (basic) callipers, which allowed me to confirm that the lenticular blade of my sword has some distal taper, being 4mm thick at the spine near the guard, and 2mm thick at the tip.

Jim McDougall · 4th November 2023, 10:18 PM

The so called espada ancha as noted, has many variations, and these were often made by local blacksmiths, often using repurposed components and locally forged blades.
The term 'espada ancha' is actually a modern misnomer which came into use in the 1960s after misunderstanding that term used in 18th c regulations being translated. In local parlance in period, these were termed 'machete' , as per Woodward (1946).

This grouping shows just how widely ranged the variants of these primarily utilitarian weapons were, including the one at the top which was comprised of a cut down dragoon blade; three bar cavalry hilt and the grip of an old briquet.
Some of these like the horn grip with largely full length dragoon blade were popular in the late 18th c. from Sinaloa into Alta California.

Yvain · 6th November 2023, 11:33 AM

Very interesting grouping Jim ! From your own collection ? The one at the top with the briquet hilt is very cool, I'd like to make a repro of it !

Jim McDougall · 6th November 2023, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvain

Very interesting grouping Jim ! From your own collection ? The one at the top with the briquet hilt is very cool, I'd like to make a repro of it !

Thank you very much!!! Yes, these are my own collection, many of which are featured in the article I wrote and published in "Review of the Swedish Arms and Armour Society New Series XXXIV",
"The Espada Ancha and Machete of Northern Mexican Frontiers and Spanish Southwest From the 18th through 19th Centuries".

The top item is a good example of how these ersatz weapons were fabricated in frontier regions of Mexico using repurposed components of older weapons. While obviously entirely incongruent and ungainly in appearance, the objective was to have a working weapon.

Wayne's example in post #7 illustrates just how wide ranged the combining of components often were, and why these rustic frontier weapons are so fascinating.

4th November 2023, 10:18 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	ESPADA ANCHAS The so called espada ancha as noted, has many variations, and these were often made by local blacksmiths, often using repurposed components and locally forged blades. The term 'espada ancha' is actually a modern misnomer which came into use in the 1960s after misunderstanding that term used in 18th c regulations being translated. In local parlance in period, these were termed 'machete' , as per Woodward (1946). This grouping shows just how widely ranged the variants of these primarily utilitarian weapons were, including the one at the top which was comprised of a cut down dragoon blade; three bar cavalry hilt and the grip of an old briquet. Some of these like the horn grip with largely full length dragoon blade were popular in the late 18th c. from Sinaloa into Alta California. Attached Images

4th November 2023, 06:59 PM	#1
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 174	Thanks Kronckew, very interesting to see this hilt paired with a more traditional Mexican machete blade and scabbard. I'm back home and thus have access to my (basic) callipers, which allowed me to confirm that the lenticular blade of my sword has some distal taper, being 4mm thick at the spine near the guard, and 2mm thick at the tip.

6th November 2023, 11:33 AM	#3
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 174	Very interesting grouping Jim ! From your own collection ? The one at the top with the briquet hilt is very cool, I'd like to make a repro of it !