The Espada Ancha

[Jim McDougall]

I have had personally a very much lifelong fascination with these typically short, heavy bladed swords of Spanish colonial America and Mexico, which began in my youth in Southern California. I had acquired one of these swords, but quite frankly knew little about it and traded it away. Some years later I found the book "Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America 1700-1821" (Sidney Brinckerhoff & Pierce Chamberlain, 1972) and saw the swords resembling the one I had. My regret at having lost that amazing example began my quest to find others and learn more on these fascinating swords of the Spanish in the early days of California and Mexico.

Over the years I indeed acquired more examples, and though there was very little material beyond that in the book by Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain, my research discovered a number of obscure articles, Woodward (1946), Adams (1985) and Hanson (1978). It was not until the advent of the computer that new horizons opened in research, and I found this forum then begun by Lee Jones. With that it was amazing that he too had a deep interest in these swords, and the article he wrote on them was truly an inspiration, and the research continued more tenaciously than ever.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to compile these years of research into an article, "The Espada Ancha or Machete of Northern Mexico Frontiers and the Spanish Southwest from the 18th through 19th Centuries".

In this I describe the origins of the espada ancha, as well as the fact that these were never really called 'espada ancha' but actually termed 'machete' in common parlance.
In the article I use examples from my own collection as well as from Lee Jones' along with the illustrations from other sources.
Most remarkable is the frontispiece of a vaquero c. 1820-30 created by David Rickman, a Delaware based artist and historian well known for his work in many books and publications which include some of the Osprey series.
In his illustration he used one of my examples as the 'espada ancha' strapped under the saddle and his left leg, as many of these larger examples were carried.

The article is published in the "Svenska Vapenhistoriska Sallskapet" yearbook of the Swedish Arms Society, XXXVIII, the centennial celebration of the Society. It is the oldest arms society in Europe, where I have proudly been a member for over 20 years, and Staffan Kinman, author of many arms references, is the director. It was he who gave me this opportunity to present this work, and I am sincerely grateful.

I am placing details on acquiring this article, which remains in English in the book, which is primarily in Swedish with English captioning and summaries.

In hopes this article might promote more interest in these weapons, I am hoping others out there with examples might bring them in for discussion. While I have tried to be comprehensive in this coverage on the history of these espada anchas, there is so much more yet to be learned as always, and hopefully this will carry that forward.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... In hopes this article might promote more interest in these weapons, I am hoping others out there with examples might bring them in for discussion. While I have tried to be comprehensive in this coverage on the history of these espada anchas, there is so much more yet to be learned as always, and hopefully this will carry that forward...

I meant to note that the details on acquiring this, if anyone is interested, are in the swap forum.




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[M ELEY]

Hello Jim. I got my copy of this journal and I'm completely blown away! This always was one of your lifetime interests and you really batted it out of the park. Your summation of Spanish colonial weapons is more thorough than most sources, many of them included in this study along with your own research. I particularly like how you incorporate the evolution of the 'espada' from its early form up until the late 19th century. I also was impressed with the examples from your personal collection presented to puncuate your facts (I saw our fellow Forumite, Lee, leant some of his excellent examples as well).

I have always felt that these Spanish colonial types might have been used at sea, as you point out succintly. That example from the Atocha wreck is impressive. These short chopping swords do closely resemble the hangers and cutlasses of yore. This article is indeed a crowning achievement to your life's work. Now if you decide to write a paper or book on pirates weapons, I know this guy who's got some examples...

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much Capn! Though an apparently seldom traveled field of study and collecting, the history is very important, so glad I had the opportunity to do this.
With the book on pirate weapons.......YOU are the one who should be writing it! AYE!

[Jim McDougall]

The espada ancha is probably one of the most under researched sword types in the collecting world, and surprisingly ubiquitous, yet virtually going unnoticed. There has been little published on them, the first known reference being "Swords of California and Mexico in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries" by Arthur Woodward in 1946.

In 1972 "Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America 1700-1821" by Sidney Brinckerhoff & Pierce Chamberlain , included them in the outstanding reference which has become the standard reference on Spanish colonial arms.

Two brief articles by J.Hanson, and Bill Adams came later, but nothing else until Lee Jones published his concise and most informative article here, now in the forum archives.

I have been intrigued by these unique swords of the frontiers of New Spain and American Southwest virtually my entire life, growing up in Southern California. My hope was to do a comprehensive study on these compiling research and collecting which has covered well over five decades, and to augment the few but valuable articles noted.

While this was published by the Swedish Arms Society at the Livrustkammeren in Stockholm, in thier Centennial Yearbook, which is of course in Swedish, Staffan Kinman, the director, kindly presented the entire article in English.

The work continues, and I recently found a shellguard example (attached) which is yet to arrive. As noted earlier by Mark Eley (again my sincere thanks to him for his response) these had a close connection to the 'cutlass', from which they evolved as discussed in the article.

Presently the entire article will hopefully join those held in our archives so those interested might be able to read through it. ...this is pending.

I look forward to knowing of anyone else with interest in these Spanish colonial swords, and comments and examples.

[urbanspaceman]

Well done Sir. We travel on parallel paths. Keep up the good work.
I wonder if this curiosity of mine fits anywhere in your world; it is certainly an oddity with more relations in the naval world, but still not certain.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much Keith!
Yes I remember that beauty!
This seems to fall into the category of naval cutlass alright.

As noted,the Spanish espada ancha, as I point out in the article, is likely derived from the hunting hangers of the 17th century which were typically used aboard vessels as well as the heavy bladed types regarded as cutlasses.
The heavy bladed 'cutlass' was far more durable for the utility duties it was most inclined to find use in, particularly ashore when such weapons were needed to clear vegetation etc.

The 'name game' comes into play here,as used aboard vessels, stout often shorter bladed weapons were collectively termed 'cutlasses', while ashore used in the vegetation clearing (and other) functions it became 'machete'.

This was actually the Spanish term by which the 'espada ancha' was known as these evolved in the frontier regions of New Spain (now Mexico,and Southwestern America) in the 18th century. The espada ancha term came from a writers mistranslation in the mid 1960s and has remained in place with collectors since.

This fine example appears to have the hilt of a British infantry hanger of 1750s and of course the stag horn grip popular with hunting swords of the times. As we know, these horn grips often occur on various cutlass forms as they had through the 17th century as well.The blade seems somewhat cut down from a hanger of the period much in the manner of dirks.

You will recall this example,an English or French hanger cut down into a dirk.

[urbanspaceman]

Peter mentioned such swords cut down to form 'Bowie' knives.
Here's my 10c worth.
As close as you can come to a cut down sword.
This Western/Coleman knife is the knife Harvey drew when about to start the knife fight with Butch. "Rules! In a knife fight?"
I'd wanted one of these since I first saw the movie.
I've actually chopped fire kindling with this one.
It's much bigger than it looked in Ted Cassidy's fist.

[urbanspaceman]

"You will recall this example,an English or French hanger cut down into a dirk." (Jim)
Yes, indeed Jim, and your 1785 cutlass.

[urbanspaceman]

Indulge me... who can forget this?
Sorry Jim, I've hijacked your thread.

[Peter Hudson]

Confederate Soldier with Repurposed Sword.

[Jim McDougall]

Actually its good to see life on this thread after it has lain in state since December!
With the Bowies, its important to note that the familiar large clipped point types were made that way, and I personally am unaware of any sword blade which might serve to that profile.
However, the contemporary large frontier knife known as an 'Arkansas toothpick' typically had a more even dagger type blade, and likely predated the 'Bowie'. The history of these knife forms is heavily clouded with 'lore' and it seems the term Arkansas toothpick and Bowie were often interchanged in many cases in 19th c.

The Arkansas toothpick would seem more potentially suitable for sword blade repurpose.

The so called Confederate Bowie had a knuckleguard in most cases, which was why espada anchas were often taken for them.

Ironically one of the most prolific supply centers for Bowie knifes was Sheffield, England!

The cutlass arrived today, and it has crowned GR on blade (Gilkerson, p.88) but hilted with Spanish cockle shell guard of espada ancha. It appears to be indeed a cutlass but of the 'Spanish Main' of the early 19th century in Caribbean 'South Seas'. As these Caribbean colonies were using many English (or Solingen produced versions) in these times, this falls neatly into that regional part of the espada ancha spectrum.

[Jim McDougall]

HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE: Courtesy of Staffan Kinman, Director, Swedish Arms Society, Livrustkammeren, Stockholm, 2023.




http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/...or Machete.pdf

[M ELEY]

This is truly an amazing article and I'm glad I got a copy of this article, Jim! Along with it's Spanish colonial theme, there is also one of maritime associations. As I've gone on about in the past (), as the colonial Spanish governments in Central and South America began to fight for their independence ca 1800, the resurgence of piracy in the Caribbean swelled to the limits of the original Golden Age. Any short, chopping sword would have been highly valued aboard crowded privateers, so many of these 'espada' types likely saw sea service.


And here's my 'shell' hanger ca. 1780 to add to the pot of naval contenders!

[M ELEY]

And one to match Keith's-

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much Capn! What an incredible 'shell' that is!!!
Great insight into these types of cutlasses, and how key this is to the scope of the espada ancha, which of course evolved it seems from these types of swords used on vessels. The terminology is always a conundrum, essentially a heavy, relatively short bladed weapon is a 'cutlass' as used on a vessel.....but employed in utility use ashore becomes a 'machete'.

The machetes that became known as 'espada ancha' through an inadvertent mistranslation in the 1960s, thus creating a colloquial term for them, now firmly emplaced, are in effect machetes. (a machete by any other name is still a machete- Shakespeare?).

While the 'shell' that just entered my arms locker has its place among espada anchas.....I will post another thread for it under cutlass heading after a bit more research.

[urbanspaceman]

I don't know what I like best: the superb piercing on that very practical weapon or the magnificent table of 'Elm burr'?
ps
Notice the Feur de lys on the pommel cap Jim.

[Jim McDougall]

Yup Keith, just like the one cut down to a dirk!

[Jim McDougall]

Capn,
In accord with post #14, it appears this shell guard hilt style is English c.1750 as per Nuemann (1973, p.83, 64.S).
It would seem this is virtually the same hilt form which likely circulated for some time, and seems favored for refurbishing cutlasses as might well be the case in supplying privateers and private merchant vessels.

While the shell is well known on many espada anchas, the theme is of course widely used on European hangers, including those regarded as cutlasses.
I have started a new thread with this cutlass today.

[Jim McDougall]

Attached is the PDF for the paper:
"The Espada Ancha or Machete of Northern Mexican Frontiers and Spanish Southwest from 18th Through 19th Centuries".
This was published last year in the Swedish Arms Society in Stockholm in their centennial yearbook, and is republished here through kind permission of Staffan Kinman, director, as well as the painstaking work of Lee Jones in reformatting.

I sincerely hope this article (which now appears along with Lee Jones' outstanding article on these in our archives), will encourage interest in the history of these intriguing swords as well as bringing forth examples for further study and discussion. The variations on these are boundless as they were virtually created by local blacksmiths using often many components and blades from many sources, as well as their own decorative creativity.

As always, I welcome your valuable critique and comments, with hopes of advancing our collective knowledge of these swords. While I have collected and studied them for over four decades, I am profoundly still learning, which is what makes them such an exciting field of study.

I would add here my apologies regarding the original posting of this article in the manner of presentation, and the rather off putting copyright notices on pages illustrated from a draft, and the other notices. Here the PDF is fully downloadable, and in the manner of presentation originally intended, and not in the commercialized demeanor which came across.