Sword for Identification
 

Today I was browsing the vault at the war museum where I work and stumbled upon this sword. Outside of my knowledge, I wondered the possible origin and date of this piece. It was donated a number of years ago but the source had no information pertaining to it. Possibly a reworked European blade mounted to a North African hilt? Horn grip and D-guard with some crude unidentified stamp markings on the blade. These are the only photos that I have at the moment. Any direction on where to search for this style sword would help. Thank You.

-Geoff

So far I know are this swords from Cuba but I am unsure, but certainly from South America.

Regards,
Detlef

Here an old thread regarding this swords: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=cuba

Thank You Detlef, This is just the direction that I needed pointed to. Much appreciation.

-Geoff

You are welcome Geoff! :)

Hi Geoff:

Detlef has pointed you to the right place. Cuban machete/sword, Spanish-American War era.

Ian

It would be interesting to know exactly where these blades were sourced from; New World, or Old. :confused:

I agree with Ian. And I am thinking that they were made in Cuba.

Here a quotation from Jim in the above given thread: "An article, "Machetes del Ejercito de Ultramar en Cuba y Puerto Rico" by Juan L. Calvo (Sept. 2006) shows one of these fabricated in Toledo in 1856 but attributed to Cuba as 'de Guanabacoa'."
I think it's nearby that they get worked partly in the old world and partly in the new world.

Regards,
Detlef

Well Cuba Ok
but some of them are clearly South Morocco (until someone proves me that the scabbards are not Africans...)
So I prefer to say Spanish colonial...
:)

I think Kubur may have a point here about the scabbards.
They look awfully African.
Similar scabbards were used in Ethiopia ( see Spring “African arms and armor”, plate 24). I am not familiar with anything similar in any Spanish- controlled culture.

Although scabbards being made in Africa could be a possibility, don't forget that a strong African influence from the descendants of African slaves was present and still exists in Cuba today.