Bolo-style blades on Mexican/S American swords and bayonets seemed to have started around the turn of the century. The Argintine bolo-blade bayonet circa WWII comes to mind. Indeed, a nice find, but I'm inclined to believe that it's tourist (but higher grade than most). When you see "Made in...", its post 20th century. The fact that these words are in English seems to support tourist as well. Interestingly, you do see a lot of roosters/chicken hilted swords from down this way (A Brazilian police sword I used to own had a side image of a crowing rooster on the pommel)...BUT then again, is this hilt a parrot? I always found these bolo blades fascinating and they kind of remind me of fascine knives from the American Revolution onward, kind of "lumpy" blades.
|