Rev War Finger Hole Short Sword

murph21 · 13th December 2025, 11:41 PM

Hello again. Recent short sword purchase from estate sale via online auction here in Baltimore, MD. 18.5" overall with 13.5" blade. Assume Revolutionary War era due to the "homemade" simplicity and chunkiness of the hilt and lack of decoration other than simple scribed quillions. But maybe that is not correct? Cross guard and quillions are iron. Wooden handle with intermediate metal "washers" and simple copper cap. Blade style has that slight dip to it in middle. Has a letter "C' marked on blade with a barb (like a fish hook?) at top of the C. Wondering if anyone has seen this mark before? Also curious about the big finger ring/loop which is under the hilt. Is that an unusual location or size for it? (actually feels pretty comfortable to hold with finger thru it...plenty of room). Haven't seen anything similar to that ring in the Rev. period reference books I have. Maybe this is just a blacksmith one-off? Also came with a leather hilt with copper rivets, simple decorative stamping on one side, copper wire stitching on the other. Any thoughts on this one would be greatly appreciated!

Hotspur · Yesterday, 06:10 PM

These are generally listed as northern Mexican saddle swords. Mexican revolution period.

Someone will remember the espada ancha threads.

Cheers
GC

Buried on my drive are other examples

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 07:33 PM

Murph, Glen is spot on!!! This is a characteristic Central American dirk, knife from Spanish colonial context, and one of the nicest I have seen!! as it does seem an earlier example, possibly early years of 19th c. or earlier. As for the Revolution, there were a number of Spanish colonial arms in use, but mostly Gulf colonies and swords of 'bilbo' type (Nuemann, 1972). It is not commonly known that there was a degree of Spanish involvement in the Revolution in some aspects.
It does present interesting potential if this can be proven an 18th century example of these weapons well known in later 19th c..

You bring in some beauties!! Keep em comin'!!!

13th December 2025, 11:41 PM	#1
murph21 Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Posts: 8	Rev War Finger Hole Short Sword Hello again. Recent short sword purchase from estate sale via online auction here in Baltimore, MD. 18.5" overall with 13.5" blade. Assume Revolutionary War era due to the "homemade" simplicity and chunkiness of the hilt and lack of decoration other than simple scribed quillions. But maybe that is not correct? Cross guard and quillions are iron. Wooden handle with intermediate metal "washers" and simple copper cap. Blade style has that slight dip to it in middle. Has a letter "C' marked on blade with a barb (like a fish hook?) at top of the C. Wondering if anyone has seen this mark before? Also curious about the big finger ring/loop which is under the hilt. Is that an unusual location or size for it? (actually feels pretty comfortable to hold with finger thru it...plenty of room). Haven't seen anything similar to that ring in the Rev. period reference books I have. Maybe this is just a blacksmith one-off? Also came with a leather hilt with copper rivets, simple decorative stamping on one side, copper wire stitching on the other. Any thoughts on this one would be greatly appreciated! Attached Images

Yesterday, 06:10 PM	#2
Hotspur Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nipmuc USA Posts: 542	These are generally listed as northern Mexican saddle swords. Mexican revolution period. Someone will remember the espada ancha threads. Cheers GC Buried on my drive are other examples Attached Images

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Yesterday, 07:33 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	Murph, Glen is spot on!!! This is a characteristic Central American dirk, knife from Spanish colonial context, and one of the nicest I have seen!! as it does seem an earlier example, possibly early years of 19th c. or earlier. As for the Revolution, there were a number of Spanish colonial arms in use, but mostly Gulf colonies and swords of 'bilbo' type (Nuemann, 1972). It is not commonly known that there was a degree of Spanish involvement in the Revolution in some aspects. It does present interesting potential if this can be proven an 18th century example of these weapons well known in later 19th c.. You bring in some beauties!! Keep em comin'!!!