The Espada Ancha Myth

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fernando

Well, i just saw an example with a similar serpent head on the upper quilllon of a D guard with a clam shell decoration, with a hardwood grip, mounted on a Spanish blade, with Toledo marks dated 1792 and the cypher of King Carlos IV, said to have been found in Texas and of Mexican origin.

Thanks Fernando, sure would love to see a picture of that. Just to clarify, my suggestion was that the examples of the serpent feature with some sort of provenance imply a certain preponderance in these southern regions. Naturally as movement of settlers and supply moved northward, and as expected, materials and cultural items including weapons moved as well.
That is of course the primary conundrum in trying to establish regional categorization with ethnographic weapons.

In 1760, King Carlos III sought to bring back the sword making industry to Toledo, and began with virtually the only remaining master maker from Valencia. In 1780, the manufactory opened in outskirts of Toledo.
It is not surprising to see the markings of Toledo and Carlos IV on blades, these were coming into the colonies in large bundles for many years.
In these times Texas was part of New Spain (now Mexico).

Attached:
Grouping of long bladed Spanish colonial types and two (on right) espada ancha types
Left to right:
A 'Caribbean cuphilt', these versions of the famed Spanish cuphilt are of course crudely fashioned and prevailed in the 'Spanish Main' areas.

The 'bilbo' regulation Spanish arming sword is the true 'espada ancha' (broadsword). These dragoon blades are double edged, hence the term.
These prevailed throughout Spains colonies including those of the northern frontiers, and in Alta California.

The curious 'guanabacoa' which is an offshoot of these machetes, but seems to have prevailed in Cuba, and east coast Mexico, Vera Cruz. The blade on this is almost a bar of steel, but note the hilt with shell guard (most of these are without). I first learned identification of this from Pierce Chamberlain many years back.

The long blade espada ancha which seems to be of Gulf and Spanish Main prevalence, this example from Spanish colonies in America, probably Florida and latter 19th c.

The so called 'round tang' espada ancha (Adams '85) of form which came into use post 1810 in revolutionary forces.

The shell guard form being discussed with serpent, these known have provenance to Brazil mid 19th c. but seem to have prevailed in Spanish Main regions much earlier, my example has British blade c.1805.

A pair of branched guard sabers which came into use with colonial military prior to 1821. The brass hilt example has the 'Spanish motto' and the familiar 'dragoon' broadsword blade.

The other has blade marked TOLEDO.

These have no royal markings. There was strong affinity for French form which had prevailed even before the Napoleonic overtaking of Spain in 1808.