Spanish colonial short sword?

[Jim McDougall]

This appears to be what is termed in Levine (1985) as Central American dirk, and the finger ring hilt characteristic, as is the sectioned grip with central bulge. These are remarkably similar to what Adams (1985) terms 'round tang espadas' which seem to have been popular in Mexican regions to the central and south in times around the revolution for independence (1821).

These multibar guards became well known as influenced by European sword styles and were around until about mid century. Still the grips with these sectioned center separation apparently remained in favor throughout formerly Spanish regions into Central and South America.

This particular form of 'dirk' seems well known, and while we cannot be certain of exclusive Central American provenance as exclusive, these likely became popularly known through the Spanish American war period, where many of these kinds of weapons were collected as souvenirs.