Spanish sword ID help

christek · 10th June 2012, 03:26 PM

Hello friends,
I am a new collector and hope to learn about and collect many swords. This piece is my first Western sword (I also have two tulwars). From what I can learn online, this sword appears to be a 1875 Spanish Officers sword. In my mind, it appears a little elaborate to be a proper fighting weapon, and it does not appear to match (in fighting qualities) some British and French officer swords of the same period. Could it be a ceremonial sword? Or am I wrong about everything here?

fernando · 10th June 2012, 06:50 PM

Not such a surprise that your Espadin (small sword) does not have the look of a fighting weapon. Remember that in 1875 (even before) swords were already superseded by firearms and thus confined to ceremonial purposes; even in some cases and countries certain models kept having a less decorative and more lethal look.

christek · 11th June 2012, 03:07 AM

Hi Fernando, thank you for the reply.

Yes that makes sense, there were even quite effective revolvers around at this period, which would have made the swords task a secondary one or to be used as a last resort in battle. I have found some old photos of Spanish Officers from the period 1885-1900 and their swords look very similar to my one.

1.Volunteer Light Infantry Captain: 1st. Company, Voluntarios de Matanzas, Cuba 1885-98

2 (with some colour) Volunteer Light Infantry Officer: Unidentified Company, Voluntarios de Matanzas, Cuba 1885-98

10th June 2012, 03:26 PM	#1
christek Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 52	Spanish sword ID help Hello friends, I am a new collector and hope to learn about and collect many swords. This piece is my first Western sword (I also have two tulwars). From what I can learn online, this sword appears to be a 1875 Spanish Officers sword. In my mind, it appears a little elaborate to be a proper fighting weapon, and it does not appear to match (in fighting qualities) some British and French officer swords of the same period. Could it be a ceremonial sword? Or am I wrong about everything here? Attached Images

11th June 2012, 03:07 AM	#3
christek Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 52	Hi Fernando, thank you for the reply. Yes that makes sense, there were even quite effective revolvers around at this period, which would have made the swords task a secondary one or to be used as a last resort in battle. I have found some old photos of Spanish Officers from the period 1885-1900 and their swords look very similar to my one. 1.Volunteer Light Infantry Captain: 1st. Company, Voluntarios de Matanzas, Cuba 1885-98 2 (with some colour) Volunteer Light Infantry Officer: Unidentified Company, Voluntarios de Matanzas, Cuba 1885-98 Attached Images

10th June 2012, 06:50 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Not such a surprise that your Espadin (small sword) does not have the look of a fighting weapon. Remember that in 1875 (even before) swords were already superseded by firearms and thus confined to ceremonial purposes; even in some cases and countries certain models kept having a less decorative and more lethal look.