Unknown Spanish colonial or Mexican Basket Hilted sabre

[Jim McDougall]

This is a most unusual example of officers sword which indeed does appear to be likely of French origin, but hard to define without comprehensive references on the swords of the Napoleonic period. The inscription does suggest the sort of inscription often occurring on Mexican swords of the 19th century in this case with what appears commemorative date 1720.

Mexican officers from the time of Santa Anna, were highly influenced by French military and Santa Anna himself was a great admirer of Napoleon. The spectrum of Mexican swords recorded in references is less than comprehensive as well. Without comparative examples on this, I would suggest it may well be to a Mexican officer of mid 19th c. possibly earlier.

The quillon arrangement in the guard here illustrates the influence on locally made Mexican swords of the Revolution of 1810 and later, with multi branch guards, often four rather than the three of regular cavalry hilts.

The illustrations are a French artillery officers sword c.1800 with flaming bomb on guard. The more elaborate neoclassic hilt on the example posted here is with the kind of baroque neo classic decoration much favored by the French , on this multibranch guard.
The obviously crudely made Mexican example shown is c.1810-20s reflects the influence of these more elaborate French hilts.
The blade on the posted example resembles blades of French cuirassiers forms of Napoleonic period, but would have French markings.
There were sword makers in Mexico, Oaxaca, who produced swords well through the 19th c.

I have never seen the flaming bomb used in Mexican sword designs but may well derive from the strong French influence. Understandable reference to the Springfield arsenal who used this device during WWI on the M1913 Patton sword as well as other 'ordnance' materials.


I cannot pull up the thread listed.

A further note on this blade, the deeply channeled double fuller on the model ANXI cuirassiers sword of First Empire used 1804-1816 ran the full blade length.
It does seen quite possible this might, as suggested, be a German version and perhaps during the Confederation of the Rhine 1806-1813 when Solingen was impacted by French control under Napoleon. He was having ANXI swords produced in Milan as well so I wonder if this might be a possibility when he took over North Italy in 1805 until he annexed to Austro-Hungary in 1814?
While I am no linguist, the phrase on the blade though Latin in the manner of the familiar 'Spanish motto' seems to have an Italian ring to it, 'ME SENAL ES EL CAVISCO= my sign is the 'cavisco' (what does cavisco mean?).
DEL VOY=of I go? ENALEMANIA SOLICE ANO 1720= refuge in Germany in 1720?

I found the book referenced and anxious for it to arrive. Definitely a mystery in the character and nationality of this sword overall. I hope someone else will take interest here as well, and that the original poster will return.