Naval Caribbean rapier

Jim McDougall · 20th December 2025, 06:49 PM

Hi Yuri! Thank you so much!!!

Midelburgo, you MUST write a book........articles will slide away into the ether.
There is nothing on Spanish swords in English since the Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain in 1972. I knew Chamberlain personally, who was a great deal of help as I flailed in the cloudy notes and notions of those times trying to learn. I recall imploring him to write a revision back in 80s....he wryly chuckled and said he was out of this area, and suggested 'I' should write it (?) LOL!

That was clearly tongue in cheek. However 2 years ago I did write on the espada ancha (published by Livrustkammeren in Stockholm) . I put together everything I had gathered since the 70s, and thought it came out well.
To my dismay, it was met with resounding silence and absolutely no notice, literally none.

Disappointed, I thought there cannot be this little interest in these areas, but now I am wondering if my observations ( which clearly had gaps) led to mistakes and the silence kindly placed.
Thanks to these new perspectives, it seems clear the field of Spanish colonial edged weapons needs a bit of rethinking.

I hope you will pursue this Midelburgo....count me first in line if there is a book!!!

All the best,
Jim

20th December 2025, 06:49 PM	#17
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,749	Hi Yuri! Thank you so much!!! Midelburgo, you MUST write a book........articles will slide away into the ether. There is nothing on Spanish swords in English since the Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain in 1972. I knew Chamberlain personally, who was a great deal of help as I flailed in the cloudy notes and notions of those times trying to learn. I recall imploring him to write a revision back in 80s....he wryly chuckled and said he was out of this area, and suggested 'I' should write it (?) LOL! That was clearly tongue in cheek. However 2 years ago I did write on the espada ancha (published by Livrustkammeren in Stockholm) . I put together everything I had gathered since the 70s, and thought it came out well. To my dismay, it was met with resounding silence and absolutely no notice, literally none. Disappointed, I thought there cannot be this little interest in these areas, but now I am wondering if my observations ( which clearly had gaps) led to mistakes and the silence kindly placed. Thanks to these new perspectives, it seems clear the field of Spanish colonial edged weapons needs a bit of rethinking. I hope you will pursue this Midelburgo....count me first in line if there is a book!!! All the best, Jim