Espada Ancha: Frontier Swords of New Spain

Gonzalo G · 26th October 2009, 07:45 AM

I think Espada Ancha could be translated as 'Wide Sword', and the adjective is related to the width of the blade (as in 'broadsword'), which, as you know, is related to the spanish military broadswords and machetes used from the 18th Century to the 19th Century, the former with some models in a bilobated garnment, and very diferent to the narrow bladed civilian swords as the rapier. In this case, the guards are simplier due to the conditions those swords were made. I think the long blades were not neccessary as the main weapon for the soldier was the spear-lance or the fireweapon, and the nothern land is usually arid, with only bushes (sometimes heavy bushed) and some desert trees as the mezquite and the huizache.

I don't think the clamshell or the equivalent were strictly defensive guards, but scabbard protections, and also an element helping in securing the sword inside the scabbard, and protecting it from the climate.

It is correct to associate this type of sword to the machete and its role as working tool and as a weapon. Still today some machetes are mounted with a knuckleguard, but longer blades, and a pommel in the form of an eagle head, but they have become mostly a tourist item.

There were no specific regulations concerning the dimensions and other characteristic for this swords, and this, complemented by the isolation of the presidios along the centuries in a dilatated territory with a broken geography, produced the variety of forms we know today.

I personally do not have information about this local variants.
Regards

Gonzalo

Jim McDougall · 26th October 2009, 11:36 PM

Excellent observations Gonzalo, and its good to hear your comments as these weapons were of course from the very regions where you live. I agree, the chamshells certainly were for the purpose of langet to secure the sword in the scabbard, when used, or perhaps in a waist sash or belt in some cases. I have seen some espadas with the hooked over projection at the back of the crossguard for perhaps this kind of placement, while the clamshell was at the front.

It seems that even after certain regulations were emplaced during the 18th century, they were rather loosely enforced, especially among quasi military units in the remote regions near smaller presidios. During the 19th century, especially toward the later part, frontier forces, particularly those such as the well known 'rurales', wore all manner of swords and reserviced weapons. Often unusual composites developed with components from various forms of weapon and interesting embellishments were used. I have what appears to be a M1840 US cavalry sabre, the guard badly bent, but with a barely discernible centavo or peso hammered onto the pommel.

It seems that the rugged, often violent, and always intriguing history of America's frontiers, seldom recognizes the concurrent history of Mexico, which was in so many ways very much an important part of our own history.
I think these many of these weapons reflect these important cross influences, and many times Spanish or Mexican weapons have been assumed from various events from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. This was because of the often blacksmith type presence of many of these fashioned in order to meet immediate needs much in the same way as with these frontier weapons of Mexico.

I am hoping to hear from others who either have examples of these weapons, whether from the Spanish Colonial period, or from any time in Mexico's history.
Hopefully readers out there might know of examples, collections or museums that might hold such items.

All best regards,
Jim

26th October 2009, 07:45 AM	#1
Gonzalo G Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nothern Mexico Posts: 458	I think Espada Ancha could be translated as 'Wide Sword', and the adjective is related to the width of the blade (as in 'broadsword'), which, as you know, is related to the spanish military broadswords and machetes used from the 18th Century to the 19th Century, the former with some models in a bilobated garnment, and very diferent to the narrow bladed civilian swords as the rapier. In this case, the guards are simplier due to the conditions those swords were made. I think the long blades were not neccessary as the main weapon for the soldier was the spear-lance or the fireweapon, and the nothern land is usually arid, with only bushes (sometimes heavy bushed) and some desert trees as the mezquite and the huizache. I don't think the clamshell or the equivalent were strictly defensive guards, but scabbard protections, and also an element helping in securing the sword inside the scabbard, and protecting it from the climate. It is correct to associate this type of sword to the machete and its role as working tool and as a weapon. Still today some machetes are mounted with a knuckleguard, but longer blades, and a pommel in the form of an eagle head, but they have become mostly a tourist item. There were no specific regulations concerning the dimensions and other characteristic for this swords, and this, complemented by the isolation of the presidios along the centuries in a dilatated territory with a broken geography, produced the variety of forms we know today. I personally do not have information about this local variants. Regards Gonzalo

26th October 2009, 11:36 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,490	Excellent observations Gonzalo, and its good to hear your comments as these weapons were of course from the very regions where you live. I agree, the chamshells certainly were for the purpose of langet to secure the sword in the scabbard, when used, or perhaps in a waist sash or belt in some cases. I have seen some espadas with the hooked over projection at the back of the crossguard for perhaps this kind of placement, while the clamshell was at the front. It seems that even after certain regulations were emplaced during the 18th century, they were rather loosely enforced, especially among quasi military units in the remote regions near smaller presidios. During the 19th century, especially toward the later part, frontier forces, particularly those such as the well known 'rurales', wore all manner of swords and reserviced weapons. Often unusual composites developed with components from various forms of weapon and interesting embellishments were used. I have what appears to be a M1840 US cavalry sabre, the guard badly bent, but with a barely discernible centavo or peso hammered onto the pommel. It seems that the rugged, often violent, and always intriguing history of America's frontiers, seldom recognizes the concurrent history of Mexico, which was in so many ways very much an important part of our own history. I think these many of these weapons reflect these important cross influences, and many times Spanish or Mexican weapons have been assumed from various events from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. This was because of the often blacksmith type presence of many of these fashioned in order to meet immediate needs much in the same way as with these frontier weapons of Mexico. I am hoping to hear from others who either have examples of these weapons, whether from the Spanish Colonial period, or from any time in Mexico's history. Hopefully readers out there might know of examples, collections or museums that might hold such items. All best regards, Jim