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1st November 2023, 07:03 PM | #1 |
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I had never to consider these finger loops before. A way of fingering the blade while keeping the pointer finger below the guard. I interesting adaption for a primarily thrusting weapon that could be facing a primarily cutting weapon. I am going to have to find more images of swords and knives with this type of guard.
As to the grind. No edge grind at all? How thick is the edge. I remember having a 1903 Lee Enfield bayonet still stored in cosmoline that I do not believe had any kind of edge grind. |
1st November 2023, 07:24 PM | #2 |
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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. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 1st November 2023 at 07:38 PM. |
1st November 2023, 07:28 PM | #3 | |
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Quote:
. Last edited by fernando; 1st November 2023 at 07:38 PM. |
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1st November 2023, 07:58 PM | #4 |
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Thanks for your answers!
It is rather hard to measure the edge since I don't have calipers at hand, but I definitely see no grind, and the edge is roughly 1mm thick in the first half of the blade, roughly 0.7mm thick on the second part, and it thickens back to 2mm at the point. Jim, thanks a lot for the detailed information! What do you think of this specimen in itself? |
1st November 2023, 08:47 PM | #5 |
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Fernando, thank you for posting those breath taking sabers! and as always, adding the colorful terms for these features. It really adds to the dynamics of descriptions to have such terms in local and period vernacular.
Yvain, I like the dirk very much as I have always been drawn to the rustic charm of these kinds of simple weapons. These kinds of weapons are more likely to be historically associated with the ever present strife in much of Latin America with insurgencies and embattled governments. As of course most insurgent forces were comprised basically of local peasantry, and these kinds of arms often became ersatz weapons used as they were all that was at hand. These are not much covered in the literature, but this could be around turn of the century, possibly as early as Spanish American war, but more likely a bit later. They must have been produced in good number as they have turned up quite a bit over the years. |
3rd November 2023, 11:17 PM | #6 |
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My sinle edged espada ancha, for comparison. It is razor sharp. One of my favourites.
Last edited by kronckew; 3rd November 2023 at 11:42 PM. |
3rd November 2023, 11:35 PM | #7 |
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Nice Wayne!
These hilts really got around! |
4th November 2023, 06:59 PM | #8 |
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Thanks Kronckew, very interesting to see this hilt paired with a more traditional Mexican machete blade and scabbard.
I'm back home and thus have access to my (basic) callipers, which allowed me to confirm that the lenticular blade of my sword has some distal taper, being 4mm thick at the spine near the guard, and 2mm thick at the tip. |
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