The Espada Ancha

[Jim McDougall]

Actually its good to see life on this thread after it has lain in state since December!
With the Bowies, its important to note that the familiar large clipped point types were made that way, and I personally am unaware of any sword blade which might serve to that profile.
However, the contemporary large frontier knife known as an 'Arkansas toothpick' typically had a more even dagger type blade, and likely predated the 'Bowie'. The history of these knife forms is heavily clouded with 'lore' and it seems the term Arkansas toothpick and Bowie were often interchanged in many cases in 19th c.

The Arkansas toothpick would seem more potentially suitable for sword blade repurpose.

The so called Confederate Bowie had a knuckleguard in most cases, which was why espada anchas were often taken for them.

Ironically one of the most prolific supply centers for Bowie knifes was Sheffield, England!

The cutlass arrived today, and it has crowned GR on blade (Gilkerson, p.88) but hilted with Spanish cockle shell guard of espada ancha. It appears to be indeed a cutlass but of the 'Spanish Main' of the early 19th century in Caribbean 'South Seas'. As these Caribbean colonies were using many English (or Solingen produced versions) in these times, this falls neatly into that regional part of the espada ancha spectrum.

[Jim McDougall]

HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE: Courtesy of Staffan Kinman, Director, Swedish Arms Society, Livrustkammeren, Stockholm, 2023.




http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/...or Machete.pdf

[M ELEY]

This is truly an amazing article and I'm glad I got a copy of this article, Jim! Along with it's Spanish colonial theme, there is also one of maritime associations. As I've gone on about in the past (), as the colonial Spanish governments in Central and South America began to fight for their independence ca 1800, the resurgence of piracy in the Caribbean swelled to the limits of the original Golden Age. Any short, chopping sword would have been highly valued aboard crowded privateers, so many of these 'espada' types likely saw sea service.


And here's my 'shell' hanger ca. 1780 to add to the pot of naval contenders!

[M ELEY]

And one to match Keith's-

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much Capn! What an incredible 'shell' that is!!!
Great insight into these types of cutlasses, and how key this is to the scope of the espada ancha, which of course evolved it seems from these types of swords used on vessels. The terminology is always a conundrum, essentially a heavy, relatively short bladed weapon is a 'cutlass' as used on a vessel.....but employed in utility use ashore becomes a 'machete'.

The machetes that became known as 'espada ancha' through an inadvertent mistranslation in the 1960s, thus creating a colloquial term for them, now firmly emplaced, are in effect machetes. (a machete by any other name is still a machete- Shakespeare?).

While the 'shell' that just entered my arms locker has its place among espada anchas.....I will post another thread for it under cutlass heading after a bit more research.

[urbanspaceman]

I don't know what I like best: the superb piercing on that very practical weapon or the magnificent table of 'Elm burr'?
ps
Notice the Feur de lys on the pommel cap Jim.

[Jim McDougall]

Yup Keith, just like the one cut down to a dirk!