Old Spanish Colonial Sword-Curious Blade

Jim McDougall · 9th April 2024, 01:52 PM

Midelburgo, thank you for reviving this thread of mine, and for your addition of this interesting example of what we agree seems a style of hilt in vogue in Spanish South America, particularly in Brazil. It seems these hilts with the distinct 'hand nock' for the back of the hand in grip, may have influence from Spains colonies in Morocco, and the familiar sa'if known as 'nimcha'.

As the 'Spanish Main' in the 'South Seas' of Central and South America was of course active with trade networks that well connected these areas, and in the 19th century it seems that these forms of espada combined these traditional hilt forms with more modern blades in numerous instances.

It seems that while British blades were commonly used on these , in the case of the example you have posted is what appears to be a Toledo made saber blade of the late 18th c.(after the factory was reopened by Carlos III c. 1770).
The hilt is you note seems refabricated, but seems possibly a traditional refurbishing from the 19th century and perhaps genuinely intended for use in these regions.

It seems well known that in colonial regions swords were often refurbished for continued use with various old components, as the sword remained a traditional icon. These were stubbornly retained as an element of armament despite notions of obsolescence as secondary to firearms. I think of the notorious 'rurales' of Porfirio Diaz in Mexico, who despite being heavily armed with rifles and revolvers, insisted on wearing cavalry sabers into the early 20th c.

In the case of my example (OP) I had often thought of the blade being much later, and indeed perhaps British, but admit that I was reluctant to accept that the hilt, obviously quite old, was not homogenous to the blade.
In more recent years after learning more on the Spanish colonial swords of these regions, I can see how a valued old hilt would be joined with a newer blade in the circumstances in the 19th century I have noted.

As seen in the illustration from Reid (1976, p.124) showing a Spanish hunting sword with remarkably similar hilt style of the 18th c. illustrates early these 'nimcha' type hilts were in use. The noted feature of the striated shell guard popular with Spanish sword hilts is also well represented.

I have heard of the modern reproductions of the M1728 Spanish 'bilbo' but not of any particular line of same with these type hilts. The espada ancha (machete) of Mexico seems to have remained still in use in degree by charros there well into 20th century so modern versions seem to be around.

9th April 2024, 01:52 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,775	Midelburgo, thank you for reviving this thread of mine, and for your addition of this interesting example of what we agree seems a style of hilt in vogue in Spanish South America, particularly in Brazil. It seems these hilts with the distinct 'hand nock' for the back of the hand in grip, may have influence from Spains colonies in Morocco, and the familiar sa'if known as 'nimcha'. As the 'Spanish Main' in the 'South Seas' of Central and South America was of course active with trade networks that well connected these areas, and in the 19th century it seems that these forms of espada combined these traditional hilt forms with more modern blades in numerous instances. It seems that while British blades were commonly used on these , in the case of the example you have posted is what appears to be a Toledo made saber blade of the late 18th c.(after the factory was reopened by Carlos III c. 1770). The hilt is you note seems refabricated, but seems possibly a traditional refurbishing from the 19th century and perhaps genuinely intended for use in these regions. It seems well known that in colonial regions swords were often refurbished for continued use with various old components, as the sword remained a traditional icon. These were stubbornly retained as an element of armament despite notions of obsolescence as secondary to firearms. I think of the notorious 'rurales' of Porfirio Diaz in Mexico, who despite being heavily armed with rifles and revolvers, insisted on wearing cavalry sabers into the early 20th c. In the case of my example (OP) I had often thought of the blade being much later, and indeed perhaps British, but admit that I was reluctant to accept that the hilt, obviously quite old, was not homogenous to the blade. In more recent years after learning more on the Spanish colonial swords of these regions, I can see how a valued old hilt would be joined with a newer blade in the circumstances in the 19th century I have noted. As seen in the illustration from Reid (1976, p.124) showing a Spanish hunting sword with remarkably similar hilt style of the 18th c. illustrates early these 'nimcha' type hilts were in use. The noted feature of the striated shell guard popular with Spanish sword hilts is also well represented. I have heard of the modern reproductions of the M1728 Spanish 'bilbo' but not of any particular line of same with these type hilts. The espada ancha (machete) of Mexico seems to have remained still in use in degree by charros there well into 20th century so modern versions seem to be around.