Interesting Mexican Presentation Sword

[DaveA]

When I obtained this machete as part of a lot it was extremely dirty and the blade entirely encrusted in dirt and rust. Total length 22", blade length 16 3/4". Not thinking it was interesting at all, I used the blade to test various cleaning methods. I was surprised to see the blade decorations which include the following, and now I'm motivated to learn more about the traditions of such blades.

On one side, it says:
F-Florez Hdez.
B. Juarez -34
Ocotlán Oax

Ocotlán is a small city in Oaxaca.
Hdez is probably an abbreviated "Hernandez"
My guess is that he was born in Juarez in ??34.

And on the other:
"El respeto el derecho
Es la paz recuerdo de Oaxaca"

Translation: Respect the law. Peace is the memory of Oaxaca.

Any thoughts?

- Dave A.

[kronckew]

eagle handled machete's with etched presentation blades from that area apear to be traditional.

my oaxacan is in slightly better condition:Linky to original post (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7485) some discussion there.

[DaveA]

eagle handled machete's with etched presentation blades from that area apear to be traditional.

my oaxacan is in slightly better condition:Linky to original post (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7485) some discussion there.

I read the original post with interest. The eagle head seems very different from mine, and mine has no guard. Your blade has almost a spatulate shape and mine is more of a traditional machete.

Any other Oaxaca variations out there?

[kronckew]

here's another "A. Aragon, Oax." blade: (made by the famous Aragon family of Oxaca, Mexico, weapon makers since the 1700's. They are known to have made ceremonial swords for president Don Porfirio Díaz (1830-1915) himself.)

a quick google/bing search brought up a number of aragon, oax. blades, including one almost exactly like mine but a bit more weary and with a different inscription, as well as another with a similar blade shape, but an unslotted brass guard, and a different etched scene - the eagle more like yours. also a couple of eagle handled bowies and a machete with an eagle headed grip like yours, but without the clip point. many images link back to mine tho :shrug:

[Jim McDougall]

It is my impression that this weapon is either commemorative post Mexican Revolution, or less likely contemporary to it. Actually I believe the B. Juarez to signify Benito Juarez, President of Mexico prior to his once ally, Porfirio Diaz. The words inscribed seem paraphrased from a quote attributed to Juarez;
"...el respecto al derecho ajeno es la paz" (respect for the rights of others is peace).
The addition of Oaxaca is of course to Juarez, who was of Zapotec heritage from Oaxaca. The numeric 34 is of larger question, and the only seemingly plausible reference may be to that being the year he became a lawyer.

The placement in connection to the complexities of the Mexican Revolution in my view is that perhaps the machete is aligned with followers of Venustiano Carranza, who idolized Benito Juarez and had served with him in the struggles for reform. He was assassinated in 1920.

Interestingly Carranza's forces had successfully defended Oaxaca from attack in 1916 from forces led by a Gen. M. Hernandez, but that connection is obviously tenuous without further research.

It appears that the bolster on the weapon is of aluminum, which I dont think was substantially used on sword components until after 1915, and in Mexico likely some time later. The acid etching does not seem commonly used on blades in Mexico until this period as well, though many blades imported from Germany in 19th century were so etched.
The stylized eagle head aligns of course with the Anuhuac eagle of Aztec legend which became part of the symbol for the Federal Republic of Mexico in 1823, and subsequent governments of Mexico.

Apparantly there are commercial firms producing Oaxaca weapons in recent decades with references to the Aragon makers. It would be interesting to learn more on this referenced hereditary family of makers in Oaxaca.

Attached left : Benito Juarez right: Venustiano Carranza

[DaveA]

Thanks Jim for your detailed and thoughtful reply! This is good info to work with.

Best,

Dave A.

[Jim McDougall]

You're very welcome Dave, I enjoyed the research as always, and have always been fascinated by Spanish Colonial weapons and the history of Mexico through the revolutions. Please keep us posted OK, I mostly wanted to set a benchmark to continue.

All the best,
Jim