What is it?

[carlos]

Do you know what is it? I´m very intrigate about the origin or where is from this sword.
someone knows it? Thanks in advance
CARLOS

http://cgi.ebay.es/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300222748058&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020

[katana]

Hi Carlos,
interesting piece, but not so certain the hilt and blade were an original marriage though.

Regards David

[Tim Simmons]

Chinese???? :shrug:

[fearn]

Hi Carlos,

Can we just call it weird? Let's run through the details.

Blade is an odd, curved shape that could be from China or "the west" (i.e. anywhre in western Europe, the US, or a European part of south America). It's way off-center, which would limit its utility as a weapon. Basically, you can sort of chop, sort of slice and sort of stab with it, but it's not maneuverable.

Guard looks to me to be European. In my limited experience, that knuckle bow with the ornamental knot looks European, as does the "shell guard" leaning forward on the right (what's the proper term for this--it shows up in later European swords). The ornamentation on the "shell guard" looks almost art nouveau to me.

Handle is riveted together like a machete (again western). Material is weird, not sure if it's plastic, some odd horn or tortoise shell, or an odd leather wrapping that's been riveted through. It's unclear whether the blade is welded to the guard, or whether it runs through the handle, but if it runs through the handle, there's a thin point where grip and guard meet, again making it weaker and less useful. If its welded to the guard, ditto.

My guess is that it's an art piece, perhaps 100 years old, made in Europe or the US.

Comments? What did I miss?

F

[Jim McDougall]

This rather bizarre looking arrangement seems to have a Spanish Colonial hilt, with the discoid ecusson seeming like an addition. In all a very loose interpretation of an espada ancha from N.Mexico/New Mexico in early 19th c.

The blade ....no idea what that is! some kind of utility item like a cane chopper? whatever it is added to this hilt, possibly Central America?
It is one off, whatever it is, never seen one like it!

[fearn]

Hi,

I wonder if perhaps this blade is part of the regalia of some group like the Oddfellows?

F

[Rick]

I wonder if this is not just something that was cobbled together from disparate parts for effect .
Note how the corner of the forte protrudes into the knucklebow (ouch!) .

That says non-functional to me .

[M ELEY]

Very interesting piece. Obviously a marriage crudely paired together, but still, interesting. I agree with Jim on this one. The hilt/grip and guard looks so similar to espada. I recall a sword from Bolivia with a straight blade on it, but clipped/cresent point and a similar hilt. It was an odd one, made by a German cutler with a marking of a lamb holding a flag, like the Moravian symbol. In any case, with so many of these S. American pieces are put-togethers. My 2 cents...