[Matt Branch]

Inquiry of Matthew Branch: Sword of P.D.L.

Conclusion: This is probably a lower ranking Mexican cavalry officer's
presentation sword, intended to be carried in battle.

Blade: The blade on the sword is probably mid 19th century of the 1799
Pattern. The straight double edged blade is a pre-1799 design. In 1799 a
newer version of the 1728 Pattern blade (minor changes) was attached to a
dragoon hilt. A second version of the blade had a single edge. In 1803 a
curved blade was created for light cavalry, but the straight blade retained
its popularity among conservative Spaniards. The 3-fuller design with a
hexagonal blade is probably the most common blade type found in New Spain.
The blade appears to have been hilted in a common style of the 1820's in
Mexico (though it could be Spanish, German or British).

Hilt: The simple pommel cap design was introduced in the late 1790s, though
the style had been used on the Spanish dragoon sword since 1768. The hilt
design was common in the early 19th Century (see many of the dragoon swords
used by French and British). I cannot determine from the photograph whether
the hilt is steel or brass. The knuckle bow guard is a common 3 bar or
branch hilt.

Grip: The palm grip is probably pine. It is most likely covered in calfskin
which is common on Mexican hilts. The braided wire is a common feature of a
Mexican officer's sword.

Blade decoration: This has a common martial decoration. The eagle and snake
art tends to be crude, the wings being less broad and the head and neck
being less bold and beautiful than is used as a Mexican symbol in the late
half of the 19th century. This eagle is similar to the 1823 first official
Mexican flag design (see the 1859 Mexican eagle dollar for a similar eagle).



Notes:

AHS possesses a Mexican presentation dress sword (cerca 1890) with a similar
blade design (cannon, drum and eagle with snake-eagle is more refined), a
Spanish dragoon saber (post 1799) with etching that is similar (etching
appears to be added in a later period), and an A.L. de Santa Ana
presentation sword that has similar etching.



Spanish Military weapons in Colonial America 1700-1821, Brinkerhoff and
Chamberlain Pg 73 & 88
The Price Guide to Antigue Edged Weapons, Leslie Southwick, 1982

Swords and Hilt Weapons, 1989

Richard A. Collins