Berber Sword with Spanish Motto

TVV · 30th May 2007, 06:44 AM

I picked up this Berber sword and I set up to clean the blade tonight. I still have a lot to go, but under the rust an inscription started to appear. It reads "PARA LOS VALIENTES DOMINICANOS", and I guess this translates to "FOR THE BRAVE DOMINICANS". I have tried to take a picture, and you can probably barely make out the last few letters of "Dominicanos", but it is quite faint. I will try to take some better pictures once the sword is clean.
I think in a previous thread it was noted that these sabres originate from Spanish Morocco, and if this is the case I guess it is not so strange for a Spanish blade to appear on a sword of this type. I am wondering though, does "Dominicanos" refer to inhabitants of Haiti (Hispaniola), or just Dominican Missionaries? If it is the former, it could make quite a story, worthy of the worst eBay descriptions (although I have not quite figured out the Confederate link yet).
I would love to get your thoughts on this piece.
Thanks,
Teodor

30th May 2007, 06:44 AM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,724	Berber Sword with Spanish Motto I picked up this Berber sword and I set up to clean the blade tonight. I still have a lot to go, but under the rust an inscription started to appear. It reads "PARA LOS VALIENTES DOMINICANOS", and I guess this translates to "FOR THE BRAVE DOMINICANS". I have tried to take a picture, and you can probably barely make out the last few letters of "Dominicanos", but it is quite faint. I will try to take some better pictures once the sword is clean. I think in a previous thread it was noted that these sabres originate from Spanish Morocco, and if this is the case I guess it is not so strange for a Spanish blade to appear on a sword of this type. I am wondering though, does "Dominicanos" refer to inhabitants of Haiti (Hispaniola), or just Dominican Missionaries? If it is the former, it could make quite a story, worthy of the worst eBay descriptions (although I have not quite figured out the Confederate link yet). I would love to get your thoughts on this piece. Thanks, Teodor Attached Images