The Ayzavilla or Crowned T Bilbos mistery solved

midelburgo · 21st September 2025, 09:34 PM

This is about a group of Spanish cavalry 1728 pattern swords that were not made in Toledo.

I will cite myself from this 2018 thread:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=ayzavilla

Up to now, I have seen 14 swords of the 1728 model with that crowned T mark or related marks. Sometimes they look like a torch. Usually, they have another of 4 different marks of what seems names, but very hard to decipher (AYZIVILLA seems one of them). Most of them have a pommel similar to yours, but all are trooper versions of the four screws variety. Yours is the first one of officer type I have seen. They have decorated shells and more sculpted knuckle bow.

I have the theory that the crowned T 1728s are the production of the first years of the Fabrica de Toledo, after 1761, when they are no dated, nor they carry the crowned R of Royal Property. The standard 1728 from Toledo start to be numbered usually in 1771, although I have seen an example claimed to be 1764, and dragoon blades from Toledo are seen from 1769.

Because many of the T crowned swords have appeared in the USA, Juan Jose Perez thinks they could have been made in a Mexican workshop. In late years I have seen quite a number surfacing in Spain and UK. Those in the USA, I think they could have participated in Galvez campaigns in Louisiana and Florida.

The T crowned 1728s follow strictly 1762 ordenanza and have the same hilt dimensions as the post-1771 variety, excepting the pommel, with that long cut on the top. These pommels I have also seen in officer 1728s of the two screws variety, but not anymore post 1771 trooper swords. Usually, officers 172s8 have pommels easily distinguishable from those of troopers, but I am not so sure that would include the present kind.

2 screws seem to be an archaic choice, especially since 1762 ordenanza insisted on 4 screws. But officers did not follow always. It is unusual to find an officer 1728 without a motto on the blade (No me saques...; Por mi rey...) or a famous swordsmith attibution (Sahagvm, Sebastian Hernandez...).

Yours could be an older officer 1728 remounted with a 1761-1770 trooper blade and pommel, but there are not enough examples to be sure of this or the opposite possibility. The grip is a typical later replacement for these swords, probably made in Spain in the first half of XXth century. Tang has been repeened and bolts on the shell look industrial.

Last four pictures are from officers 1728s.

Jim also had one of those swords, shown in this thread:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=trubia

The first question,

What does the mark say?

The answer Is ARRIVILLAGA

The second question,

What means the Crowned T.

The answer is the city of TOLOSA, the place the family ARRIVILLAGA had his workshop, in Basque Country, not far from Plasencia, Eibar and other weapon making towns.

To know this has been possible thanks to the recent surfacing of a blade (remounted in a 1796 hilt) with a clear marking. From

https://hoploteca.blogspot.com/searc...aballer%C3%ADa

What is not yet clear is when were this swords made. This was a family business, that had started with axeheads.

There are three ARRIVILLAGA

Francisco de Arribillaga (1735-1760), José de Arribillaga (1787), Miguel Ignacio Arribillaga (1788)

To be continued...

Jim McDougall · 22nd September 2025, 01:07 AM

This is amazing! but I am puzzled.

If I understand the AYZAVILLA with the flaming T is from the new factory at Toledo from 1761+ ??
However, the same T marking occurs on the M1728 swords from the family ARRIVILLAGA of Tolosa in Basque country?

It seems that Nuemann ("Swords and Blades of the American Revolution", 1972) shows one of these M1728 with flaming T and AYZAVILLA on blade and suggests use the the Galvez campaigns.

midelburgo · 22nd September 2025, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

This is amazing! but I am puzzled.

If I understand the AYZAVILLA with the flaming T is from the new factory at Toledo from 1761+ ??
However, the same T marking occurs on the M1728 swords from the family ARRIVILLAGA of Tolosa in Basque country?

It seems that Nuemann ("Swords and Blades of the American Revolution", 1972) shows one of these M1728 with flaming T and AYZAVILLA on blade and suggests use the the Galvez campaigns.

That was my 2018 hypothesis.
Later I had another hypothesis trying to bind a movement of Eibar armourers to Trubia (starting with T) when Basque Country weapon factories were destroyed by the French in 1793. Some 500 of them went to work in Trubia and Oviedo. Trubia made bayonets and Oviedo muskets.

I was busy with this one when the blade with the complete spelling, ARRIVILLAGA surfaced.

It was never AYZAVILLA, it was a badly struck ARRIVILLAGA, missing letters.
And that the workshop was at Tolosa matches nicely with the crowned T.

There are still some threads to work with. I have one of those swoords that was found is a barn in Louisiana. In order o link it to Galvez we will need to know when were they made.

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 12:31 AM

This is remarkable!

Sooner or later the facts behind these old swords come to light.
So the flaming T has nothing to do with Toledo, and it has seemed known that these 'bilbos' were from Basque country, with suggestions of Eibar.

I had always presumed these most commonly went into Cuba, and from there diffused throughout New Spain. Bernardo de Galvez (1746-1786) and governed Spanish Louisiana and Cuba and was Viceroy of New Spain.

The Spanish assistance to the colonists in the Revolutionary War is seldom recognized, but Galvez and his forces were key in interference with the British and supplying Colonial forces.

It seems that most records in the Basque and other areas focus on the production of muskets and bayonets, but as usual no mention of swords.

It seems reasonable to presume these M1728 examples with what you have revealed as ARRIVILLAGA were likely made in Tolosa, probably by Francisco Arrivillaga ? as he worked 1736-60.

Any chance of pictures of the example found in the Louisiana barn? what a treasure!

21st September 2025, 09:34 PM	#1
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 269	The Ayzavilla or Crowned T Bilbos mistery solved This is about a group of Spanish cavalry 1728 pattern swords that were not made in Toledo. I will cite myself from this 2018 thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=ayzavilla Up to now, I have seen 14 swords of the 1728 model with that crowned T mark or related marks. Sometimes they look like a torch. Usually, they have another of 4 different marks of what seems names, but very hard to decipher (AYZIVILLA seems one of them). Most of them have a pommel similar to yours, but all are trooper versions of the four screws variety. Yours is the first one of officer type I have seen. They have decorated shells and more sculpted knuckle bow. I have the theory that the crowned T 1728s are the production of the first years of the Fabrica de Toledo, after 1761, when they are no dated, nor they carry the crowned R of Royal Property. The standard 1728 from Toledo start to be numbered usually in 1771, although I have seen an example claimed to be 1764, and dragoon blades from Toledo are seen from 1769. Because many of the T crowned swords have appeared in the USA, Juan Jose Perez thinks they could have been made in a Mexican workshop. In late years I have seen quite a number surfacing in Spain and UK. Those in the USA, I think they could have participated in Galvez campaigns in Louisiana and Florida. The T crowned 1728s follow strictly 1762 ordenanza and have the same hilt dimensions as the post-1771 variety, excepting the pommel, with that long cut on the top. These pommels I have also seen in officer 1728s of the two screws variety, but not anymore post 1771 trooper swords. Usually, officers 172s8 have pommels easily distinguishable from those of troopers, but I am not so sure that would include the present kind. 2 screws seem to be an archaic choice, especially since 1762 ordenanza insisted on 4 screws. But officers did not follow always. It is unusual to find an officer 1728 without a motto on the blade (No me saques...; Por mi rey...) or a famous swordsmith attibution (Sahagvm, Sebastian Hernandez...). Yours could be an older officer 1728 remounted with a 1761-1770 trooper blade and pommel, but there are not enough examples to be sure of this or the opposite possibility. The grip is a typical later replacement for these swords, probably made in Spain in the first half of XXth century. Tang has been repeened and bolts on the shell look industrial. Last four pictures are from officers 1728s. Jim also had one of those swords, shown in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=trubia The first question, What does the mark say? The answer Is ARRIVILLAGA The second question, What means the Crowned T. The answer is the city of TOLOSA, the place the family ARRIVILLAGA had his workshop, in Basque Country, not far from Plasencia, Eibar and other weapon making towns. To know this has been possible thanks to the recent surfacing of a blade (remounted in a 1796 hilt) with a clear marking. From https://hoploteca.blogspot.com/searc...aballer%C3%ADa What is not yet clear is when were this swords made. This was a family business, that had started with axeheads. There are three ARRIVILLAGA Francisco de Arribillaga (1735-1760), José de Arribillaga (1787), Miguel Ignacio Arribillaga (1788) To be continued... Attached Images Last edited by midelburgo; 21st September 2025 at 09:49 PM.

22nd September 2025, 01:07 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,599	This is amazing! but I am puzzled. If I understand the AYZAVILLA with the flaming T is from the new factory at Toledo from 1761+ ?? However, the same T marking occurs on the M1728 swords from the family ARRIVILLAGA of Tolosa in Basque country? It seems that Nuemann ("Swords and Blades of the American Revolution", 1972) shows one of these M1728 with flaming T and AYZAVILLA on blade and suggests use the the Galvez campaigns.

Yesterday, 12:31 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,599	This is remarkable! Sooner or later the facts behind these old swords come to light. So the flaming T has nothing to do with Toledo, and it has seemed known that these 'bilbos' were from Basque country, with suggestions of Eibar. I had always presumed these most commonly went into Cuba, and from there diffused throughout New Spain. Bernardo de Galvez (1746-1786) and governed Spanish Louisiana and Cuba and was Viceroy of New Spain. The Spanish assistance to the colonists in the Revolutionary War is seldom recognized, but Galvez and his forces were key in interference with the British and supplying Colonial forces. It seems that most records in the Basque and other areas focus on the production of muskets and bayonets, but as usual no mention of swords. It seems reasonable to presume these M1728 examples with what you have revealed as ARRIVILLAGA were likely made in Tolosa, probably by Francisco Arrivillaga ? as he worked 1736-60. Any chance of pictures of the example found in the Louisiana barn? what a treasure!