Unknown Spanish colonial or Mexican Basket Hilted sabre

[Jim McDougall]

Thats a really good observation Rick! In looking at the example posted, all the attention to the upper part of the blade, with it gradually tapering to a point does bring to mind the colichemarde, again recalling these kinds of influences.

However the 'colichemarde' was strictly an epee of small sword type for dueling, with the upper part of the blade intended for parry in blade to blade combat, with the forward part still narrow and intended for thrusting.
The Spaniards stubbornly held to their mysterious 'destreza' style of fence, which focused on posturing and thrusting attacks.

The French were for faster lighter swords, both cut and thrust, and indeed full blade contact.

This much heavier blade and hilt form were intended for a degree of combat, but not in the sense of fencing. Ive been studying these situations a bit lately toward the use of dueling swords in California in this period, which means Im just a little less perplexed