Vaquero machete

[Jim McDougall]

Most interesting item! and as noted in Woodward (1946) the term used for virtually all short to moderate length blade swords was 'machete' .This term was used consistently for the swords used in Spanish colonial frontier regions which have become known (since 1965) as espada anchas. Woodward notes that the charros of Mexico refer to their swords as 'machete'.

This form hilt seems to be like the turn back hilt style referred to in Adams ('85) as from Potosi regions, however in later years the makers in Geurerro and those areas west began zoomorphic hilt styles as far as Oaxaca. Years ago I got this large knife of similar form with what is referred to as 'scorpion point' in some references.

The scabbard style is traditional Mexican form which seems to go back to c. 1820s. While these are of course quite modern they follow the unique Mexican traditions in these edged weapons. Personally, I really like them a lot !