Swords in the Mexican Revolution 1910-1921

[Jim McDougall]

This is another example of the cavalry three bar hilt saber, but with heavy, shorter blade which is tempting to associate with the earlier espada anchas, but seems colloquially termed 'cutlass'. While these seem pretty uncommon, they fall into same contexts as the Civil War type cavalry sabers, and have the 'liberty hat' symbol and RM, Republic of Mexico.
It is unclear which forces might have used these, and as yet no direct connection with navy. Regardless, virtually all types of arms of these periods may be viably considered as potentially available for use by virtually any faction.

[Jim McDougall]

In addition to the previously noted types of swords, there were likely many examples of much earlier variations of swords which had been in families for generations. There also seems to have been many cases of swords either simply remounted blades, or even examples made up of composite sword elements.

In examples of swords from later in the 19th c into the 20th, there were often 'dichos' (mottos, sayings or phrases) inscribed into the blades. In some cases there were names such as on this example (from Drac2 a year ago) which is a remounted blade and fabricated hilt.
The name is Luis Padilla and SAYULA, which is a town in Jalisco (south of Guadalajara, and could be the name of an individual, or perhaps the person who fabricated the sword.

As noted earlier, whether swords were indeed used or not, they seem to have been regarded as part of the attire of men in the sense of a mark of formidable intent or authority. In remote rural areas such weapons might have been quite simple and refabricated, but still bearing the same kind of representation.

The Revolution of course had both North and South theaters, so these kinds of weapons were likely with men participating in actions in either. Though typically versions of 'saddle swords' worn by charros, they seem to have been ubiquitous before and well through the Revolution well into the 20th c.
Woodward writing on Mexican swords in 1946 interviewed many of these men noting these types of swords.

[urbanspaceman]

Keep it coming Jim; I'm learning. Just as so few are interested in or have anything to add to the Shotley Bridge history, that was the birth of the British sword industry, so too the huge theater that was the birth of over 50% of the United States. Keep it coming. Thank-you.
ps
Are we voices in the wilderness or simply off grid?

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

Keep it coming Jim; I'm learning. Just as so few are interested in or have anything to add to the Shotley Bridge history, that was the birth of the British sword industry, so too the huge theater that was the birth of over 50% of the United States. Keep it coming. Thank-you.
ps
Are we voices in the wilderness or simply off grid?

I know they're out there Keith..I can hear em breathing (over 11,000 views in a month! only response was yours, so thank you!). No problem though, hopefully the readers maybe learning just as we are. That was what the forums were about once, discussions and sharing information.
'Old dogs' etc.....just keep doing what we do.

[Hotspur]

Here

Watching.

I think there might be a thread elsewhere on the 1905-06 experimental cavalry and small numbers in trials out that away.

Then the 1911, predating Patton's 1913.

The thing is This room has always been, quite strictly, pre 20th century discussions.

I could link all the stuff from the USM forum but little of it would be my study. Two strokes down now, I have to rely on keywords, searches and the thoughts of others to retrace my recollections

Cheers

GC

[Hotspur]

Figure this one I adopted. A federal period blade in what looks like a Spanish briquet hilt.

[Jim McDougall]

THANK YOU GLEN!!!
Yes the 'militaria' stuff 20th c. is pretty much verboten, and I had always been curious whether the 1913 Patton had made it on Pershing's expedition chasing Villa in Mexico since Patton was with him. But that was the singular element of military swords I was interested in.

Its the many forms of swords and edged weapons in use by the factions of Revolutionaries as well as forces with Federal troops. through 1925.

This is a great example you show! and it seems there were many such unusual compositions using old briquet hilts.

This is one I found with cut down old dragoon blade from 18th c. with three bar cavalry hilt and the BRIQUET hilt. Blacksmiths in remote little towns were very creative and everything was recycled and used as required.

Thanks so much again Glen!