Recently Acquired Espada Ancha for Comment

machinist · 28th October 2016, 06:40 AM

These are some very interesting and desirable swords, the finger ringed dirk is pretty typical, if a bit nicer than most but the other two have so many unusual characteristics.
On espada ancha you expect a certain uniqueness with each sword but not this much. The blades are pretty nice with both having such wide ricassos, looking nothing like the blacksmith made blades I usually see.

The spiky rivets on the branch hilt and the extra cross guard out front are features sometimes seen but not common and the provision for a folding guard on the stirrup hilt is something I have not seen on one of these in my limited experience.

The branch hilt having the same style of grip as the dirk is interesting, I saw a Caribbean cup hilt with that same kind of grip and assumed it was a replacement as it was so atypical for that sword. These seem like real outliers.
Were they purchased from the same source?
They really fill me with more questions than answers.

drac2k · 28th October 2016, 11:18 AM

Thank you gentlemen for your insightful comments.The swords were purchased from different vendors over a 3 year period.

Jim McDougall · 28th October 2016, 04:17 PM

Mark,
Thank you for your always kind and generous comments. This genre of swords and weapons of Spain's colonies is one of the most fascinating and exciting fields of collecting in my thinking. In my younger years in California I was intrigued by the Spanish influences and perhaps too many Zorro movies

but never forgot an incredible sword I had once. Years later after it was gone I found it was an espada ancha, and never stopped trying to replace it.

The history of Mexico, and these obviously powerful Spanish influences reflect the rugged frontier charm of so many of these weapons. These were largely from remote and distant outposts in New Spain known as presidios which evolved into towns and cities just as many did from the missions.

In these places throughout Mexico, and in similar cases elsewhere in Spains colonies, the profound desire to keep Spanish tradition alive in status and officialdom hierarchy often led to creative weapon forms recalling the forms of others. These are these often odd and redundant types which are comprised of features such as crossguards under cup guards etc.

I had one amalgamation like this which had the hilt of a briquette, three bar guard, and cut down dragoon blade of 18th c While an ungainly and odd looking piece, this may well have been fabricated by a blacksmith in one of these frontier places creating a repurposed sword of old components.

I have seen numbers of swords with the strange crossguard under a cup hilt and the multiple bars, workmanlike construction with heavy bolt type fixtures in such creative mixes. It has seemed these odd swords are often labelled 'old pirate' swords in equally creative descriptions.

As Mark has well noted, piracy far exceeded the boundaries of Hollywood and literature in their wonderfully romanticized tales, and the vast networks of the Spanish Main carried influences in weapons far and wide. That to me is the fascinating allure and intrigue of these often rugged and odd arms.

M ELEY · 29th October 2016, 03:59 AM

Thanks, Jim! These pieces make me want to go and and buy one! Definitely as you described when you say they reflect the 'ruggedness' based on the territories they came from. If they could only talk, what tales they might have!

kronckew · 14th January 2017, 09:28 PM

thought i'd throw a picture of mine into the pot, especially as it still has it's leather sheath & fringe on the flap. kinda a falchion rather than a broadsword...

read somewhere they morphed into these at the latter part of the 19th century.

Jim McDougall · 14th January 2017, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

thought i'd throw a picture of mine into the pot, especially as it still has it's leather sheath & fringe on the flap. kinda a falchion rather than a broadsword...

read somewhere they morphed into these at the latter part of the 19th century.

Interesting blade, type described in post#2

Belizechopper · 15th January 2017, 08:36 PM

It is great to see another bone grip espada ancha with the forward quillions. The finger loop style I believe are more South American as I do not see them in Mexico or Central America so much. The cutlass style in the bottom of the photo I believe is middle to late 19th and is more Caribbean than Mexican as there are a few examples with Fedderson, Willink Co. blades and the grips have a distinct Cubano flare. I do love these Spanish Colonial blades and the more I see the more distinct the different hilt styles and blades styles become.Eric

Sorry my photos were to large and did not load. My apologies

14th January 2017, 09:28 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,216	thought i'd throw a picture of mine into the pot, especially as it still has it's leather sheath & fringe on the flap. kinda a falchion rather than a broadsword... read somewhere they morphed into these at the latter part of the 19th century. Attached Images

15th January 2017, 08:36 PM	#7
Belizechopper Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 10	Bone grip espada It is great to see another bone grip espada ancha with the forward quillions. The finger loop style I believe are more South American as I do not see them in Mexico or Central America so much. The cutlass style in the bottom of the photo I believe is middle to late 19th and is more Caribbean than Mexican as there are a few examples with Fedderson, Willink Co. blades and the grips have a distinct Cubano flare. I do love these Spanish Colonial blades and the more I see the more distinct the different hilt styles and blades styles become.Eric Sorry my photos were to large and did not load. My apologies Last edited by Belizechopper; 15th January 2017 at 09:12 PM.

28th October 2016, 06:40 AM	#1
machinist Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 93	These are some very interesting and desirable swords, the finger ringed dirk is pretty typical, if a bit nicer than most but the other two have so many unusual characteristics. On espada ancha you expect a certain uniqueness with each sword but not this much. The blades are pretty nice with both having such wide ricassos, looking nothing like the blacksmith made blades I usually see. The spiky rivets on the branch hilt and the extra cross guard out front are features sometimes seen but not common and the provision for a folding guard on the stirrup hilt is something I have not seen on one of these in my limited experience. The branch hilt having the same style of grip as the dirk is interesting, I saw a Caribbean cup hilt with that same kind of grip and assumed it was a replacement as it was so atypical for that sword. These seem like real outliers. Were they purchased from the same source? They really fill me with more questions than answers.

28th October 2016, 11:18 AM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,255	Thank you gentlemen for your insightful comments.The swords were purchased from different vendors over a 3 year period.

28th October 2016, 04:17 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,196	Mark, Thank you for your always kind and generous comments. This genre of swords and weapons of Spain's colonies is one of the most fascinating and exciting fields of collecting in my thinking. In my younger years in California I was intrigued by the Spanish influences and perhaps too many Zorro movies but never forgot an incredible sword I had once. Years later after it was gone I found it was an espada ancha, and never stopped trying to replace it. The history of Mexico, and these obviously powerful Spanish influences reflect the rugged frontier charm of so many of these weapons. These were largely from remote and distant outposts in New Spain known as presidios which evolved into towns and cities just as many did from the missions. In these places throughout Mexico, and in similar cases elsewhere in Spains colonies, the profound desire to keep Spanish tradition alive in status and officialdom hierarchy often led to creative weapon forms recalling the forms of others. These are these often odd and redundant types which are comprised of features such as crossguards under cup guards etc. I had one amalgamation like this which had the hilt of a briquette, three bar guard, and cut down dragoon blade of 18th c While an ungainly and odd looking piece, this may well have been fabricated by a blacksmith in one of these frontier places creating a repurposed sword of old components. I have seen numbers of swords with the strange crossguard under a cup hilt and the multiple bars, workmanlike construction with heavy bolt type fixtures in such creative mixes. It has seemed these odd swords are often labelled 'old pirate' swords in equally creative descriptions. As Mark has well noted, piracy far exceeded the boundaries of Hollywood and literature in their wonderfully romanticized tales, and the vast networks of the Spanish Main carried influences in weapons far and wide. That to me is the fascinating allure and intrigue of these often rugged and odd arms.

29th October 2016, 03:59 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Thanks, Jim! These pieces make me want to go and and buy one! Definitely as you described when you say they reflect the 'ruggedness' based on the territories they came from. If they could only talk, what tales they might have!