What is this please?

[Jim McDougall]

I agree with Rich and Carlos, this piece does have machete like characteristics, and I am inclined to agree with thier assessments. I think that the Collins book would give us good possibilities, though as Rich notes, Collins work was typically well marked. They did however supply to many Latin American countries and regions, so the Cuban attribution does seem quite possible.
In our thread on Pirate weapons, items like this often appear included in that category, typically much later of course than the "Golden Age" and often even into the 19th century. The 'machete' presented an ideal weapon that was heavy bladed and shorter than swords, that certainly found favor aboard ships that might well have been involved in maritime use outside the regulation naval vessels such as trade, or even piracy. From that perspective, and considering what appears to be an ebony gripped hilt, this may well have been used aboard a French vessel as suggested (French edged weapons seem to have often used ebony as hilt material) however certainly not regulation navy.
To check on that further, the best information might be found in William Gilkerson's "Boarders Away" (which I do not have handy to verify).
Best regards,
Jim