machetes,, regional styles..

Jim McDougall · 10th September 2008, 06:26 AM

Gonzalo, that dissertation on the machete is a beautifully written piece of work, and extremely well said! I'm saving that for my notes.
It is also fascinating to see individuals from two distant cultures with interests in each others weaponry , especially as I also have deep interests in the weapons of Mexico as well as the Caucusus.

I agree Gonzalo, that there has often been a great deal of confusion between machetes and the extremely intriguing espada ancha. I think there were differences in the espada ancha in those of Northern Mexico, being heavier bladed as the heavy vegetation of the Sonoran desert certainly warranted these for utility as well as a weapon. Although the term 'espada ancha' of course meant wide heavy bladed sword, the more ornate examples with the familiar 'dragoon' broadsword blades seem to have been more for wear on the rancheros, than by those soldados or vaqueros in the rugged terrain in Northern Mexico and New Spain.

If one is looking at an old Collins Co. catalog, it is incredibly surprising to see many of the old machetes, with blades remarkably like old Solingen blades and overall looking very shashka like!. Not a comparison, but an interesting note.

All best regards,
Jim

10th September 2008, 06:26 AM	#12
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Gonzalo, that dissertation on the machete is a beautifully written piece of work, and extremely well said! I'm saving that for my notes. It is also fascinating to see individuals from two distant cultures with interests in each others weaponry , especially as I also have deep interests in the weapons of Mexico as well as the Caucusus. I agree Gonzalo, that there has often been a great deal of confusion between machetes and the extremely intriguing espada ancha. I think there were differences in the espada ancha in those of Northern Mexico, being heavier bladed as the heavy vegetation of the Sonoran desert certainly warranted these for utility as well as a weapon. Although the term 'espada ancha' of course meant wide heavy bladed sword, the more ornate examples with the familiar 'dragoon' broadsword blades seem to have been more for wear on the rancheros, than by those soldados or vaqueros in the rugged terrain in Northern Mexico and New Spain. If one is looking at an old Collins Co. catalog, it is incredibly surprising to see many of the old machetes, with blades remarkably like old Solingen blades and overall looking very shashka like!. Not a comparison, but an interesting note. All best regards, Jim