yes, its a sword, how old? Spanish?

[naturegirl]

yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

This sword came from a relative who did a lot of traveling in the 60's and 70's. He got it in Central America, but we aren't sure which country. El Salvadore, or Honduras or maybe Nicaragua. Central America for sure. The tip may have been in the ground, the edge is pretty rough. There is a nick on one edge near the guard, and it's all "pinned?" togeter. No welds. The handle appears to be wood. Can anyone tell me anything about this treasure? Surely not fake. Thanks

naturegirl

 

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[buckshot]

Re: yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

Hey NG, Thats a cool sword. Im no sword expert. It does have a hand forged/made look to it. Looks serviceable. Maybe a Spainish Colonial period piece considering the south/central american area where it is believed to have come from. No makers marks or inscriptions of any kind? Hope somebody can give you more info.... Still a cool wallhanger

 

[taz42o]

Re: yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

I cant tell you if its Spanish or how old but it is a cup hilt rapier if that helps.

 

[Peeber]

Re: yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

That is sure no court sword! No decoration of any kind. The blade is heavy too so it was probably not a practice weapon. I would have to guess it was intended to make dead meat out of the guy on the point end.

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

i had a sword like that when i was younger i don't know where it went. mine was to small in the handle grip to be comfortable and for that reason and being a kid i thought mine was fake. sure looks spanish but made for peasent instead of royalty

 

[One mans trash...]

Re: yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

You can kind of figure rough age from the history of how swords that fall into the very general description of rapier were used. By the 1800's, they were pretty well out of common use. Rapiers made from then on tended to be nicer examples that might be brought out for a formal duel or practice. Yours is plain and robust and not overly long. It has the look of a businesslike weapon, strictly functional and not at all fancified, like it was the product of a local armory or smith. The 16th and 17th centuries were the heyday of things like this as practical weapons, and this one looks like a plain fighting man's sword for no-holds-barred combat where no one was going to stop the fight for a broken blade. Looks like it continued to see service after the chunk was knocked out of the grip. Might have been in active use for many years. Old equipment got passed down to native troops, and the Spanish and their successors made heavy use of natives.

 

[naturegirl]

Re: yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

Thank you all for the responses. I thought it looked pretty plain-jane and practical. I'm sure the Spanish maybe taught the natives how to make these, as well as other iron tools, or I wonder if they brought blacksmiths from Spain with them. Now I know what to call it, and approximate date, that helps. Thanks again.

naturegirl,

where do you find the green check mark?

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

You could post this in the International Sword forum, and you'll have a detailed history of it added to your post within hours.


http://www.swordforum.com/

 

[searcher]

Re: yes, it's a sword, how old? Spanish?

Nice piece!

Something looks askew to me.
I agree the handle is a cup hilt rapier. But the blade seems too wide for a rapier.

Wasn't the idea behind the rapier to be thin, stiff, light and very fast to get inside the defensive perimeter of larger heavier swords?

Almost looks like a cross between a cup hilt and a back sword.

Maybe it belonged to an amazon woman that liked to have her nails protected while she was disemboweling her enemies.
Have you looked for nail polish residue on the inside of the cup?
Just a thought.

Searcher
H.H.

 

[FAP]

This sword came from a relative who did a lot of traveling in the 60's and 70's. He got it in Central America, but we aren't sure which country. El Salvadore, or Honduras or maybe Nicaragua. Central America for sure. The tip may have been in the ground, the edge is pretty rough. There is a nick on one edge near the guard, and it's all "pinned?" togeter. No welds. The handle appears to be wood. Can anyone tell me anything about this treasure? Surely not fake. Thanks

naturegirl

Yes, it is a spanish sword. I have one just like it, it has been in the family for ever. We are from El Salvador. It is the type of sword used by the spanish soldiers in the 16th century.