Mexican Cavalry Officer’s Sword, Mid-19th C

Description

Featuring steel hilt bearing the Mexican eagle and snake motif in relief, reverse
scroll quillon, knuckle guard with three branches joining the dove-head pommel with
integral backstrap; folding counterguard. Wood grip with shagreen cover (shagreen only
remaining on obverse side) and two sizes of alternating twisted and single-strand steel wire
wrap. Gently curved 31 7/8″ (81 cm) single-edged pipe-backed blade with spear point;
etched with foliage, Mexican Eagle, and stands of arms over half its length; ricasso stamped
“W y De G/MEXICO” in an oval on one side and faint indecipherable oval mark on the other.
Original brown leather scabbard embroidered in tan thread with two stripes along its length
and scrolling foliate decoration on drag and throat; intertwined “HR” on the hanger flap.
Overall length 37 3/8″ (95 cm), not including scabbard. Very good condition; the blade
etching rubbed; damage to grip wrap as mentioned; leather scabbard supple and sound,
with wear and loss to the embroidered stripes. Mexican swords of this period are far more
scarce than American swords, and one with Mexican maker’s mark and its original leather
scabbard are rarer still. Possibly made for mounted infantry or dragoons, as the basic style
is similar to the US M1833 Dragoon Saber.