Spanish Colonial Machete Saber - South America, 19th Century

Spanish Colonial Saber Machete - South America, 19th Century. This type of machete, used in the 19th century in the Spanish colonies of South America, appears to descend from the short Spanish colonial sabers called "espada ancha" of the 17th-18th centuries. It has a cylindrical handle composed of four pieces of horn separated by three thin copper rings. The construction is very similar to that of the handles of traditional knives from the Canary Islands (a very likely influence). It features an S-shaped guard with a thumb ring. The leather sheath is beautifully decorated. On the front, there is a gravity-based belt attachment system (a system very often found on gaucho knives in Argentina), and on the back, a belt loop. Length: 66.5 cm. Length without sheath: 66.5 cm. Blade length: 54.5 cm. Weight: 780 g. Weight without sheath: 630 g.