Eibar Spanish Combined Hunting Sword

The combination of bladed weapons and firearms is part of a long European tradition, serving both martial arts and hunting. While the earliest examples appeared in a military context, the hybrid sword-pistol experienced a particular boom in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, flintlock and then percussion mechanisms were ingeniously integrated into robust handguns designed for hunting. This example is the work of Felipe Galbasoro, a gunsmith active in Eibar, an important arms production center in the Spanish Basque Country during the 19th century.

The sword, with its imposing proportions, features a slightly curved, single-edged blade and a flat, elongated ricasso, specifically designed to accommodate the pistol barrel. The stag horn handle lends it both robustness and rustic elegance.
It features an S-shaped guard ending in acorn-shaped quillons, joined by an acorn-shaped pommel riveted to the tang. A typically Spanish barrel is attached to the blade by two screws. The square breechblock bears a cartouche engraved with the inscription "Galbasoro et Eybar." The barrel is round and fitted with a cannon-type muzzle. The hammer, carved in the form of a lion, is adorned with a fine floral engraving, demonstrating the decorative refinement characteristic of Eybar's high-quality production of that period.

A very similar example was sold in December 2025 by the Rock Island Auction Company in Bedford, Texas (see comparable examples).