This beautiful Mexican officer's sword is iron mounted. The quarter basket hilt conforms to the regulation for the British rifle officer's pattern of 1821 but in place of the ubiquitous hunting horn there is an engraved eagle with a snake in its beak standing on a cactus, the national coat of arms of the Mexican Republic. The grips are wrapped with near perfect sharkskin, and 4 strands of wire are used center strand twisted.

The 32-inch curved blade is similar to the US Ames Dragoon saber, with quill back extending from hilt, culminating into a false edge for the remaining 8 inches of the blade. This too is the regulation 1821 Pattern blade used prior to 1845. Both side of the minty blade are finely etched with panoplies of arms, and floral design. Each side has the Mexican eagle with wings extending upward, with the snake captured in the eagle’s beak, standing on the cactus.  Hot needle engraved on one side of the blade is "Solingen" and on the other "Y.G. Rohden". It is common to see German blades on otherwise British made swords   The condition of the blade is phenomenal with no wear to etching, tons of frosting, and no nicks on the blade edge.   The patina on the iron hilt, and scabbard are untouched. No dents in the scabbard whatsoever. This sword has been in a private collection for years and prior to this was in the highly respected P. Donnelly collection. It was certainly made prior to 1845 and possibly as early as 1830.   Please read the following:

Mexican-American War 1846-1868, by Ron Field, Brassey’s (UK) Ltd., 1997; page 111, “The armament situation in Mexico was also poor on the eve of war with the United States. On hand at the end of 1845 in the arsenal at Mexico City were 635 cannon, 25, 789 muskets, 8155 swords, 100,000 artillery projectiles, and 400,000 musket balls. Before independence from Spain, Mexico had a factory producing muskets and pistols of superior quality. The machinery still existed as late as 1834, but was no longer in use. Thus the Mexican army was mainly equipped with guns and accouterments imported from Europe…….These weapons were part of a huge number of British weapons purchased by the Mexican government between 1830 and 1843…..”

This is a gorgeous and rare Mexican sword made in Britain for an officer of the "Fusileros". Each battalion in the Mexican Army had 2 rifle companies (armed with English Baker rifles).  It is a candidate for service in the Texas Rebellion in 1835-36 or the First War of American Aggression 1846 to 1848 (maybe the second if you include the War of 1812?).  [pe] [ph:L]

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