Machete for infantry officer of the Spanish Army in Cuba. manufactured circa 1890.

Splendid machete for infantry officer of the Spanish army in Cuba, made circa 1890. This is model, with a remarkable decorative beauty and preserving its original leather scabbard and cord in quite good condition. This sidearm was used by the Spanish army in Cuba, in their overseas military campaign of the late 19th century. The blades ricasso (the point close to the hilt) bears an inscription in capital lettering that reads: FERNANDO ESSER ELBERFELD ACERO FUNDIDO GARANTIZADO (guaranteed cast steel), togerher with Nº 971 and a rampant horse. The firm Fernando Esser, located in the German city of Elberfeld, was very common in the Cuban campaigns; the famous Cuban general Antonio Maceo used one of their machetes in the War of 1895. Other famous German makers from the time were Luckhaus Günter from Remscheid and Weyerberg from Solingen. At the end of the Cuban Independence War, around twenty different makers were identified; all of them were German, English or American. The machetes grip is very beautiful. The pommel is delicately engraved in the shape of a lions head that holds the long leather cord in its jaws. The grip is made of two black wooden pieces firmly screwed to the piece, while in the middle of the cross-guard (composed of two quillons that curve in opposite directions) we can see two engraved faces, one at each side. The blade, straight and sharp, is protected by a dark brown leather scabbard with steel locket and head. This stunning machete is a historic piece, worthy of a great collector and that will probably have a fascinating and scary past. Measurements: Blade: 27.9 in/71 cm. Machete (with grip): 33.4 in/85 cm.