Spanish m1857 Officer's Sword. N.p., n.d. Blade 29 1/4 in., overall 35 in. 

The sword is overall a fine specimen. A single-edged blade with a 23 1/4 in. stopped median fuller. Shagreen grip with 12 wraps of triple-strand wire, with the central wire braided. Gilt-brass lion's head pommel, solid guard and folding counter-guard. Guard is cast with the Spanish Royal Navy's insignia of a crown over a fouled anchor. The scabbard exhibits some wear, including a separation to the leather between the topmount and center mount and a hole pierced by the blade in the drag.

An inscribed plaque affixed to the leather scabbard reads as follows: "A Relic of the Fore Turret of the Amiral Oquendo after the action off Santiago, July 3rd 1898 found by Captain A. Paget." The Battle of Santiago de Cuba would mark the final engagement in the Cuban theater of the Spanish-American War. It was a critical victory by United States naval forces, which destroyed Pascual Cervera y Topete's (1839-1909) entire fleet without suffering any ships sunk. Among the Spanish ships was the Almirante Oquendo, struck by artillery 61 times before catching fire and running ashore. Per the plaque, this fine officer's sword was discovered aboard the shipwreck in the battle's aftermath. 

Though there is no record of an American Captain A. Paget serving at the time, Captain Alfred Paget (1852-1918), an attaché from the British Royal Navy, was assigned to observe American actions in the West Indies in 1898. He was aboard the Seguranca, flagship of General William Shafter (1835-1906), during the battle, and continually urged the ship's captain to move closer to the action. Captain Paget referred to the outcome at Santiago de Cuba as "a grand victory" (Taylor, p. 5). 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

Resources:

W.J. Taylor. "'Twas a Grand Victory." Cleveland, Ohio: The Cleveland Press, 1 August 1898. 

[Swords, Knives, Bowie Knives, Knife, Blades] [Spanish American War, Spanish-American War, Cuban War of Independence, USS Maine, Remember the Maine, Philippine-American War, Philippine Revolution, Rough Riders, Battle of San Juan Hill, Theodore Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt] [Navy, Naval History]