Spain. Antique Spanish Infantry Officer Sword. Model 1867. Dated 1868

Spain. Antique Infantry Officer Sword. Model 1867. Dated 1868 Antique Spanish regulation sword for an Infantry Officer, corresponding to the 1867 model and dated 1868, according to the engraved date visible at the base of the blade. This is an early example of the model and, since it is dated only one year after its official approval, it may be considered one of the first swords of this type to have been produced. This detail gives it particular interest within nineteenth century Spanish regulation weaponry. Its typology clearly follows that of officer’s swords intended for wear with uniform, with an elegant, light and functional silhouette. The hilt is made of gilt brass and displays a configuration that is very characteristic of the model, with a single knuckle guard decorated with vegetal motifs and ending in a dog’s head. The grip has a fluted metal surface, finished with a pommel decorated with vegetal ornament and a lobed profile. The double shell guard offers a highly representative image of this regulation pattern, with relief decoration and a crowned central shield surrounded by vegetal branches, a detail that reinforces its aesthetic appeal. The blade is straight, narrow and of a section clearly intended for thrusting. It has a ricasso extension at the base and retains a slender, well proportioned and visually harmonious silhouette. The date 1868 is engraved at the base of the blade, a particularly important detail because it allows the example to be placed with precision in time. It is therefore a piece from the end of the Isabelline period, at a moment of great interest within the political and military history of Spain. It also retains its scabbard, composed of a black leather body with gilt metal throat and chape. The scabbard shows general wear and ageing to the leather, something entirely logical in a piece of this date, but it still accompanies the sword well and preserves the complete reading of the ensemble. The throat also retains the suspension button with shield, consistent with the regulation character of the model. The state of preservation is good within its age. The hilt retains its structure well, its decorative volume and a clear reading of the reliefs. The blade shows stains and wear from use and time, but it preserves a good overall profile and a very strong historical presence. The scabbard shows the passage of time more clearly, especially in the leather, although it remains an important part of the set because it survives complete and remains perfectly suitable for the sword. In short, this is an authentic, dated and clearly identifiable Spanish regulation sword of great historical interest, both for its classification as a Model 1867 Infantry Officer sword and because it belongs to the final years of the reign of Isabella II. It is a very attractive piece for collectors of Spanish militaria, for students of nineteenth century regulation arms, and also for those who appreciate historical objects with strong presence, precise chronology and a clearly defined typology. Measurements: Total length of the sword: 86.5 cm, 34.06 in. Blade length: 72.5 cm, 28.54 in. History of the Model 1867 The dress sword for Infantry Officers, Model 1867, was approved by Royal Order of 30 January 1867, within the process of reorganization and updating of Spanish regulation weaponry during the reign of Isabella II. Its adoption responded to the need to provide commanders and officers of the Infantry Arm with an elegant, regulation and functional uniform sword, in keeping with the evolution of European officer corps in the second half of the nineteenth century. Its design combines in a very characteristic way the representative role of an officer’s weapon with true practical usefulness. In contrast to the large sabres of earlier campaigns, this sword has a straight, light blade, well adapted to thrusting, which made it suitable for close defence and for rapid use if needed. It was not only an insignia of rank, but also a real weapon, intended to accompany the officer in service. The Spanish historical context in which this model appeared was particularly turbulent. The final years of the reign of Isabella II were marked by growing political instability, military tensions, government crises and social unrest. Within that framework, various changes were approved in regulations, uniforms and equipment, seeking to modernise the image and structure of the Spanish army. This sword belongs precisely to that final phase of the Isabelline period. The example presented here, dated 1868, is especially interesting because it was made in the first stage of the model’s life, only one year after its official approval. In addition, its date places it at a crucial moment in the contemporary history of Spain, since in 1868 the Revolution known as La Gloriosa took place, leading to the fall of Isabella II and opening the subsequent revolutionary period. For that reason, beyond its interest as a regulation Infantry Officer sword, this piece also possesses clear historical value as a material testimony of a decisive year in the political and military evolution of the country.