Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original 19th century Mexican cavalry trooper’s saber patterned after the French Model 1822 light cavalry saber and closely resembling the later U.S. Model 1840 cavalry saber. The blade markings identify it with the Mexican Republic and the Central Arsenal in Mexico City. It retains its brass hilt, leather-covered wooden grip with wire wrapping, leather blade buffer, and original steel scabbard with two suspension rings.

Under Mexican army General Antonio López de Santa Anna, a former federalist turned centralist and eventual dictator, the conservative forces in Mexico suspended the 1824 Constitution and replaced it with the Siete Leyes ("Seven Laws") in 1835. The Seven Laws transformed the federated republic into a unitary state known as the Centralist Republic of Mexico (República Centralista de México).

The official name of this country was the Mexican Republic (República Mexicana), and it lasted from 1835–1846. It was during this period that Republic of Texas seceded from the Mexican Republic, and when the legendary "Battle of the Alamo" took place.

This 19th century Mexican Army Cavalry saber is patterned after the 1822 French light cavalry saber and also resembles the U.S. 1840 cavalry saber. Markings on the blade indicate that it was manufactured by the Central Arsenal in Mexico City.

The obverse ricasso is marked with the “Liberty Cap” emblem above the letters “RM” (Republic Mexico). The reverse ricasso is marked “A.C. / MEXICO” (Central Arsenal, Mexico), which was located in Mexico City.

The 33 ⅜” slightly curved blade has oxidation peppering across its length, but retains the leather blade buffer, so the blade is still tight to the hilt with just a very minor bit of play. Each side has one wide fuller and a second very thin fuller only present for the middle 50% of the blade.

The hilt is brass with a leather-covered wooden grip, wrapped in brass wire. As is the case with the vast majority of this model of saber, the leather is nearly gone and the wire is very loose, with some string having been added as replacement wire still present. The hilt now has a very dark patina. The overall length is 39⅜”.

The steel scabbard has a nice dark patina and retains its two suspension rings. There is a heavy bend in the middle, but thankfully the sword still slides in without issue.

The Liberty Cap was a prominent republican symbol in Mexico and appeared on military arms, coinage, and government emblems during the 19th century. The designation República Mexicana was used during several periods of Mexican republican government, so the RM marking alone does not establish manufacture during the Centralist Republic of 1835–1846.

This saber’s French-inspired form, Central Arsenal markings, dark brass hilt, heavily worn grip, and bent but functional steel scabbard make it a strong example of a 19th century Mexican cavalry weapon. The nearly absent grip leather, loose wire, oxidation, later string reinforcement, and scabbard bend are significant condition factors, but the blade markings and surviving major components remain clear and historically informative.

Specifications:
Overall length: 39 3/8”
Blade length: 33 3/8”
Scabbard Length: 34 ½”
Basket dimensions: 4" width x 5” length