Spain, Francoist Era. A Naval Officer's Sword, by Artillery Factory of Toledo, c.1940

This sword features a nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with a semi-sharp tip and designed with a dull cutting edge. Both sides of the blade have a fuller running its full length, the obverse inscribed "MARINA ESPANOLA" (Spanish Navy) along with bearing an ornate design that flanks an image of a fouled anchor surmounted by the Franco crown on both sides, the reverse bearing the Spanish coat-of-arms flanked by an ornate design on both sides, the reverse ricasso manufacturer marked "ARTILLERIA Fca DE TOLEDO" (Artillery Factory of Toledo), the "Fca" and abbreviation for "Fabrica" (Factory). It exhibits surface wear spots and light contact marks overall from active use, measuring 720 mm in length. The blade is embedded into the hilt and is firm to it, the guard in brass, its top on one side displaying a fouled anchor surmounted by the Franco crown and flanked by ornate designs on both sides, the top on the opposite side with a dropdown panel design on the guard and bearing smaller ornate designs, with a circular thumb quillon that bears a star design on one side. The underside of the guard is smooth. The ferrule is in brass and butts the grip is in a bone-coloured celluloid, with ten strands of gilt twisted copper wire in the recessed areas. The pommel displays a detailed lion's head, its mane forming the spine of the grip and is plain in design. Fed through a hole in the handle is a braided gold-bullion wire cord forming two rows, with a length adjuster at the mid-point and is finished in an acorn-shaped portepee. The entire sword inclusive of its blade and handle measures 845 mm in length, the sword rating better than very fine. The accompanying black leather scabbard has a well-stitched seam visible on the reverse, its fixtures in brass, the throat missing its locking screw, the locket designed with four rules, the reverse of the locket hand-scratched with the name "Gisbert" and houses a large ring for belt suspension, the chape designed with two sets of four rules each, the chape with four rules and finished with a u-shaped finial. The scabbard measures 745 mm in length and exhibits extensive wear, cracking and crazing in the leather portions, the scabbard rating fair.