Alamo/ San Jacinto Sword

For an artifact that, I expect, the auctioneers expect will fetch a big winning bid, they're pretty closed-mouthed about what they or the owners might know about the "saber."

It looks like any number of Confederate D-guard Bowies with extra-long blades. And, has anybody else noticed that the handle seems to be in surprisingly good shape for something that supposedly lay out in the elements for a century before it was discovered in that field?

When I first saw this sword in the newspaper last Thursday I thought it resembled some crude Confederate
pieces, but I havn't studied that era in awhile. It does look too pristene to have been buried for 60-70 years,
then plowed up by a Garfield farmer. The hand grips look better than a chunk of Mesquite that I've had sitting
on my porch for the last ten years. Even without Wolfpack's Gaona factor, I'm surprised anyone would pay so
much for this blade with its weak provenance. Of course some collectors have money to burn.

As wolfpack said "it sure doesn't appear that he even did any basic historical research"

Antonio Gaona was a general in the Mexican army at the time of the Texas Revolution. He reached the Alamo shortly after the siege had been completed and on March 24, 1836, was ordered by Antonio López de Santa Anna to march with 725 men to Nacogdoches by way of Bastrop and the Old San Antonio Road. On April 15 the orders were changed, and Gaona was directed to proceed from Bastrop to San Felipe to join Santa Anna's forces. He got lost between Bastrop and San Felipe, so his forces did not participate in the battle of San Jacinto. Gaona returned to Bexar and then to Mexico, where he was appointed commander of the fortress of San Juan de Ulloa, which he surrendered to the French fleet on November 28, 1838, during the so-called Pastry War.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of the North Mexican States and Texas (2 vols., San Francisco: History Company, 1886, 1889). John Henry Brown, History of Texas from 1685 to 1892 (2 vols., St. Louis: Daniell, 1893).

It is highly unlikely that this sword saw any action but instead was dropped or lost probably during the retreat of the Mexican army from Texas. It would appear to me that the sword has no actual value in relation to either the Alamo or to San Jacinto other than being around the area at the time. It is still a good item maybe to have in ones collection of period artifacts and yes I agree also that unless it had been properly stored and cared for over time not to mention the fact of it being buried for how many years, that the whole story is a bit flakey IMHO, at least the part of it being as stated on the above link showing the sword and the very little detail there "There is also the possibility that the sword had been taken from a slain Alamo defender and might be recognized by one of the Gringos who were presumed to be in pursuit." By the time Antonio Gaona and his men had arrived at the Alamo any personal items would have already been claimed by others and it is highly unlikely that any one would give up such a treasure from the battle to one who was not there to begin with although it is possible for a trade to have happened if the soldier in question had something to offer to the seller so to say. The sword to me reminds me more of a cutlas type used primarily on ships or in the Navy's for close quarter battles such as when ships get boarded. Yes there were several from both sides that might have had such swords but not too many I don't think. So maybe I have brought up more questions than answers in regard to this item and it's actual history.

It would be interesting though to find out if it sold and what the complete narrative, signed and notarized by the owner accompanies the sword includes.

Since this thread is about swords, I came here to ask a question about swords used at the Alamo. I've been searching some historic sword websites looking for photos of vintage swords that would date back to the time of the battle at the Alamo. I've learned a little, but not enough to know what I want to know. One person told me that someone like William B. Travis could of or might of used a sword like a model M-1833 US Dragoon Saber or a M-1820-'30 Militia Sword. Other swords he could of used would include a number of different style (eagle-head) designed swords. I just wanted to ask the question: What type of sword do you think Travis could of used while at the Alamo?