Very Large Combat Knife With Motto "viva La Republica" Spain 19th

This very large Spanish knife is steeped in history, since the profession of faith engraved on its blade "Viva la Republica" takes us back to the very turbulent period of the first Spanish republic, from February 1873 to January 1874, the date when the government legal republican was overthrown by the putsch of General Pavia. Subsequently, the dictatorship of General Serrano was established, and finally the restoration of the Bourbons in December 1874.
This period was extremely rich in events, with 4 successive Presidents of the Republic, the cantonal revolutions  of the cities of Andalusia, the ephemeral Autonomous Republic of Malaga, and of course the best known of the cantonal revolutions, which is the one of the Cartagena naval base and the siege of the city.
This large knife is of Andalusian origin, it is most probably made in Albacete. Its very large size places it in the category of combat knives. Let us remember that throughout the 19th century knife fencing developed in the Iberian Peninsula.
 BLADE: It is single-edged and has the characteristic silhouette of Spanish knives of this period. It is decorated with etching: On one side, decoration of undulating branches in a frame, and on the other the motto "Viva la Republica" in a cartouche. We will note deep traces of oxidation, but it is linked to the life of a combat knife, whose owner at random during the troubles of this turbulent era did not  have at everytime  the possibility to maintain the cleanliness of his blade...
Length of the blade = 37 cm, width within of the guard = approximately 3.8 cm, width at the widest = 5 cm, thickness near the guard 4.3 mm
GUARD: it is a brass guard whose straight quillons are decorated using the "guilloché" technique
HANDLE: It is made of dark wood, ringed cylindrical conical shape. Four twisted brass threads join the lower ferrule to the brass pommel.
The brass pommel is flower-shaped.

Beautiful object, impressive in its size, and interesting for its historical side.
Shipping costs France 20€, Europe 30€
Ref X3Y-2438