Cuban Army Officers machete

[Militaria of the Past]

Picked this up a couple years ago. Cuban Army Officers machete “cutacha” used during the Spanish American War. It varies a little from examples show in the Collins Machetes and Bowies. 

[stratasfan]

Thanks for sharing! My Dad is from Pre-Castro Cuba, and I love seeing stuff from the older days! Would this have been something like a "sword" for them (seeing the eagle hilt and the fancier scabbard)? 

[Militaria of the Past]

6 minutes ago, stratasfan said:

Thanks for sharing! My Dad is from Pre-Castro Cuba, and I love seeing stuff from the older days! Would this have been something like a "sword" for them (seeing the eagle hilt and the fancier scabbard)? 

From my understanding, yes

Here is a photo I found on google when I first got it. 
 

[stratasfan]

That is so cool! Would these have only been used around the 1890s or would this style have been in a long time? Also . . . any marks on it? How did you know it was Cuban (I know that sounds basic!)?