24" CHILD'S(?) SWORD w/ENGRAVED BLADE REAL?

I found this at a local thrift store today - it was 1/2 price from it's normal $29.99 so I bought it.
Is it real? Or decorative? (unusual size for decorative unless they planned on marketing it to Shaq as a letter opener!)
Is this a child's sword (it measures 24")?
Where is it from/what does the round symbol on the hilt mean?
Any info on it - or the engraving on the blade?
Thanks all!

 

LOL! Shaq's letter opener!

 

Appears to be a souvenir damascene sword from Toledo, Spain named after this sword carried by El Cid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tizona

Debora

 

It is a souvenir model sword from Toledo, Spain.
Alternatively a device for opening a microwave.

Edit: sniped by Debora.
Except I don't see any Damascene work.

 

Faux damascene.

Debora

 

That's some big chunk of Toledoware! No idea what they sell for.

 

Here's something similar (although not as old and of finer quality.) 87 euros.

http://www.laespadatoledana.com/p.4865.0.0.1.1-tizona-espanola-plateada.html



Debora

 

When I was about ten or twelve, we made wooden swords for 'swordfighting', I wish I'd had that then, although I expect it would have been confiscated as the bodies piled up.

 

@ AF!

 

swords come in all shapes and all sizes.....

dad had a letter opener like that.....tsin a box somewhere...

 

I have a Toledo damascene sword letter opener, with a gold griffin. A bit of kitsch, but I love it.

 

I once saw a standing ashtray built around a similar sword and didn't buy it. Talk about regret!

 

Must have been a big ashtray.

 

Hi,
I have a 2 inch long sword with Toledo hang tag. I bought it in Spain about 1960. One of my smallest souvenirs. I bought it for my nephew but never gave it to him. It keeps showing up in various boxes of trinkets.
greg

 

I like these things, and I think they are fun, but not to be taken too seriously (not that you couldn't do some serious damage - it's enough of a sword for that).

Cocktail toothpicks


More Cocktail toothpicks


And this one by itself at 4 3/4"


Of course, Toledo was known for its blades in the past. (I'll bet there are fine sword makers there today.) Years and years ago, I read Mavor's Voyages: 18th C accounts of British voyages of discovery and embassies around the world. In an account of a visit to Japan (it may be part of the account of Lord McCartney's embassy to China) he commented on Japanese Samurai swords to the effect that they were as good as the finest Toledos, even if (according to him) the Japanese did wear them in a ridiculous fashion.