Ethnographic Arms & Armour

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-   -   Faca De Ponta. (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13568)

Atlantia 28th March 2011 07:23 PM

Faca De Ponta.
 
Does anyone have information on the very large Faca De Ponta carried in the late 19th/early 20th century?
Pictures of examples would be very helpful.
Thanks
Gene

Lew 28th March 2011 08:09 PM

http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/facon/criollo.html

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/printthread.php?t=13402

Atlantia 28th March 2011 08:28 PM


Ello Lew,

Not those mate, the really BIG ones that the bandits like Lampiao carried.
The 2' long almost shortsword sized ones :eek:

I can't seem to find any info on them?

Best
gene

Atlantia 29th March 2011 11:21 AM

Hi all.
This is the type I'm interested in:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11034.jpg

Gavin Nugent 29th March 2011 12:00 PM

direction
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia
Hi all.
This is the type I'm interested in:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11034.jpg

Gene,

I am sure Chris will be able to chime in and at least offer some direction.

Gav

Atlantia 29th March 2011 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter
Gene,

I am sure Chris will be able to chime in and at least offer some direction.

Gav


Gav,
thanks for coming into this. You have a wealth of experience of more and varied weapons than most of us. Do you see many of these 'giant' knives?

Best
gene

Gavin Nugent 29th March 2011 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia
Gav,
thanks for coming into this. You have a wealth of experience of more and varied weapons than most of us. Do you see many of these 'giant' knives?

Best
gene

Hi Gene,

I have only ever seen two and also a single photo image here on the site, attached to a Navaja thread....from memory, don't quote me on this...I'll have a dig and see what surfaces.

Gav

Gavin Nugent 29th March 2011 12:48 PM

This is the image I remember
 
This is the image I remember...close but much the same as the larger ones in Lew's first link... there are several other rustic knives of this size under the Gaucho search.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...knife+fighting

Gav

Atlantia 29th March 2011 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter
This is the image I remember...close but much the same as the larger ones in Lew's first link... there are several other rustic knives of this size under the Gaucho search.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...knife+fighting

Gav

Hi Gav,

I'm after the specific Brazilian (I think) ones.
Like this one of mine, just vastly larger!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10653.jpg

Unlike this one, I believe they often have bands in the silver hilt (like a giant centipede)

blacklacrau 29th March 2011 04:31 PM

Try this...

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11894

Atlantia 29th March 2011 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacklacrau

Hi Blacklacrau,
Thanks for coming in on this ;)

The small ones I'm fairly conversent with. I've now got a couple and regularly see the little souvenier ones for sale.
I'm after information and examples of the large fighting ones carried by the bandits Like these in the clip posted by Chris in the other thread.
Have a look at the clip, you can see they are of this sort of size (around 60cm/2'):
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11034.jpg

Thanks again
Gene

blacklacrau 29th March 2011 04:57 PM

The material of the hilt was horn, bone, ivory (provinientes of billiard balls), silver, brass and many others.
The daggers of the outlaws were made only to kill helpless victims, kneeling. The outlaws pierced between the clavicle and neck reaching into the heart, sometimes going through to the backs.
The daggers were piercing weapons only, with no cutting edge along the blade.
The higher the prestige and importance of the bandit his biggest dagger, conseqentemente was the biggest dagger Lampião that was about 87cm.

Atlantia 29th March 2011 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacklacrau
The material of the hilt was horn, bone, ivory (provinientes of billiard balls), silver, brass and many others.
The daggers of the outlaws were made only to kill helpless victims, kneeling. The outlaws pierced between the clavicle and neck reaching into the heart, sometimes going through to the backs.
The daggers were piercing weapons only, with no cutting edge along the blade.
The higher the prestige and importance of the bandit his biggest dagger, conseqentemente was the biggest dagger Lampião that was about 87cm.


87CM!
That really is sword sized!
Your description of their use is certainly enlightening, how awful!!!
Did only bandits carry large ones?
How would you categorise the one in my last post at 60cm long?

Thank you again
Gene

Chris Evans 30th March 2011 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter
Gene,

I am sure Chris will be able to chime in and at least offer some direction.

Gav

Gav,

Sadly no. I do not speak Portuguese and because of thus I know little of their knife lore, save a bit that pertains to the southern parts of that wonderful country, where their blade culture resembles that of Uruguay and Argentina.

Gene,

The Argentineans also had such very long facons, invariably made from a discarded sword blade and were known as saddle facons as they were carried pinned under the gaucho's saddle. They fell into disuse and in all probability were originally used as slaughtering tools of wild cattle, though no doubt they also did double duty as weapons, when required. They were considered too cumbersome to be carried in the traditional way, though many gauchos tucked 60cm blades into their belts at the small of the back.

Cheers
Chris

Atlantia 30th March 2011 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans
Gav,

Sadly no. I do not speak Portuguese and because of thus I know little of their knife lore, save a bit that pertains to the southern parts of that wonderful country, where their blade culture resembles that of Uruguay and Argentina.

Gene,

The Argentineans also had such very long facons, invariably made from a discarded sword blade and were known as saddle facons as they were carried pinned under the gaucho's saddle. They fell into disuse and in all probability were originally used as slaughtering tools of wild cattle, though no doubt they also did double duty as weapons, when required. They were considered too cumbersome to be carried in the traditional way, though many gauchos tucked 60cm blades into their belts at the small of the back.

Cheers
Chris


Thanks Chris,
As a collector of the gaucho field, do you see many of these giant Brazilian ones?

Chris Evans 31st March 2011 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia
Thanks Chris,
As a collector of the gaucho field, do you see many of these giant Brazilian ones?

No, only on the internet, when they come up for sale or discussion.

Cheers
Chris

Atlantia 3rd April 2011 07:05 PM

Seems like this will only be of interest to a few.....
My research continues, so I thought I'd share it with y'all.


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...GYylEAJ2Ns.jpg

And another of the outlaws blades (allegedly of one of the leaders):
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/image015.jpg



If any of the lurkers reading this have any interesting information, I can be emailed at: gimmieitbaby@aol.com

Atlantia 3rd April 2011 08:18 PM

Here's some better pictures of a large one of mine (ooo-err).

I assume from my limited understanding that it was the property of an outlaw?

It's future is uncertain, not that I think that'll affect anything as this thread is hardly awash with replies ;)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11053.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11063.jpg

Chris Evans 4th April 2011 12:17 AM

Hi Gene,

You are doing great work - Keep it up. I for one, am extremely interested with your findings.

This is one form of ethnic bladeware that has received very little international attention.

Cheers
Chris

Atlantia 4th April 2011 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans
Hi Gene,

You are doing great work - Keep it up. I for one, am extremely interested with your findings.

This is one form of ethnic bladeware that has received very little international attention.

Cheers
Chris


Thanks Chris, I'll add more tomorrow,
Any thoughts on the large one of mine?

Gavin Nugent 4th April 2011 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia
Thanks Chris, I'll add more tomorrow,
Any thoughts on the large one of mine?

Gene,

I feel it has many good visual aspects and appears to be a late 19th century piece.

It is a great looking piece and worth keeping, I know I would.

Gav

Chris Evans 4th April 2011 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia
Thanks Chris, I'll add more tomorrow,
Any thoughts on the large one of mine?

Any signs of repeated sharpening and nicks on the edge?

Other than this, as Gav said +1

Cheers
Chris

Atlantia 4th April 2011 06:48 PM

Gav and Chris

Thanks guys. I'm glad my efforts are of interest.
I'm going to add some interesting things I've found, so please 'stay tuned'.

The large one shows lots of use on the blade, sharpening, pitting, cleaning etc. It's had 'a life'.

Firstly here is a picture to illustrate the relative sizes of these weapons.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11120.jpg

Secondly, I'm going to add some of the information I've found.
Although I'm only really interested in the knives, it's interwoven with the outlaws.
It seems that Lampiao especially has achieved an almost 'hero' status in Brazil.
It is of course not uncommon for outlaws to be remembered in this way ('Robin Hood' syndrome), but in Lampiao's case it seems that he did little to deserve his cult status, as he and his 'band' were ruthless, sadistic, cruel mass murderers. Reading about his exploits (crimes), it's difficult to imagine feeling an emotion other than loathing for him.

That in mind, it's perhaps easier to understand why his richly deserved death was followed by the public display of his and some of his comrades heads for decades after the event.

The picture of this 'display' is relevant to this subject as the outlaws knives were dsplayed with them.
So, I will add the picture below and as I don't like suprises of a graphic nature, I warn readers now!!
There we go. The intro is over. ;)

Atlantia 4th April 2011 07:04 PM

Here is an interesting article on the outlaws.
If anyone can translate the relevant parts it would be useful. I've tried typing it out and using babelfish, but the meaning seems to get lost in translation.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/lampiao1.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/lampiao2.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/lampiao3.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/lampiao4.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/lampiao5.jpg

Atlantia 4th April 2011 07:28 PM

Here is the wiki page on Lamiao

Here is the graphic display of his and some of his comrades heads, with their regalia (parental guidance is advised):

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ia/DEGOLA1.jpg

Here is a translated description of the useage of these knives:

(By: Jose Romero Araújo Cardoso)

Bleeding was one of the most heinous crimes committed in the northeastern hinterland at the time of highwaymen, practiced by both flywheels troops, which had "bleeders official", for outlaws.

Symbol of a culture forged by colonization erected under the stress of force and violence, responsible for the extermination of the Indians who inhabited the hinterland, the "technique" of bleeding was the most improved. The economic rationale of the inland penetration required that cattle raised in order to be ultra-extensive necessarily slaughtered for consumption by a privileged minority of the population, especially the coastal sugarcane. In the hinterland, became a "master work" kill bleeding the jugular or the carotid artery.

The two carotid arteries are the common right and left common, and the right common originates in the brachiocephalic trunk and left common originate from the aortic arch. The rupture of these arteries means certain death. Bleeding violent towards arterial blood flow to the aorta takes care of everything.

When the soldier John of the "stain", regarded even by his former fellow soldiers, as a psychotic, fancy wheels paraibanas bleeder forces, broke with a knife belonging to the doctor Luiz de Goes, the carotid Attorney John Dantas, killer President Joao Pessoa, when his detention in prison of Recife (PE).

João Dantas was arrested in the company of brother-engineer Augusto Caldas, also murdered with the same trick. The "service" was done by a professional macabre who knew her "craft". The military knew where he would break the millimeter artery, whereas the struggle waged between the body intrepid lawyer Joao Dantas and his executioners prevented sectioning at the exact spot as he wished to Dr. Luiz de Góes. As Arruda, only someone who was deeply in touch with the "art" of bleed could have done a "work" with such perfection.

The jugular veins, others who were also preferred by the "bleeders" from fighting the highwaymen Northeast, are of extreme importance for the organism. At the break it is almost impossible to be no possibility of salvation, unless there is reversal of modern techniques such as the presence of doctors and hospital, virtually nonexistent in the wild hinterlands of the forgotten past, though even today we find this situation in several places throughout the northeast and throughout Brazil.

Involvement of the brachiocephalic vein, there was little chance of living victims of this gruesome ordeal promoted by soldiers and bandits in the hinterland of the highwaymen, especially when the summit of Lantern. This vein is anastomisa with the right brachiocephalic vein, forming the superior vena cava, is crucial to sustaining life.

Lampiao was expert in this technique, and has therefore immense dagger blade two feet. Seasoned deals in the field, especially with regard to livestock, hides and skins providing the "Colonel" Delmiro Gouveia, who negotiated the Ferreira family, the "king of the highwaymen" innovated and used it profusely when his leadership in banditry (1922 - 1938).

The external jugular vein, when broken, is certain death. This vein is composed of the junction with retromandibular vein posterior auricular vein, and after several stages of great importance, will lead more frequently in the subclavian vein.

According to Colonel Manuel Alvarez de Assis (photo below) on whom there are historical records indelible and marked by an extraordinary way the story of the struggles of the people of the semi-arid in the first decades of the past century, another method widely used by both parties in fights, was to pierce the clavicle, introducing yourself, with violence, the instrument-forceful drill directly into the aorta near the heart.

After the carnage of Piancó (CP), which occurred in February of 1926, whose share of the old warrior of the hosts of wheels, a native of the municipality of Pombal (CP), and striking out decisively, there was a column of military lockups Prestes, as well as the cook of the militia who preached a new direction. Bahia was one known among the rebels by Aunt Mary. Only one escaped the sad fate, due to calls from many in the backcountry, including the Padre Cicero.

As yet the interviewee, a prisoner of bleeding when the military led by Colonel Elysium Sobreira, said he had made it a lot when the march of the column, among the many battles that crashed.

Also in Piancó (CP), Alvarez recalled the massacre of barrie, which killed the Father Aristides Ferreira and several comrades who battled bravely to try to halt the column. All were bled by members of the column, dismayed by the deaths of cavalrymen who formed the vanguard of the column Miguel - Prestes, who arrived in the city of Piancó (PB), and ended targeted by the expert marksmanship of Sergeant Manuel Alvarez then of Assisi.




Brutal times indeed.


For those who can read the original Portugese, the text may be clearer:

"O sangramento era um dos crimes mais hediondos cometido no sertão nordestino no tempo do cangaço, praticado tanto por tropas volantes, as quais dispunham de "sangradores oficiais", como por cangaceiros.
Símbolo de uma cultura forjada pela colonização erigida sob a ênfase da força e da violência, responsável pelo extermínio dos índios que habitavam a hinterlândia, a "técnica" de sangramento foi aperfeiçoada ao máximo. A razão econômica da penetração interiorana exigia que o gado criado de forma ultra-extensiva fosse, necessariamente, abatido para o consumo de uma minoria privilegiada da população, principalmente a do litoral canavieiro. No sertão, se tornou um "trabalho de mestre" matar sangrando a jugular ou a carótida.

As carótidas são duas artérias, a comum direita e a comum esquerda, sendo que a comum direita é originária do tronco braquiocefálico e a comum esquerda é originária do arco aórtico. A ruptura dessas artérias significa morte certa. A hemorragia violenta na via arterial do fluxo de sangue da aorta se encarrega de tudo.

Quando o soldado João da "mancha", considerado inclusive por seus antigos colegas de farda, como um psicótico, extravagante sangrador das forças volantes paraibanas, rompeu, com um bisturi pertencente ao medico Luiz de Góes, a carótida do advogado João Dantas, assassino do presidente João Pessoa, quando de sua detenção na penitenciária do Recife (PE).


João Dantas estava preso na companhia do cunhado, o engenheiro Augusto Caldas, também assassinado com a mesma "técnica". O "serviço" fora feito por um profissional macabro que conhecia muito bem o seu "ofício". O militar sabia milimetricamente onde iria romper a artéria, visto que a luta corporal travada entre o intrépido advogado João Dantas e os seus algozes impediu o seccionamento no ponto exato, como pretendia Dr. Luiz de Góes. Conforme Arruda, só alguém que estava profundamente em contato com a "arte" de sangrar poderia ter feito um "trabalho" com tamanha perfeição.

As veias jugulares, outras que também eram preferidas pelos "sangradores" das lutas do cangaço nordestino, são de extrema importância para o organismo. A veia jugular interna é a principal. Ao rompê-la é quase impossível de haver qualquer possibilidade de salvação, a não ser que haja modernas técnicas de reversão, como presença de médicos e hospital, praticamente inexistentes nos ermos esquecidos dos sertões de outrora, embora ainda hoje encontremos tal situação em diversos lugares espalhados pelo nordeste e pelo Brasil afora.

Com o comprometimento da veia braquiocefálica, poucas chances de vida havia às vítimas desse suplício macabro promovido por solados e bandidos no sertão do cangaço, principalmente quando do apogeu de Lampião. Essa veia se anastomisa com a veia braquiocefálica direita, formando a veia cava superior, de fundamental importância à manutenção da vida.

Lampião era expert nesta técnica, dispondo para isso de imenso punhal de setenta centímetros de lâmina. Tarimbado na lida do campo, sobretudo no que diz respeito à pecuária, fornecendo peles e couros ao "Coronel" Delmiro Gouveia, com quem a família Ferreira negociava, o "rei do cangaço" inovou e utilizou-a profusamente quando de sua chefia no cangaço (1922 - 1938).

A veia jugular externa, quando rompida, representa morte certa. Essa veia é constituída da junção da veia retromandibular com a veia auricular posterior, e, após vários estágios de grande importância, desembocará, mais freqüentemente, na veia subclávia.

Segundo o Coronel Manuel Arruda de Assis, (Foto abaixo) sobre quem há registros históricos indeléveis, tendo marcado de forma extraordinária a história das lutas do povo do semi-árido nas primeiras décadas do passado século, outro método bastante utilizado por ambas as partes envolvidas nas lutas, consistia em perfurar a clavícula, introduzindo-se, com violência, o instrumento perfuro-contudente diretamente na aorta, junto ao coração.

Depois da hecatombe de Piancó (PB), ocorrida no mês de fevereiro do ano de 1926, cuja participação do velho guerreiro das hostes volantes, natural do município de Pombal (PB), fora decisiva e marcante, houve aprisionamentos de militares da coluna Prestes, bem como da cozinheira da milícia que pregava novos rumos. Era uma baiana conhecida entre os revoltosos por tia Maria. Apenas um escapou da triste sina, devido aos apelos de muitos no sertão, inclusive do Padre Cícero.

Conforme ainda o entrevistado, um prisioneiro quando do sangramento pelos militares comandados pelo Coronel Elísio Sobreira, revelou ter feito muito isso quando da marcha da coluna, entre os diversos combates que travou.

Ainda em Piancó (PB), Arruda relembrou a chacina do barreiro, a qual vitimou o Padre Aristides Ferreira e diversos camaradas que lutaram bravamente para tentar conter o avanço da coluna. Todos foram sangrados por membros da coluna, consternados com as mortes dos cavalarianos que formavam a vanguarda da Coluna Miguel Costa - Prestes, os quais chegavam na cidade de Piancó (PB), e terminaram alvejados pela pontaria certeira do então sargento Manuel Arruda de Assis."

Gavin Nugent 4th April 2011 11:59 PM

Awesome
 
Awesome Gene!!

Thanks for bringing to light aspects of knives I have seen but never fully understood!! Great reference research that I can imagine wasn't easy to find.

Outstanding!!

Gav

Atlantia 5th April 2011 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter
Awesome Gene!!

Thanks for bringing to light aspects of knives I have seen but never fully understood!! Great reference research that I can imagine wasn't easy to find.

Outstanding!!

Gav


Thank you Gav.

As you can see from the online translation, my Portugese is nonexistant.
That certainly doesn't help.

There are still aspects of them that need clarification.
For example:

These obviously come in various 'types' and as this information isn't available in one place here' I'm going to try for a basic overview here in one place for clarity.

You have the usually smaller semi-familiar 'national knife/souvenier' types, often with plated blades and mottos etched onto them etc.
These come in at least two 'forms' with crossguard and usually plated blade, and guardless.
Here is one of our own members blades (was Nandos, think he sold it). The mottos vary, I've also seen 'The High Life' (in English!).

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ia/PONTA_2.jpg

Here is one belonging to our own kronckew. looks to be of good quality. Notice that it is of more traditional form with no guard etc.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...nta002_DCE.jpg

Then there are the older ones with imported blades of good quality and slightly larger 'dagger' size.
For this I (again) present mine (next to a kitchen knife for scale).
My research and gut feeling is that it dates to the late 19th or early 20th. Certainly I can't see it being any later than mid 1930s.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11124.jpg

There are also older ones of 'dagger' size, but with a more 'Brazilian' handmade look to them. These have a range of blades like Gaucho knives from Argentina etc. Everything from imported blades, to locally made and reused sabre sections. Different qualities, all rather attractive.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/S2010046.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...casGEngel3.jpg

Finally, you get these giant 2ft (and in Lampaio's case longer) versions.
Here again, next to the smaller version to show just how huge it is!

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11120.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/image015.jpg
So, the question is, who used what?
Are the giants exclusive to the outlaws?

Atlantia 5th April 2011 11:58 AM

It's said that the distinctive banding on the hilts of some of these daggers was inspired by the giant brazilian millipedes known as 'embuá' (lice snake)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...sMillipede.jpg

Atlantia 5th April 2011 12:54 PM

There muct be Brazilian members who can help us out with more detail?

Or even just Portugese speakers?

Lurkers too! If you can add to our knowledge then feel free to email me at: gimmieitbaby@aol.com

Chris Evans 5th April 2011 11:11 PM

Hi Gene,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia
So, the question is, who used what?
Are the giants exclusive to the outlaws?

First, a big thank you for publishing all this terrific work on a very little known subject.

I think that to answer to your question we must first look into the agricultural and slaughtering/butchering practices of the region. Given the by the then strong proliferation of firearms, these huge knives must have had some utilitarian application; I read somewhere that they were known not as faca de ponta, rather as fish butchering knives, but I haven't had the time to follow this up.

Also, as blacklacrau said, they probably were status symbols too, much like officers swords are in modern times. I think it is fair to say that the absence of a handguard suggests that these were not intended for serious fighting, rather to facilitate carriage. The gaucho saddle facons often had full size sword blades but rarely a handguard; Now why would a weapon be stripped of such a valuable feature? IMHO because ease of carriage was the first concern and they were not intended to be weapons, rather slaughtering tools. In contrast, the shorter and nimbler fighting grade facons were often fitted with cross guards.

Cheers
Chris

Atlantia 6th April 2011 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans
Hi Gene,



First, a big thank you for publishing all this terrific work on a very little known subject.

I think that to answer to your question we must first look into the agricultural and slaughtering/butchering practices of the region. Given the by the then strong proliferation of firearms, these huge knives must have had some utilitarian application; I read somewhere that they were known not as faca de ponta, rather as fish butchering knives, but I haven't had the time to follow this up.

Also, as blacklacrau said, they probably were status symbols too, much like officers swords are in modern times. I think it is fair to say that the absence of a handguard suggests that these were not intended for serious fighting, rather to facilitate carriage. The gaucho saddle facons often had full size sword blades but rarely a handguard; Now why would a weapon be stripped of such a valuable feature? IMHO because ease of carriage was the first concern and they were not intended to be weapons, rather slaughtering tools. In contrast, the shorter and nimbler fighting grade facons were often fitted with cross guards.

Cheers
Chris


Hi Chris,

You're welcome. I've really only 'borrowed' from the work of others and tried to put it all into one place. The difficulty is wading through the mountain of inormation about the outlaws etc and trying to find snippets of info or pictures showing the knives.

Here are a couple of the better pictures. I've digitally cleaned them slightly.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5.../lampiaoA1.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/bandit1a.jpg

Atlantia 6th April 2011 02:28 PM

Hi Chris,

Further to your observations above.
It does seem that a knife was the preferred method of killing cattle, and that this was 'extended' to be the method of dispatch of choice for 'executions'.

Interestingly (as you point out), wiki in speaking about the Bandits weapons says:
"They also made famous a thin, long, and very sharp knife called a "peixeira", a fish-cleaning knife, used mostly to torture or cut the throats of their victims."

A search of google images using 'peixeira' returns some rather upsetting images. I do not recommend it!

Your point about the guards is an excellent observation and I think realistically puts to bed any notion that these guardless examples regardless of size were meant to be routinely used in 'combat' against an armed opponent. Especially in a time where firearms were commonplace.

As is the point about them denoting status. Was there a 'cut off point' where certain sizes would be specific to certain groups?

For instance, if we take this example:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11124.jpg
It feels like something that a well dressed chap in a'frontier town' or other urban situation might carry.

These on the other hand:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/S2010046.jpg
Look more like they would be at home in a gauchos belt and could be a working tool. While of course showing a noticable range of sizes. If these examples are 'gaucho' knives, do even they denote status with their size?

Which takes us to the very large examples.
I can't find any pictures of Brazilian gauchos with knives that size, only the bandits.
Nor can I find any pictures of examples that are not captioned as belonging to bandits.
Thats not any kind of proof of course, but several sites do talk about the distinctive (rather eccentric) clothing and 'style'.

It's possible as we've just discussed, that there is a different name, and they are not actually 'faca de ponta'?

Best
Gene

Atlantia 6th April 2011 03:05 PM

Many of the elements of the history of the Bandits that I have reproduced come from this resource:
http://lampiaoaceso.blogspot.com/

Free to reuse as long as credited.
Great site if anyone wants to have a look :)

fernando 6th April 2011 07:01 PM

5 Attachment(s)
Probably the best work on facas de ponta was written by a guy who died in March 2007, called Oswaldo Lamartine de Faria. The 59 pages work is called "APONTAMENTOS (notes) SOBRE (about) A FACA DE PONTA" and was written 1977. Despite the title, this work embraces the wide range of Brazilian knifes, specially those from the Northeast backcountry region (Sertão). Lamartine himself was a native of this region.
I will here try and post a sort of synopsis, humbly translated from his work.

It seems as the faca de ponta, a typical cangaceiro (bandit) weapon, had/has its more common type with limited dimensions, belonging to the multiuse range, that can be carried both in the waist belt or in the boot.
In the city streets they were used hanging from the belt, less often in the garter and even in the vest armpit. Priests used them under the cassock.
Those with more wealth would order them from famed workshops, made with old National Guard sword blades with 2-3 cms. width and 20-30 cms length, with grips in ivory (or bone) and gold (or silver).

The typology and nomenclature is vast: Punals (facas de ponta with blunt edges); Peixeiras; knives with estoc type three edged blades (linguas de peba); lambedeiras (extremely sharp specimens with three fingers width and 30-40 cms length.); and several others.

Naturally facas de ponta and their counterparts had their criminal side, when used with harmful intents.
Parnahybas (or Pernambucanas) were a type of faca de ponta with a thin sheet blade and exaggerated long length, also known as Facas de arrasto (dragging knives), an allegory to the time it takes to drag them off the scabbards. This is the type of knives which can be related to those used by guys like Lampião. Observing pictures taken to him and his gang, one can see the proportion of such weapons, where those used by his men had similar dimensions to that of his own.
Quoting the various authors: A punal with a 70 cms blade and 11 cms. grip (Lima de Oliveira – Lampião, cangaço e nordeste ); A steel sheet knife with 77 cms with nickel third (?) grip, adorned with three gold rings (Eduardo Barbosa – Lampião – Rei do cangaço); … Appearing the punal or knife grip with white brass sheath and measuring 50 to 70 cms of sharp blade … I saw a three edged punal, in pure steel, fine point, which only purpose was to kill and bleed those beasts (Joaquim Gois – Lampião – o ultimo cangaceiro); Childerico (…) caught his tape and measured. He was astonished with the result: seventy to eighty cms. blade of fine steel, from an old sword of the National Guard. Used to torture and bleed prisoners (Raul Raul Fernandes – A marcha de Lampião; assalto a Mossoró).

Lamartine also mentions Marchantes (professional killers) leaving their knives introduced in Cururu frogs (Bufus Marinus) for a couple days, to achieve a poisonous effect; and others that filed scoops on their Peixeiras for easier disemboweling.
Also worthy of note were knives which had rather tight scabbards, allowing them to be used upside down, hanging from their backs; the intention was to illude the adversary, by drawing the knife in an unexpectedly inverted move.

The resource for knife steel was vast: rails, wagon shafts, tools, car springs, sword points …
Materials for grips were Galalithe, ivory (from old billiard balls) horn, bone …

Attached are some of the book illustrations, comprehending specimens owned by personalities of the period and some technical diagrams.

There is no problem with royalty issues, as Lamartine himself had disposed of the work to be published at the Internet. I believe only 1000 copies were printed and were sold out long time ago.



.

Atlantia 6th April 2011 08:44 PM

Great work Nando!!!
Thank you :)

Chris Evans 7th April 2011 01:22 AM

'Nando,

Great post!

It throws a lot of light on this subject. Oh, how I wish that I could read Portuguese and read that fascinating book.

Gene,

The thing that strikes me most forcibly is that the cross sectional geometry of most of these facas de ponta, as with facons, is rather poor for cutting, rendering them fit mostly thrusting. As fencing weapons they are also rather poor, so that leaves slaughtering, or the more improbable function of piercing armour. Whatever edge they had, I think was there only to facilitate entry.

I also suspect that as with the middle eastern jambiya, these knives were worn mainly as items of dress rather than something to be used in earnest, though no doubt, this happened from time to time.

On another note, you may want to see the 1953 Brazilian film Ocangaceiro, which depicts life amongs these bandits. Have a look in Youtube and you'll find bits of it.

Cheers
Chris

Atlantia 7th April 2011 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans
'Nando,

Great post!

It throws a lot of light on this subject. Oh, how I wish that I could read Portuguese and read that fascinating book.

Gene,

The thing that strikes me most forcibly is that the cross sectional geometry of most of these facas de ponta, as with facons, is rather poor for cutting, rendering them fit mostly thrusting. As fencing weapons they are also rather poor, so that leaves slaughtering, or the more improbable function of piercing armour. Whatever edge they had, I think was there only to facilitate entry.

I also suspect that as with the middle eastern jambiya, these knives were worn mainly as items of dress rather than something to be used in earnest, though no doubt, this happened from time to time.

On another note, you may want to see the 1953 Brazilian film Ocangaceiro, which depicts life amongs these bandits. Have a look in Youtube and you'll find bits of it.

Cheers
Chris

Excellent, Thanks Chris, I'll take a look.

Both of mine are sharpened on the 'cutting edge' side.
The big one could have been sharpened at a later stage I guess?
The smaller one of mine has an imported German blade and this appears to have an original ground egde (still relatively sharp).
So in the case of that one at least, it seems certain to me that it was retailed with a sharp edge.

It would be interesting to study some 'working' examples.

Also, I notice that in the final photgraph in Fernando's post, there is a 60cm example which appears to be credited to Col Rogerio Dias.
This would be the first of the very big Facas that I have seen credited to a non-bandit.

Best
Gene

fernando 7th April 2011 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans
... Oh, how I wish that I could read Portuguese and read that fascinating book ...

I happen to be able to read portuguese, although i am as non schooled lousy translator :eek: .
Eventually i have emailed the post to the Brazilian guy who passed me the book link, himself a credited cuttler, and he said the resume/translation was very good :confused: :o .
If you feel some passages in the book are susceptible to be worthy the translation, try me.
In my resume i foccused more on the typology and some of the vast nomenclature, skipping over the folkloric and social part, proverbs and allegories related to knives and their use, the last two being more idiomatic and producing a more hibrid translation.

Chris Evans 8th April 2011 12:43 AM

Hi Gene,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia
Also, I notice that in the final photograph in Fernando's post, there is a 60cm example which appears to be credited to Col Rogerio Dias.
This would be the first of the very big Facas that I have seen credited to a non-bandit.

They must have had a wider market than that of the bandits, whose number was not all that great. To import, wholesale and retail blades, even make them, required a greater demand.

Fernando: Thanks for your very kind offer. Will take you up on it it, as time permits.

Cheers
Chris

Atlantia 8th April 2011 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans
Hi Gene,



They must have had a wider market than that of the bandits, whose number was not all that great. To import, wholesale and retail blades, even make them, required a greater demand.

Fernando: Thanks for your very kind offer. Will take you up on it it, as time permits.

Cheers
Chris


Hi Chris,

Ah yes, the smaller ones for sure. As Nando says, not only gauchos but people in towns, even priests! :eek:

Please do share any further translated passages or info you find.

Best
Gene


WARNING. I JUST TRIED TO LOOK AT THE LINK IN NANDOS POST AND AVG SAY THE FILE IS INFECTED.
(I GOT A BIG RED BOX, 'AVG BLOCKED THREAT, FILE INFECTED')
IF YOU'VE OPENED THE LINK, DO A SCAN NOW.


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