Odd folder
 

Hello all, this is a wonderful resource. I will attempt to place a post with attachments. Please forgive me if I fail miserably; I am a troglodyte who collects ancient things and has a flip phone.
So... This is a small folding knife of possible Italian origin. It reminds me of the marriage gift knives that a groom would give his bride to protect her virtue and to take vengeance on her husband if he strayed. A bond of trust?
The mark looks slightly like Consgli, but only slightly. There is a lightly scratched date of 1861 on the blade, whether it is relevant is unknown.
What are your opinions of this piece please?

It looks related to Italian Folding Knives...Like the item below...The only reference is at https://www.pinterest.com/helmuthwolff/messer/?lp=true but I cannot open the historical notes...

Thank you! That is almost identical to mine. The mark is the same. Wonderful to find it has relatives and is Italian. I will not try to deal with pinterest either.
Regards,
Richard.

Again thank you! I did follow up the Pinterest site and went to couteaux-jfl-com. There is the image, says : Amore knife, Italian, early 1800's. The best thing is that it taught me how to release the lock i.e. pushing to the right. I was prying it upwards; almost impossible.
Cheers!

It appears these are circumcission items...

Richard,

You have a beauty with that knife! Its overall shape screams Spanish but the detail work does not. Could be the work of an expatriate Spanish cutler who, like many, went to France and Italy due to the harassment by authorities of those who pursued this trade.

As an aside, small stubby Spanish navajas of this shape nowadays are known as `navaja capadora'

As pointed out by Ibrahiim, the detail work has a strong resemblance to those Italian specimens he posted. As well, the lock is atypical for Spain.

It could have been made possibly in Italy, France, or elsewhere, but in the Spanish style. I have a 20th century navaja that looks very Spanish, but is more ornate and unusually well made and which was manufactured in France.

I had a quick look in Forton's book to see if I could identify the maker's logo/brand but no luck. Will have another look in my others books later on in the day.

Cheers
Chris

Richard,

I think that your navaja could be French. The attached book cover is illustrated with one similar to yours and the author attributes it to 19th century France.

Unfortunately, I had no luck with the maker's logo.

Cheers
Chris

"Navaja capadora" originally meant an instrument used by the sheperds to cut the testicles of the male livestock, though of course it also had other uses. Which could have derived to the other meaning: to castrate a man in the defense of the honour by a woman. To this day, small knives are used to castrate the livestock.
Regards

Ibrahilm,

Try this French website: http://www.couteaux-jfl.com/Collections/Img_20921.jpg

Cheers
Chris

Salaams Chris Evans, Thank you for your excellent response; both fast and accurate. It is rare to find such expertise in this unique niche region of Ethnographic Arms . Thanks for the details...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Thank you all for your responses. I thought it was a beaut! Got it on Ebay for $75.00. Some old collector is spinning in their grave.
Regards,
Richard

Ibrahiim,

It is my pleasure to have been able to assist in some small way.

Cheers
Chris

Perhaps copying this thread to the Ethno section will better discussion possibilties.

HI Richard are there marks on the spring?

Hi Richard. Neat knife. I have seen a couple like it. I’ll try to post some pictures

I hope to can compare me with Richard

Hi Richard.
How I can conctat you?
I wanna talk with you about this knife

Forgive me Aceto, but why not post a photo of your knife here on the forum and discuss it with Richard here. I mean, that IS the purpose of this forum, no? I am afraid i am having a hard time understanding why you would want to take the discussion of these knife off the forum into a private venue.
:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

So sorry
 

Hi
Sorry to not answer
I only have access to a smart phone and can’t figure out how to post images so basically i have just been lurking and didn’t see your post

Hi can you contact me about a navaja on vikingsword. Thanks
Mark.guerra@libero.it