Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Rafael_S_O · 20th July 2007, 05:07 PM

Hellow gentlemans.

This is almost a miniature of the very common Valero Jun brand models. The most usual was in the 6"-7" blades even if you can found in the 9"to 10" they are not common at all. You can find models made in Zaragoza (where is the place of this family) and others made in France. Some of the best I have seen were made in Zaragoza with "solid" parts and not the more common "hollow plates" models that was the usual way to make the navajas in Thiers and Chatelrault. This one look definitly french made. That way of doing the things was quite "normal" in these times. Is like Nike making shoes in Asia nowdays. So they are as indicated the easiest one to be copied or imitated in these times.

In others matters....

Jun is a Family name not so "popular" as Fernández o Díaz but nothing more than that. Forgot about Junior or others "complicated" solutions to a simple matter.
The ratchet system (la carraca) is, in his origins, a matter of safety. When you are using anithing from nails or files to horseshoes to obtain the blade of your knife be sure to put more than one "tooth" on the spine. If the first, main one, break apart you can be sure that at least you will not cut your fingers out with a heavy 8-9" blade closing over. Later was more a aesthetic function that keep in place this system.

The virola must be seen as a natural evolution of the "cierre de fieles" that was one of the first "almost lock" system used or a reinforcement of the handles made in horn or wood in these times.

And finally, allow me to try to explain why I said this especific knife is almost a miniature. The 10-12 " blades quite common in a period before this knife in about 50-100 years, was not a slow, heavy and difficult to use "romantic invention" like a lot of people think. I´ve seen someone draw a big 8-9" Expósito navaja in a so fast manner that someone could think that was a italian automatic stiletto. With the same technique you could have drew the biggest one even faster and easier (because the weigt of the blade). And even today is quite easy to find really big, common navajas in flea markets that were not "display models". Is not so easy as to find the usual Valero Jun but you can find. Even the very apreciates Navajas Sevillanas (Isabelina model) were mades as long as 9", so quite large also.
Is a pleasure to talk about navajas with people who appreciate the subjet.
If my words sound rudes, please let think is my poor english that is not good enough to expouse mi point of view in a more correct manner.

Saludos cordiales desde Sevilla.

Rafael S.O.

20th July 2007, 05:07 PM	#6
Rafael_S_O Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sevilla, España (Spain) Posts: 2	Valero Jun. The most copied/imited old navaja brands. Hellow gentlemans. This is almost a miniature of the very common Valero Jun brand models. The most usual was in the 6"-7" blades even if you can found in the 9"to 10" they are not common at all. You can find models made in Zaragoza (where is the place of this family) and others made in France. Some of the best I have seen were made in Zaragoza with "solid" parts and not the more common "hollow plates" models that was the usual way to make the navajas in Thiers and Chatelrault. This one look definitly french made. That way of doing the things was quite "normal" in these times. Is like Nike making shoes in Asia nowdays. So they are as indicated the easiest one to be copied or imitated in these times. In others matters.... Jun is a Family name not so "popular" as Fernández o Díaz but nothing more than that. Forgot about Junior or others "complicated" solutions to a simple matter. The ratchet system (la carraca) is, in his origins, a matter of safety. When you are using anithing from nails or files to horseshoes to obtain the blade of your knife be sure to put more than one "tooth" on the spine. If the first, main one, break apart you can be sure that at least you will not cut your fingers out with a heavy 8-9" blade closing over. Later was more a aesthetic function that keep in place this system. The virola must be seen as a natural evolution of the "cierre de fieles" that was one of the first "almost lock" system used or a reinforcement of the handles made in horn or wood in these times. And finally, allow me to try to explain why I said this especific knife is almost a miniature. The 10-12 " blades quite common in a period before this knife in about 50-100 years, was not a slow, heavy and difficult to use "romantic invention" like a lot of people think. I´ve seen someone draw a big 8-9" Expósito navaja in a so fast manner that someone could think that was a italian automatic stiletto. With the same technique you could have drew the biggest one even faster and easier (because the weigt of the blade). And even today is quite easy to find really big, common navajas in flea markets that were not "display models". Is not so easy as to find the usual Valero Jun but you can find. Even the very apreciates Navajas Sevillanas (Isabelina model) were mades as long as 9", so quite large also. Is a pleasure to talk about navajas with people who appreciate the subjet. If my words sound rudes, please let think is my poor english that is not good enough to expouse mi point of view in a more correct manner. Saludos cordiales desde Sevilla. Rafael S.O.