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#1 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
Posts: 2,928
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Here is a rather sweet little knife.
Have a good look at the handle as there are little thin disks of white (now dark grey) metal which are made to be slightly larger so they stick out about 1mm. I assume that this can only be to provide grip and as the handle is already a shape that gives a good grip? But I found myself wondering about it. Which reminded me of the early smooth handled FS Commando knives and the problems of them becomming slippery and the soldiers being unable to pull them out due to a combination of blood on the handle and wound suction. Which resulted in the later ones having the ridged handles. Could we be seeing a similar design feature here? ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Last edited by Atlantia; 23rd June 2009 at 11:06 PM. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 675
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Hi Atlantia,
It is a Canary Islands `Naife', a corruption of the English word `Knife'. These links are in Spanish but can be translated with something like Babel http://www.terra.es/personal8/jlmmor...s-canarios.htm And http://armasblancas.mforos.com/933156/5569293-naifes/ Cheers Chris |
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#3 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
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![]() Quote:
Isn't punal the generic term for these? Not that 'me Espaniole' is very good, but it's 'dagger' isn't it? I mean, why do some call these knife and others dagger, is ther a theory that they are not 'offensive' in purpose? What are your thoughts on the ridges? Regards gene Last edited by Atlantia; 24th June 2009 at 12:06 AM. |
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#4 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Australia
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Hi Gene,
Quote:
The Argentineans call Criollo (Creole) knives with a similar blade shape `Puņal', with the qualifier that the blade must have a false edge near the tip, not necessarily sharp, otherwise it becomes a mere `Cuchillo' (knife), or if deeply bellied, a `Cuchilla' (feminine gender). `Puņo' in Spanish means fist or a clenched hand and generally the term is used to describe an edged knife used mainly for the thrust, held with an "ice pick" grip. How they came to assign this name to what is predominantly a working cutting knife is unknown to me. I should add that the strict usage of these terms is a relatively modern phenomena, introduced by historians and curators, as in the past the mostly illiterate population and even renowned literati, both in the Latin Americas and Spain, named their bladeware very loosely. To this day, the terms `facon', `puņal', `daga', `cuchillo/a' are used interchangeably by most who are not collectors. From an utilitarian perspective, at least my own, the handle of naifes leave a lot to be desired on account of being round and thus reducing the feel for the edge, but I suppose that one can get use to it. As for purchase, I think that the changing cross section, reaching a maximum diameter near the centre affords a secure grip. I am inclined to believe that the spacers are purely decorative, though no doubt, as the softer ones wear down the harder ones will become more prominent further improving the grip. Cheers Chris |
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#5 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
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![]() Quote:
I've had a proper Albacete punal for a while and have missed getting a few of these canary 'baby brothers' on ebay I was delighted to find this one at a boot-sale last week. I completely see why you'd think it was the rest of the handle had worn down but its actually the other way around and the metal spacers are soft but raised. Definately there to afford better grip....Which is why I thought it was worthy of a thread. |
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#6 | ||
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 675
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Hi Gene,
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In that second link I gave, you can see how they are made and would appear that they aim for a smooth finish. Of course, being made one at a time they can cater for individual requests and preferences. Judging from the photos, it would seem that a number of the spacers were not abraded down - Just a thought, could it be an unfinished knife? Cheers Chris Last edited by Chris Evans; 24th June 2009 at 03:02 AM. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: PR, USA
Posts: 679
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One of mine FS daggers.
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#8 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Nothern Mexico
Posts: 458
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Regards Gonzalo Last edited by Gonzalo G; 25th July 2009 at 12:26 AM. |
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#9 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
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Gonzalo my friend ![]() Thank you for joining the thread, and especially for mentioning my modest little Canary knife. I am finding these rather interesting. I wonder if there are any collectors who are experienced enough to identify towns/dates/ even makers themselves from the different handle patterns? I have learned much from this thread about definitions and correct terminology ![]() What are your thoughts on the strange metal disks in the handle? They seem deliberate additions after the others disks were polished, but that would mean that the handle was polished then the disks were added, which is why they reminded me of the later FS patterns with the improved 'grip'. Thing is, the disks are fairly thin and rather soft metal. I'm a little puzzled by them. Also, this is a rather more complex handled example than most I've seen, although the blade is fairly average, why have these rather horrible disks sticking out if not for a reason? Do you think they are just a mistake/unfinished element? Kindest Regards Gene ![]() |
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