Inscriptions in Navajas, for Chris and who else

fernando · 9th April 2007, 06:07 PM

Hi Chris,
I have asked Mr. Barreto Costa ( that's the name ) how he managed to get the list. He says he has put it up himself, through the years. Being an Arms seller and collector, he buys and signs lots of publications. He started to write down all the inscriptions that came in the support texts of the several navaja examples, in order to make it easy to check on possible specimens he would eventually collect and trade, knowing that many times the inscriptions are faded and rather hard to read and interpreter.
Kind regards
fernando

Battara · 9th April 2007, 07:36 PM

Just for kicks, here is another navaja, but with this in Afrikaans:

Van aboor in varen ("from a true boar").

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...vaja+afrikaans

Chris Evans · 10th April 2007, 12:09 AM

Hi Fernando,

I am envious of Mr.Costa - He must have handled so many antique navajas! Thanks for making his notes available to us.

Hi Batara,

A fascinating piece, whose history I dearly would love to know. I am sure that on account of that inscription, it is a very valuable navaja.

Cheers
Chris

Battara · 11th April 2007, 01:12 AM

I'm not sure about the history, although I was told by another dealer in African weapons years ago that it is a Voortrekker knife, perhaps before the Great Trek by the Boers in what is now South Africa, when they made a trek up into the Transvaal in Northern South Africa, about 1850. It is crudly hand engraved cursive script.

Usually I'm not much into European, but this puppy caught my eye years ago (for dirt) and have enjoyed it's uniqueness.

Chris Evans · 11th April 2007, 10:29 AM

Hi Battara,

Quote:

It is crudly hand engraved cursive script.

Well, that was generally the case with the Spanish cutlers. It may well be that that navaja was custom made for a Boer who was in Spain at the time. I suppose that we'll never know - Most intiguing.

Quote:

Usually I'm not much into European, but this puppy caught my eye years ago (for dirt) and have enjoyed it's uniqueness.

Look after it and enjoy - It is a fascinating and very unusual piece.

Cheers
Chris

9th April 2007, 06:07 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Egg of Columbus Hi Chris, I have asked Mr. Barreto Costa ( that's the name ) how he managed to get the list. He says he has put it up himself, through the years. Being an Arms seller and collector, he buys and signs lots of publications. He started to write down all the inscriptions that came in the support texts of the several navaja examples, in order to make it easy to check on possible specimens he would eventually collect and trade, knowing that many times the inscriptions are faded and rather hard to read and interpreter. Kind regards fernando

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9th April 2007, 07:36 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	Just for kicks, here is another navaja, but with this in Afrikaans: Van aboor in varen ("from a true boar"). http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...vaja+afrikaans

10th April 2007, 12:09 AM	#3
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Fernando, I am envious of Mr.Costa - He must have handled so many antique navajas! Thanks for making his notes available to us. Hi Batara, A fascinating piece, whose history I dearly would love to know. I am sure that on account of that inscription, it is a very valuable navaja. Cheers Chris

11th April 2007, 01:12 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	I'm not sure about the history, although I was told by another dealer in African weapons years ago that it is a Voortrekker knife, perhaps before the Great Trek by the Boers in what is now South Africa, when they made a trek up into the Transvaal in Northern South Africa, about 1850. It is crudly hand engraved cursive script. Usually I'm not much into European, but this puppy caught my eye years ago (for dirt) and have enjoyed it's uniqueness.