Corsican Vendetta Daggers

Chris Evans · 31st July 2010, 07:12 AM

Hi Gene,

Trying to learn something, I had a look through my books on navajas and searched the net to find that:

In Forton's `Navajas Antiguas' pgs 114-117 there is a section dedicated to Corsican folders, which he lists as French. He shows 11 specimens similar to yours, the biggest with a 20cm blade. All are attributed to early 20th century. The author does not say if these were manufactured in Corisca or mainland France, but a number of them have brands stamped with a name plus AJACCIO, a major city on the island, as is Bastio (on yours).

In De Vivar's `La Navaja Clasica' pg 58 there is an illustration of another small French "Corsican" folder but this one appears to be either slip joint or friction folder. It has a 12cm etched decorated blade and painted handle with the inscriptiion `Valladolid' a city of northern Spain! Vivar assigns this folder to the early 20th century. The blade has also inscribed on it `ACIER FONDU' (cast steel).

This article from the New York Times, published in1881, claims that Corsican vendettas were perpetrated mostly with firearms: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...679D94609FD7CF

A very informative paper, translated by Google, on Corsican cut & thrust weapons:
http://translate.googleusercontent.c...HQb526Fe1aRgMA. The authors mentions that in the 19th century, the local merchants cashed in on the tourist's preconceptions as inspired by novelas. He also appears to say that the islanders began to manufacture "robust" folding knives at the end of the 19th century, in most cases without a spring. Perhaps someone fluent in French can read the original paper and clarify this, as the Google translation leaves a lot to be desired

This is an excellent French website's section on Corsican fixed blade knives: http://www.couteaux-jfl.com/Corse.htm. Perhaps you could drop the owner a line and see what he has to say on the subject.

Cheers
Chris

Chris Evans · 31st July 2010, 04:34 PM

Hi Gene,

Did a bit of further searching and found this old thread, on another forum, in which Bernard Levine gives an opinion on these folders and has this to say:

"....It is called a Vendetta Corse or Corsican 'vendetta' knife. They are mainly sold in the island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean Sea. Some are made in Bastia, Corsica. Others are made in Thiers, on the French mainland. They are made in step sizes. For more details, see pages 303 and 304 of Levine's Guide to Knives, 4th Editio...."

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/sh...arch/1/#361661

Cheers
Chris

Atlantia · 31st July 2010, 05:33 PM

Chris,
Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant! My knowledge of these has just increased exponentially!
Thank you

Montino,
I did wonder if if was that, but 'Corsica' is painted on the grips in full, so I wondered if it was 'run' as in 'proceed' or 'continue'.
Thanks for the clarification.

Chris Evans · 31st July 2010, 07:05 PM

Hi Gene,

Actually, I must thank you for starting this thread. It made me get off my backside and do a bit of research on these folders, something I have been meaning to do for some time, but always postponed.

What we really need on this subject is the work of some authority like Forton on navajas and Domenech on gaucho knives.

Sent you a PM.

Cheers
Chris

Chris Evans · 14th November 2010, 12:31 PM

Hi,

My loose translation from Spanish (Abel A.Domenech's Book Navajas/Cuchillos Plegables):

Cheers
Chris

.....Cutlery in Coersica was handmade, but because of its rustic nature could not compete with those made in Thiers.

The successful publishing of the novela "Colomba" by Prospero Merimee in 1840, introduced large numbers in France to a highly romanticized rendition of Corsica, with its passionate and quarelsome inhabitants. This distorted presentation exalted the fierce and indomitable bandit, ever ready to shed blood in the defence of his land, family relations and honour. The general impression conveyed was that the whole population of this island was permanently embroiled in vendettas, the causes of which were buried in the mists of time. What is certain is that whatever vendettas there were, were prosecuted mostly with the muzzle loading guns of the day. But popular romantic notions demanded nobler weapons, and the novelae authors obliged with swords and gigantic folding knives.

The cutlers of Thiers could not ignore the commercial opportunities presented by all this combined with the then emergent tourism to the island; As such, we find that the most peddled souvenir, to visitors, was the folding knife allegedly used in the aforementioned feuds.

To satisfy this new market, the cutlers of Thiers settled on a folding knife that many years before was sold in the Mediteranean regions under the name of "Maltes" and "Neapolitan". It had a long slim and pointy blade, the handle of which was provided with a large metallic bolster and a backspring that affixed it in the open position. The scales were of horn or bone, decorated with arabesques and floral motives, drawn with Indian ink, and with the ever present Moor's Head (Tete de More), the emblem of the island. The blades are nearly always acid engraved with popular captions that encapsulate imputed popular sentiments such as "Vendetta Corsa", "Death To My Enemy" and so on.

The introduction of this knife met with enormous commercial success and the format was and is manufactured to this day in sizes ranging from the diminutive to very large, over 60cms, specimens. This imposed upon the popular mind the form of the native Corsican knife, what it ought to be, which became and remains an icon of the island.

Atlantia · 14th November 2010, 11:58 PM

Absolutely brilliant Chris! Thank you.
I love the description of the native Corsicans as 'passionate and quarelsome' lol.
Great translation. Thanks again for your hard work.

Regards
Gene

Chris Evans · 15th November 2010, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Absolutely brilliant Chris! Thank you.
I love the description of the native Corsicans as 'passionate and quarelsome' lol.
Great translation. Thanks again for your hard work.

Regards
Gene

Hi Gene,

Domenech wrote "....y el apasionado y sanguineo caracter de sus habitantes.."

I took the liberty of replacing "sangineo" (sanguine) with quarelosme, which I think more clearly expresses the intent in English.

Cheers
Chris

14th November 2010, 12:31 PM	#5
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi, My loose translation from Spanish (Abel A.Domenech's Book Navajas/Cuchillos Plegables): Cheers Chris .....Cutlery in Coersica was handmade, but because of its rustic nature could not compete with those made in Thiers. The successful publishing of the novela "Colomba" by Prospero Merimee in 1840, introduced large numbers in France to a highly romanticized rendition of Corsica, with its passionate and quarelsome inhabitants. This distorted presentation exalted the fierce and indomitable bandit, ever ready to shed blood in the defence of his land, family relations and honour. The general impression conveyed was that the whole population of this island was permanently embroiled in vendettas, the causes of which were buried in the mists of time. What is certain is that whatever vendettas there were, were prosecuted mostly with the muzzle loading guns of the day. But popular romantic notions demanded nobler weapons, and the novelae authors obliged with swords and gigantic folding knives. The cutlers of Thiers could not ignore the commercial opportunities presented by all this combined with the then emergent tourism to the island; As such, we find that the most peddled souvenir, to visitors, was the folding knife allegedly used in the aforementioned feuds. To satisfy this new market, the cutlers of Thiers settled on a folding knife that many years before was sold in the Mediteranean regions under the name of "Maltes" and "Neapolitan". It had a long slim and pointy blade, the handle of which was provided with a large metallic bolster and a backspring that affixed it in the open position. The scales were of horn or bone, decorated with arabesques and floral motives, drawn with Indian ink, and with the ever present Moor's Head (Tete de More), the emblem of the island. The blades are nearly always acid engraved with popular captions that encapsulate imputed popular sentiments such as "Vendetta Corsa", "Death To My Enemy" and so on. The introduction of this knife met with enormous commercial success and the format was and is manufactured to this day in sizes ranging from the diminutive to very large, over 60cms, specimens. This imposed upon the popular mind the form of the native Corsican knife, what it ought to be, which became and remains an icon of the island. Last edited by Chris Evans; 14th November 2010 at 10:48 PM.

31st July 2010, 07:12 AM	#1
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Gene, Trying to learn something, I had a look through my books on navajas and searched the net to find that: In Forton's `Navajas Antiguas' pgs 114-117 there is a section dedicated to Corsican folders, which he lists as French. He shows 11 specimens similar to yours, the biggest with a 20cm blade. All are attributed to early 20th century. The author does not say if these were manufactured in Corisca or mainland France, but a number of them have brands stamped with a name plus AJACCIO, a major city on the island, as is Bastio (on yours). In De Vivar's `La Navaja Clasica' pg 58 there is an illustration of another small French "Corsican" folder but this one appears to be either slip joint or friction folder. It has a 12cm etched decorated blade and painted handle with the inscriptiion `Valladolid' a city of northern Spain! Vivar assigns this folder to the early 20th century. The blade has also inscribed on it `ACIER FONDU' (cast steel). This article from the New York Times, published in1881, claims that Corsican vendettas were perpetrated mostly with firearms: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...679D94609FD7CF A very informative paper, translated by Google, on Corsican cut & thrust weapons: http://translate.googleusercontent.c...HQb526Fe1aRgMA. The authors mentions that in the 19th century, the local merchants cashed in on the tourist's preconceptions as inspired by novelas. He also appears to say that the islanders began to manufacture "robust" folding knives at the end of the 19th century, in most cases without a spring. Perhaps someone fluent in French can read the original paper and clarify this, as the Google translation leaves a lot to be desired This is an excellent French website's section on Corsican fixed blade knives: http://www.couteaux-jfl.com/Corse.htm. Perhaps you could drop the owner a line and see what he has to say on the subject. Cheers Chris

31st July 2010, 04:34 PM	#2
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Gene, Did a bit of further searching and found this old thread, on another forum, in which Bernard Levine gives an opinion on these folders and has this to say: "....It is called a Vendetta Corse or Corsican 'vendetta' knife. They are mainly sold in the island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean Sea. Some are made in Bastia, Corsica. Others are made in Thiers, on the French mainland. They are made in step sizes. For more details, see pages 303 and 304 of Levine's Guide to Knives, 4th Editio...." http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/sh...arch/1/#361661 Cheers Chris

31st July 2010, 05:33 PM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Chris, Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant! My knowledge of these has just increased exponentially! Thank you Montino, I did wonder if if was that, but 'Corsica' is painted on the grips in full, so I wondered if it was 'run' as in 'proceed' or 'continue'. Thanks for the clarification.

31st July 2010, 07:05 PM	#4
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Gene, Actually, I must thank you for starting this thread. It made me get off my backside and do a bit of research on these folders, something I have been meaning to do for some time, but always postponed. What we really need on this subject is the work of some authority like Forton on navajas and Domenech on gaucho knives. Sent you a PM. Cheers Chris

14th November 2010, 11:58 PM	#6
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Absolutely brilliant Chris! Thank you. I love the description of the native Corsicans as 'passionate and quarelsome' lol. Great translation. Thanks again for your hard work. Regards Gene