ratcheting mechanism on Spanish Navajas

[fernando]

This is somehow raining in the wet but ...
Looks like Mr. Abel Domenech, with all his knowledge, doesn't have a doubteless explanation for the carraca either, as he starts by admiting that, the (real) reason for it is lost in time. That the noise of carracas may be prevented by lifting the backspring is evident; but the basic idea was to produce noise, or one would have bought a silent one, with a palanquilla only. And then i go again wondering whether the safety factor, sustained by some (several) opinions, could not be developed with techniques other than that of containing the said emphatic noise.
But definitely the carraca riddle is a geneal disease.
It is amazing how, in an comprehensice (328 pages) work called INTRODUCCION AL ESTUDIO DE LA CUCHILLERIA ARTISTICA DE ALBACETE, by José Sanchez Ferrer, we may see detailed pictures of navaja construction as well as detailed data on the birth of the navaja, complemented with carraca notes but, the reason for its existance versus the angle of safety ... zero words. However the preciousness in its making as well of its charismatic noise is well pointed out.
The author emphasizes that, having heard of carracas with up to fifteen pinions, the maximum he saw was one with twelve, kept in the National Antropology Museum. And according to what artisan Pepe Exposito told the author, a carraca is well made when the volume of the successive sounds that it emits when unfolding the blade go from minor to greater until the final one is noticed, this one having a different tone, the lodging of the blade in the spring.
We may see in the uploaded pictures that, at least one Albacete master makes the carrava teeth very sharp and inclined; possibly other techniques make round and softer.
Interesting also the author notes on the navaja date of birth, an issue often wondered and discussed.

Here is the ARTICLE and the written parts that i emphasize, so that my lousy translation may be corrected.


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[Gonzalo G]

Thank you for the link, Fer!!

As you said, there is no absolute certainty about the subject. Only more or less reasonable probabilities. Unless we find unequivocal references on the primary sources.
Regards

[Chris Evans]

Fernando,

Thanks for posting the material on the navaja. I have that book and several others, but as you say nobody wants to commit themselves to an explanation.

Well, at least Abel Domenech tried.... His opinion re safety may or may not have been the main reason for the adoption of the carraca, but does make some kind of sense.

I think that nowadays it has become an expected feature by those who buy this obsolete knife - Makes a good conversation topic!

As for the date when the navaja appeared, that is also lost in the mist of time because there are no surviving specimens that predate 1699. In any event, dating navajas is very difficult because few had the year of manufacture stamped on them and the best one can do is to correlate the typology with paintings and other descriptions

Cheers
Chris

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

... I think that nowadays it has become an expected feature by those who buy this obsolete knife - Makes a good conversation topic!...

Yes indeed, Chris; specially handled by two so knowledged members ... and resistant to brain pickers like this humble servant of yours . Surely the info you have exchanged about this subject is of interest to many others, this thread having already reached almost a thousand views.
Despite these knives being an obsolete "tool" in practical terms, they surely constitute a rather interesting collectible item.
I regret having got rid of my few examples; the only one i have left is this palanquilla 'functional' example ... with 35 mm. (1 1/2") length open and weighing less than 1 gram. Note the care had by the "smith" to replicate all components with their indicated mterials ... and accept my appologies for this impertinent inclusion .

.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by fernando

Y...palanquilla 'functional' example ... with 35 mm. (1 1/2") length open and weighing less than 1 gram. ...
.

nice little one. if you ever come to the UK, carrying that one would be illegal to carry without a good reason and could get you a few years in jail as, due to the locking mechanism it is considered an 'offensive weapon'. a man recently was arrested because he had one of similar size on his key chain 'without good reason' the judge was a bit lenient and only gave him a large fine, and a few months in jail.

as a real antique offensive weapon, it fits in here of course.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by kronckew

... nice little one. if you ever come to the UK, carrying that one would be illegal ... as a real antique offensive weapon, it fits in here of course.

I will be prepaired for that, Wayne; maybe it is not so offensive nor a weapon, as only a graceful minature, but certainly an antique one, by the looks of it .

[Chris Evans]

kronckew,

Originally Posted by kronckew

nice little one. if you ever come to the UK, carrying that one would be illegal to carry without a good reason and could get you a few years in jail as, due to the locking mechanism it is considered an 'offensive weapon'.

As was the case in old Spain. It wasn't the blade size but the lock that determined its potential as a weapon.

....a man recently was arrested because he had one of similar size on his key chain 'without good reason' the judge was a bit lenient and only gave him a large fine, and a few months in jail.

The Brits are lenient - In Spain he would have been sent to the galleys!

Cheers
Chris

[Chris Evans]

Fernando,

But does it have a carraca?

Cheers
Chris

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

...But does it have a carraca?

No Chris, not a single crack .

[Chris Evans]

Fernando,

No Chris, not a single crack .

As a bard once sang:

“If it ain’t got no carraca,
It ain’t much of a navaja”


Cheers
Chris

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

... As a bard once sang:

“If it ain’t got no carraca,
It ain’t much of a navaja”
...

That bard is not an accredited one .

[Gonzalo G]

Originally Posted by fernando

Yes indeed, Chris; specially handled by two so knowledged members ... and resistant to brain pickers like this humble servant of yours . Surely the info you have exchanged about this subject is of interest to many others, this thread having already reached almost a thousand views.
Despite these knives being an obsolete "tool" in practical terms, they surely constitute a rather interesting collectible item.
I regret having got rid of my few examples; the only one i have left is this palanquilla 'functional' example ... with 35 mm. (1 1/2") length open and weighing less than 1 gram. Note the care had by the "smith" to replicate all components with their indicated mterials ... and accept my appologies for this impertinent inclusion .

.

Oh, Fernando, you are quite something...you don´t forget even to make irony.

Well, in my country is not prohibited to have navajas of any size...only to stick them to a neighbor...but authorities are lenient about this...since people is machinegunned on the streets by a dozens every day...a matter of priorities.

So, I am open to receive gifts, specially a navaja de carraca, since I don't have any. Never did. Though I have examined some of them...

Regards

[Rick]

Here's a little one I picked up some years ago.
Six inches open; 5 clicks with the last one being the lock.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Rick

Here's a little one I picked up some years ago.
Six inches open; 5 clicks with the last one being the lock.

You know this is a common tourist recuerdo, Rick ; surely younger than any of your preferred collectibles . You must acquire the real thing .

[Rick]

Originally Posted by fernando

You know this is a common tourist recuerdo, Rick ; surely younger than any of your preferred collectibles . You must acquire the real thing .

Of course I know its a souvenir Fernando.
I have too much money in sharp things as it is so I'll settle for this.