Former Bayonet

[Chris Evans]

Hola Fernando K,

Originally Posted by Fernando K

Hello everyone

All right. Here it has been a weapon used in Argentina and Argentina not only includes the pampa but also the mountains, the mountain, the jungle, the mountain range. In all these regions the knife was used in its different variants.

Yes, that is so, knives are found all over the world. However, certain typologies are bound to certain regions and differ from other knives because of their specialized and distinctive features.

So we must separate the context, otherwise we would end up in a sociological and ethnographic discussion.

To establish the context in which these ethnographic weapons were used, at least a superficial understanding of the then prevailing social, ethnographic and environmental conditions is required.

The work of Domenech "Daggers of Silver" has been cited. In the first word, in the Introduction, he uses Pampa, thus limiting the appearance of the gaucho character (whatever he wants to call him: gauderio, camilucho, changador) to the pampa.

Yes.

The gaucho was born of the mixture of two bloods, the Spanish and the Indian, and the introduction of the horse and the cattle.

Agree, though most scholars would add the grassy flatlands where the cattle and wild horses abounded. And it is in these terms that gauchos became recognizable as a distinct social group with its own equestrian culture.

It says somewhere that the first gaucho types appeared in the eighteenth century. He does not know the mention of Hernandarias, he describes it at the beginning of the 17th century. The same for Aguirre, who places it in the province of Tucuman, for the same time.

Although there is no certainty, for lack of records, roving men who lived off the wild cattle and horses, would have appeared soon after white settlement, sometime in the 17th century, maybe earlier. The regional birthplace of the gaucho has been a subject of debate and opinions differ. Paul Grousac opined that it was in the Banda Oriental (present Uruguay) and E.R Coni thought that it was Santa Fe, and so on.

The same goes for Slatta, which qualifies him as a hunter of wild cattle, horses and cattle. It is true that it occurred in a certain place and time, but you can not take this characteristic as a definition.

Why not? After all, you yourself said above that the gaucho was born as a result of the introduction of the horse and cattle.

However, we have already established that in the course of the 19th century the term “ gaucho” came to include all rural workers and eventually in the in the 20th even an advertising slogan, “una marca gaucha” which, being a nuanced idiomatic expression that cannot be literally translated, means the brand of a good and reliable commercial product.

A final comment: The facon and its variants made for a very poor weapon, and as such it only served in brawls.

As we know, the universal weapon of the mounted warrior was the sabre and the pistol. In the pampas, those who could, availed themselves of firearms and swords, but access to these was severely curtailed. Blunderbusses were popular and the large property owners, police and military were equipped with firearms and sabres, the later even with cuirasses. Gauchos were destitute vagabonds who had to do with meagre resources and this included their tools and weapons; The only real weapon that the gaucho could lay his hands on was a lance made from cane (caña tacuara) with his knife tied to its end.

I think that we have given this subject as much attention as it requires in relation to Rob’s facon. If you would like to continue this discussion, I will be happy to oblige with PMs, and if you prefer we could do so in Spanish.

Con un Abrazo Cordial
Chris

[RobT]

Hi All,

Three last things need to be said. First is a reiteration of my thanks to all who responded. Second is my agreement with Tim Simmons response. I have always felt that native artisans using traditional methods, materials, and artistic motifs can turn the most straight-laced western military blades into rock stars. Lastly, I profoundly thank Chris Evans for his recommendation that I contact Abel Domenech and for his providing me the means to do so. I have emailed Mr Domenich, supplied the photos, and mentioned the Vikingsword discussion.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Chris Evans]

Hi Rob,

I appreciate your kind words, and when you get reply from Mr Domenech, please let us know what his thoughts are.

Cheers
Chris

[RobT]

Hi All,
Mr Domenech has responded. With his permission (given in a subsequent email), I have posted his response. In the email I sent to him asking for his permission to share his information, I also sent the length of the blade (46.5cm). When writing back to me, Mr Domenech concluded that, "Considering the length of your blade, I tend to think this comes from the Remington Modelo Argentino de 1879 single shot rifle". Below is the information contained in the first email Mr Domenech sent to me.

Regarding your knife.

It is not a tipical "gaucho knife" or a facon or caronero, though I feel it was certainly made here in my Country. Except for the blade the handle is not the usual shape of these knives.

The blade is taken most probably from a bayonet for the Argentine Model Mauser of 1891 or 1909. These bayonets were imported from Germany and made by the famous firm Kirschbaum. The RA in circle is the military inspection mark.
There is also the possibility of this blade coming from a bayonet for the Remington Model 1879, depending the length. It was also made by same German maker.
You don´t mention the lenght but the Mauser bayonets blades are about 39 cms while the Remington ones are a bit longer around 45/46 cms.

The handle and part of the sheath (crude color) is made of raw hide woven in an interesting pattern which is a very popular technique which is very nice to view and handle but not practical as it is not very durable if it receives a very hard use, so it is usually reserved to knives made for collection or less use than a daily tool.

This technique was popularized during the 1930/40`s up to the present, and the thinner the threads used (which are made by cutting hides by the same artisan) more fine is the final work considered but also more fragile.

The technique is also used for handles of other objects like quarts or riding crops.

I would say this piece is very old but from the XX Century (may be from the 1940´s through 1960`s) and ordered by some country man to a local artisan and using the blade from a bayonet which was a type of blade often used in making facones and dagas here.

The use of a reptile skin in contrast adds a touch of interest to this piece.

I hope this little info is of your interest.

Best cordial regards, Abel Domenech

Sincerely,
RobT

[Ian]

Hi Rob,

Now that is the kind of expert reply you don't get every day! What a gentleman to share freely such detailed knowledge.

Ian.