Canary Islands Dagger or Spanish Philippines Naval Dirk?

SwordLover79 · 9th January 2024, 01:11 AM

Hello Guys - here are 2 photos of my corvo. Looks similar to knives posted previously. This is a pretty well made knife overall. I often wondered if it is a tool or a weapon...

Ian · 9th January 2024, 01:23 AM

Hi SL79,

Both a tool and a weapon. As a weapon, the corvo is a very nasty one used against soft body parts such as the abdomen and neck. It was much feared by opponents. A peasant knife, it was converted to military use and infamously used in the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru in the mid-19th C. Two modified versions are still in military use by Chile. There is quite a lot of information about the corvo in the Ethno Forum pages.

Your example shows the typical, tightly stacked hilt on these knives. The OP of this thread shows that the various disks on the hilt are loose and mobile, unlike the tight finish on a corvo. Thanks for showing your example for comparison.

Interested Party · 9th January 2024, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Your example shows the typical, tightly stacked hilt on these knives. The OP of this thread shows that the various disks on the hilt are loose and mobile, unlike the tight finish on a corvo. Thanks for showing your example for comparison.

Thanks for the information on the stacking. The quality of the stack was something I hadn't considered.

Jim McDougall · 9th January 2024, 08:23 PM

Interesting knives!
I had never realized that the Canary Islands were so instrumental in populating the Americas and Caribbean in Spains colonial pursuits from the early 17th c on.
Also I have had one Corvo knife for some time and knew a little of the history of the War of the Pacific (1879-1884) in which these were used with Chile against Bolivia and Peru.
Regarding the 'stacked' type grips, which seems an affectation from the Canary Islands which apparently had become a favored style on the Chilean knives, it seems the Canaria knives had blade shapes that were unique as the Chilean.

The Corvo seems to have evolved from the 'grape hook' knives used of course in the wine industry which prevails there. These deadly knives as described were often used by bandits etc. and were colloquially known as 'cutthroat knives' in a pejorative sense. The dramatic effectiveness of them in this conflict was well noted and they became produced for military use in larger size.

The images are my example, which has the gold metal inlaid dots in sequence, in which the symbolism or significance is unclear. I have been told this is an older (pre 1870s) example.
The other is of several corvo variations.
also added the canat island knife

Ian · 11th January 2024, 12:50 PM

Thanks Jim. The Canary Islands and Chile are prime sources for well stacked hilts. That is one major reason why I don't think my knife came from there—the hilt is not made tight enough. It does have some European features, however, and I was hoping that someone here might have further suggestions about the knife itself or the sheath.

Jim McDougall · 11th January 2024, 01:43 PM

I only wish I could add more. These areas are way out of my usual fields of study, but in the little investigating I have done, so fascinating that I cannot resist traveling further into the subject.

I see what you mean on the character of your knife, which is of course an entirely different form than the knives of Chile and the Canary Islands.
In looking at the interesting blades of the Canarian knives, the curious profile of them reminds me of what seems to have been a rather ubiquitous form used by sailors on vessels traveling the trade routes. If I recall these became known as 'Meditteranean' knives, and one distinguishing feature noted was a 'notch' at the back of the blade near the hilt, a sort of choil in effect.

Not wishing to deviate further, I hope someone out there might come in with more here. The blade,size etc. does seem to have a European gestalt and imitation of hilt affinities from well traveled regions would seem expected.
Your point on the character of the execution of the 'stacking' in your example does support your suggestion of other than these regional locations known for this feature as an origin of the knife.

Whatever it is, very attractive and intriguing!

Ian · 21st January 2024, 10:57 AM

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the further thoughts. The notch at the end of the Canary Islands naif is sometimes called a "Spanish notch." It is seen also on a few Spanish cuchillo knives from South America, but it's not common outside the Canary Islands.

9th January 2024, 01:11 AM	#1
SwordLover79 Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: San Diego Posts: 56	Hello Guys - here are 2 photos of my corvo. Looks similar to knives posted previously. This is a pretty well made knife overall. I often wondered if it is a tool or a weapon... Attached Images

9th January 2024, 08:23 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	Interesting knives! I had never realized that the Canary Islands were so instrumental in populating the Americas and Caribbean in Spains colonial pursuits from the early 17th c on. Also I have had one Corvo knife for some time and knew a little of the history of the War of the Pacific (1879-1884) in which these were used with Chile against Bolivia and Peru. Regarding the 'stacked' type grips, which seems an affectation from the Canary Islands which apparently had become a favored style on the Chilean knives, it seems the Canaria knives had blade shapes that were unique as the Chilean. The Corvo seems to have evolved from the 'grape hook' knives used of course in the wine industry which prevails there. These deadly knives as described were often used by bandits etc. and were colloquially known as 'cutthroat knives' in a pejorative sense. The dramatic effectiveness of them in this conflict was well noted and they became produced for military use in larger size. The images are my example, which has the gold metal inlaid dots in sequence, in which the symbolism or significance is unclear. I have been told this is an older (pre 1870s) example. The other is of several corvo variations. also added the canat island knife Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 10th January 2024 at 06:59 AM.

9th January 2024, 01:23 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Hi SL79, Both a tool and a weapon. As a weapon, the corvo is a very nasty one used against soft body parts such as the abdomen and neck. It was much feared by opponents. A peasant knife, it was converted to military use and infamously used in the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru in the mid-19th C. Two modified versions are still in military use by Chile. There is quite a lot of information about the corvo in the Ethno Forum pages. Your example shows the typical, tightly stacked hilt on these knives. The OP of this thread shows that the various disks on the hilt are loose and mobile, unlike the tight finish on a corvo. Thanks for showing your example for comparison.

11th January 2024, 12:50 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Thanks Jim. The Canary Islands and Chile are prime sources for well stacked hilts. That is one major reason why I don't think my knife came from there—the hilt is not made tight enough. It does have some European features, however, and I was hoping that someone here might have further suggestions about the knife itself or the sheath.

11th January 2024, 01:43 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	I only wish I could add more. These areas are way out of my usual fields of study, but in the little investigating I have done, so fascinating that I cannot resist traveling further into the subject. I see what you mean on the character of your knife, which is of course an entirely different form than the knives of Chile and the Canary Islands. In looking at the interesting blades of the Canarian knives, the curious profile of them reminds me of what seems to have been a rather ubiquitous form used by sailors on vessels traveling the trade routes. If I recall these became known as 'Meditteranean' knives, and one distinguishing feature noted was a 'notch' at the back of the blade near the hilt, a sort of choil in effect. Not wishing to deviate further, I hope someone out there might come in with more here. The blade,size etc. does seem to have a European gestalt and imitation of hilt affinities from well traveled regions would seem expected. Your point on the character of the execution of the 'stacking' in your example does support your suggestion of other than these regional locations known for this feature as an origin of the knife. Whatever it is, very attractive and intriguing!

21st January 2024, 10:57 AM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Hi Jim, Thanks for the further thoughts. The notch at the end of the Canary Islands naif is sometimes called a "Spanish notch." It is seen also on a few Spanish cuchillo knives from South America, but it's not common outside the Canary Islands.