Gauchos and Their Knives

Chris Evans · 27th May 2009, 10:44 AM

Hi,

I chanced upon this very informative post on South American Gauchos and their knives. For those who cannot read Spanish and the excellent works of the Argentinean authority Abel Domenech, this will fill the gap to some extent.

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...ghlight=navaja

Cheers
Chris

A. G. Maisey · 28th May 2009, 12:54 AM

Excellent!!!

Thank you.

Chris Evans · 28th May 2009, 04:31 AM

Hi G. Maisey,

Yes, it gives as good an overview as I have found anywhere in English, notwithstanding that it has one bad error (Garibaldi did not found Buenos Aires for the 2nd time, that was done By Juan de Garay in 1580 - Garibaldi fought in Uruguay in the 1800s, before returning to Italy) and it uncritically repeats a number of common culturally entrenched platitudes regarding knives. Nevertheless, I still think that it is a worthwhile read.

Cheers
Chris

M ELEY · 28th May 2009, 06:50 AM

A most excellent article and read. Thanks for posting it here, Chris.

Gonzalo G · 10th June 2009, 03:28 AM

The poster, Francisco, is also a moderator in Armas Blancas Forum, tough a new web page has beeen developed to the subfora moderated by him, and in some time it is going to begin with a new forum. Francisco is an excellent specialist in knives. Argentinian criollo knives and modern.
Regards

Gonzalo

Chris Evans · 10th June 2009, 03:53 PM

Hi Gonzalo,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzalo G

The poster, Francisco, is also a moderator in Armas Blancas Forum, tough a new web page has beeen developed to the subfora moderated by him, and in some time it is going to begin with a new forum. Francisco is an excellent specialist in knives. Argentinian criollo knives and modern.
Regards

Gonzalo

It would be nice if Francisco could be persuaded to participate here. His English is excellent and am sure he could contribute much on Criollo knives.

Cheers
Chris

fernando · 11th June 2009, 12:54 AM

Hi Chris,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

... Garibaldi fought in Uruguay in the 1800s, before returning to Italy ...

Was it not Brazil?

Amazing. I allways suspected that the portuguese lingo contributed for the semanthics of one or two terms relative to this subject; this article confirms that, actually in a sense wider than i thought.
Good stuff.
Fernando

Chris Evans · 11th June 2009, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Hi Chris,

Was it not Brazil?

Amazing. I allways suspected that the portuguese lingo contributed for the semanthics of one or two terms relative to this subject; this article confirms that, actually in a sense wider than i thought.
Good stuff.
Fernando

Hi Fernando,

He started his South American fighting career in Brazil and then moved to Uruguay where he distinguished himself, amongst other things, as as a military leader of renown, before returning to his native Italy and taking up its cause. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garibaldi

He was quite a soldier!

As a aside, I believe that anyone who tries to better understand the gaucho culture and by extension their knives, and thus move beyond current popular platitudes, ought to read Gauchos and the Vanishing Frontier by R.W.Slatta and as well, the great classic Facundo by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (in English)

Cheers
Chris

Pukka Bundook · 13th June 2009, 03:16 PM

Interesting thread!

Re. Gaucho knives, I always find them most attractive, and they (to me!) appear as if strongly related to some of the smaller knives of India, like the kard.
Thanks,

Richard.

27th May 2009, 10:44 AM	#1
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 682	Gauchos and Their Knives Hi, I chanced upon this very informative post on South American Gauchos and their knives. For those who cannot read Spanish and the excellent works of the Argentinean authority Abel Domenech, this will fill the gap to some extent. http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...ghlight=navaja Cheers Chris

28th May 2009, 12:54 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,896	Excellent!!! Thank you.

28th May 2009, 04:31 AM	#3
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 682	Hi G. Maisey, Yes, it gives as good an overview as I have found anywhere in English, notwithstanding that it has one bad error (Garibaldi did not found Buenos Aires for the 2nd time, that was done By Juan de Garay in 1580 - Garibaldi fought in Uruguay in the 1800s, before returning to Italy) and it uncritically repeats a number of common culturally entrenched platitudes regarding knives. Nevertheless, I still think that it is a worthwhile read. Cheers Chris

28th May 2009, 06:50 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,100	A most excellent article and read. Thanks for posting it here, Chris.

10th June 2009, 03:28 AM	#5
Gonzalo G Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nothern Mexico Posts: 458	The poster, Francisco, is also a moderator in Armas Blancas Forum, tough a new web page has beeen developed to the subfora moderated by him, and in some time it is going to begin with a new forum. Francisco is an excellent specialist in knives. Argentinian criollo knives and modern. Regards Gonzalo

13th June 2009, 03:16 PM	#9
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Interesting thread! Re. Gaucho knives, I always find them most attractive, and they (to me!) appear as if strongly related to some of the smaller knives of India, like the kard. Thanks, Richard.