Lion Navaja

Mel H · 29th December 2018, 04:15 PM

Hello All, just picked up a reasonably sized, elderly Navaja with a lion trademark on the blade. I'm hoping that someone here who has more knowledge of these knives may be able to tell me something about the maker.

I have some pic's of the knife which I'll put up when I've reduced the image sizes.

Mel H · 29th December 2018, 04:28 PM

More pic's.
Overall length open is 32 cm (12.6 inch) with 15 cm (6 inch) blade.

fernando · 29th December 2018, 04:29 PM

A French mark for sure. Maybe not famous, though; not listed in Forton's work.
Let us then see the whole piece, Mel

.

Mel H · 29th December 2018, 05:14 PM

Fernando, thank you for pointing me in the right direction, I've now done a little searching. It seems that Au Lion did have a moment of fame, they contracted to produce the first U.S. mod 1918 trench knives ( now much sought after ), there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on the maker.

MacCathain · 29th December 2018, 06:05 PM

Au Lion is the trademark of R. V. Cruege of Bordeaux (Gironde), per The Who's Who of French Arms from 1350 to 1970 by Jean-Jacques Buigné.

Mel H · 29th December 2018, 07:57 PM

Thank you.

Chris Evans · 30th December 2018, 02:30 AM

Hi Folks,

Great detective work and Happy new Year everybody!

Cheers
Chris

kronckew · 30th December 2018, 10:43 AM

I'd stick a ~1 in. solid or split key ring thru the hole to help raising the lock, like mine:

Mel H · 30th December 2018, 02:02 PM

I like these knives, I have some other larger old ones. I've got a some split spring rings in my toolbox but they're brand new and don't look quite right, I'll keep an eye open for one with some age and patina.

Here's one of my older Navajas.

Chris Evans · 31st December 2018, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel H

I like these knives, I have some other larger old ones. I've got a some split spring rings in my toolbox but they're brand new and don't look quite right, I'll keep an eye open for one with some age and patina.

Here's one of my older Navajas.

Now. that's a really nice and colectable piece - Congratulations!

Cheers
Chris

fernando · 31st December 2018, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

... I'd stick a ~1 in. solid or split key ring thru the hole to help raising the lock, like mine:...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel H

... I've got a some split spring rings in my toolbox but they're brand new and don't look quite right ...

Some detail Wayne doesn't seem to mind of, though !

kronckew · 31st December 2018, 02:41 PM

Mine have the rings they came with, the Okapi and Kudo ones are recent tho. The others are older, the small one is quite old. The other is one made in Germany before they licensed them to South Africa to become the Okapi.

cookyboy1 · 31st December 2018, 07:35 PM

I have a navaja which might have a lion mark on the blade,thought you might like to see it.if it's not the same as the lion navaja perhaps you could identify it for me .thanks

Rick · 31st December 2018, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel H

I've got a some split spring rings in my toolbox but they're brand new and don't look quite right, I'll keep an eye open for one with some age and patina.

Patina can be achieved on steel by a day or two soak in a thick paste made with instant coffee.

kronckew · 31st December 2018, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Patina can be achieved on steel by a day or two soak in a thick paste made with instant coffee.

Add a dash of hydrogen peroxide to jazz it up.

Mel H · 31st December 2018, 09:48 PM

I've already dropped a couple into a damp flower pot in the garden, it'll probably do the job in a couple of weeks but you can never be sure with modern spring steels.

fernando · 31st December 2018, 10:27 PM

Amazing ! why not spending a few more bucks and buy the real antique thing, instead of testing these alchemist schemes ?

.

Mel H · 1st January 2019, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Amazing ! why not spending a few more bucks and buy the real antique thing, instead of testing these alchemist schemes ?

.

Referring back to my earlier post, I did say I'll keep an eye open for one with some age and patina. It's not a great priority at the moment. ( I'm just in the process of opening a new bottle of single malt to help bring in the New Year in quarter of an hour or so )

Best wishes to all.

Lee · 1st January 2019, 05:27 AM

Lew had quite a collection of these as well, both old and new:

RobertGuy · 1st January 2019, 09:56 AM

Back to the original question the Au Lion ( Au Lion/Société Généralee) was also contracted to produce the first batches of 1918 trench knives for thUS Army in WW1.

And Happy New Year to all

fernando · 1st January 2019, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookyboy1

I have a navaja which might have a lion mark on the blade,thought you might like to see it.if it's not the same as the lion navaja perhaps you could identify it for me .thanks

Difficult to read the mark on your navaja, cookyboy1. Could you improve the pictures; or tell us what are those letters ?

fernando · 1st January 2019, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel H

... ( I'm just in the process of opening a new bottle of single malt to help bring in the New Year in quarter of an hour or so )

...

I did it with a bottle of chilled Spanish Cava

.

Happy new year

.

29th December 2018, 04:15 PM	#1
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	Lion Navaja Hello All, just picked up a reasonably sized, elderly Navaja with a lion trademark on the blade. I'm hoping that someone here who has more knowledge of these knives may be able to tell me something about the maker. I have some pic's of the knife which I'll put up when I've reduced the image sizes. Attached Images Last edited by Mel H; 29th December 2018 at 04:30 PM.

29th December 2018, 04:28 PM	#2
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	More pic's. Overall length open is 32 cm (12.6 inch) with 15 cm (6 inch) blade. Attached Images Last edited by Mel H; 29th December 2018 at 04:44 PM.

30th December 2018, 10:43 AM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	I'd stick a ~1 in. solid or split key ring thru the hole to help raising the lock, like mine: Attached Images

30th December 2018, 02:02 PM	#9
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	I like these knives, I have some other larger old ones. I've got a some split spring rings in my toolbox but they're brand new and don't look quite right, I'll keep an eye open for one with some age and patina. Here's one of my older Navajas. Attached Images Last edited by Mel H; 30th December 2018 at 03:02 PM.

31st December 2018, 07:35 PM	#13
cookyboy1 Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 7	Navaja I have a navaja which might have a lion mark on the blade,thought you might like to see it.if it's not the same as the lion navaja perhaps you could identify it for me .thanks Attached Images

29th December 2018, 04:29 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A French mark for sure. Maybe not famous, though; not listed in Forton's work. Let us then see the whole piece, Mel .

29th December 2018, 05:14 PM	#4
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	Fernando, thank you for pointing me in the right direction, I've now done a little searching. It seems that Au Lion did have a moment of fame, they contracted to produce the first U.S. mod 1918 trench knives ( now much sought after ), there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on the maker.

29th December 2018, 06:05 PM	#5
MacCathain Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 66	Au Lion is the trademark of R. V. Cruege of Bordeaux (Gironde), per The Who's Who of French Arms from 1350 to 1970 by Jean-Jacques Buigné.

29th December 2018, 07:57 PM	#6
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	Thank you.

30th December 2018, 02:30 AM	#7
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 676	Hi Folks, Great detective work and Happy new Year everybody! Cheers Chris

31st December 2018, 02:41 PM	#12
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	Mine have the rings they came with, the Okapi and Kudo ones are recent tho. The others are older, the small one is quite old. The other is one made in Germany before they licensed them to South Africa to become the Okapi.

31st December 2018, 09:48 PM	#16
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	I've already dropped a couple into a damp flower pot in the garden, it'll probably do the job in a couple of weeks but you can never be sure with modern spring steels.

31st December 2018, 10:27 PM	#17
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Amazing ! why not spending a few more bucks and buy the real antique thing, instead of testing these alchemist schemes ? .

1st January 2019, 05:27 AM	#19
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 913	Lew had quite a collection of these as well, both old and new: Attached Images

1st January 2019, 09:56 AM	#20
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	Back to the original question the Au Lion ( Au Lion/Société Généralee) was also contracted to produce the first batches of 1918 trench knives for thUS Army in WW1. And Happy New Year to all Attached Images