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#1 |
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 539
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Hi All,
I just purchased what I thought was a Spanish Navaja folding knife, but now I am unsure? I just bought cos I like it so no worries if origin is somewhere else. Lots of nice features, horn handle, brass inlay on the black of the handle, silver design in steel/silver pins in the handle, brass inlay in the blade, Marking on the blade (which looks like a fish to me) and a reinforced tip. overall V light in construction so I do not think it is a working knife but blade is still sharp enough So any idea as to what it might be and approx age would be great. Overall length 21 cm with a blade of 9.5 cm regards to all Ken PS purchased in Ireland and no back story |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 539
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Hi All
I was holding the knife last night and it occurred to me that when holding the knife open (there is no lock) my thumb naturally rests on the "fish like area" and this would be a convenient way to hold the blade open. Thanks all REgards Ken |
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#3 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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Come on Gentlemen, not a single opinion about this beautiful piece ?
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 403
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Personally, I think something a bit 'glitzier' is needed to match those fingernails.
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 539
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#6 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Eastern Sierra
Posts: 429
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I took a cursory glance of Medrano's Reflexiones sobre la navaja antigigua and came up empty handed. The only fish I found was the "Pez Judio" which wasn't close. I attached a list of German makers numbers 52 & 48 being the closest I found to yours, but not it exactly. Yours is definitely a stamp not a carving. There are some manuscript facsimiles which I didn't get through. The problem I saw while reading descriptions of marks is does this mark represent a fish? It also is close to the "vessel" of the Islamic world. I know, it most likely isn't, but it is a good example to illustrate my point. It is a pretty piece. It is interesting that with all the decoration it is a penny knife (springless). This makes me wonder if it was made by a village smith who didn't want to bother with the troubles of making a spring and/or a lock, and therefore whose mark was less likely to be recorded? To me being a penny knife means that it was made as a pure tool or a decoration, not a weapon. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 675
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Hi Ken,
I looked through all my books, including Forton's, trying to identify the ccutler's mark, all to no avail. Also, I couldn't find one quite like it. My gut feeling is that it is not Spanish. We have to remember that "navajas" and variations thereof were made widely not only in Europe but also as afar as India. Cheers Chris |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 252
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?
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#9 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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I am with you Chris; too many details to exclude such probability. That blade tip is perfectly blunt. Meaning that this knife is exclusively made to only cut with its edge, no chance for it to pierce; there ought to be a purpose to be so. As for the precious decoration, well ... no comments
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 252
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#11 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
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#12 |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 252
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The images I posted were from the Science Museum Study group . Described as circumcision knives or for general surgery.Early nineteenth century. Made sense to me if not to anyone else .
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#13 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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On a benefit of the doubt basis, i googled on circumcision knives. Amazing how zillions of them show up ... and in styles for all tastes.
Still i don't subscribe the thesis that Ken's knife is one of them. If i am wrong, you may tie me to the whipping post ![]() |
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#14 |
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 539
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Thanks all for your considered opinions,
The tip is not completely blunt and it would pierce skin with a gentle amount of force behind it. It is a nice piece and I will put it down to early to mid 1800's, It is not what I collect but I enjoy it all the same and happy to have it in my collection. Regards all, Ken |
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#15 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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Location: Portugal
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#16 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 909
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Personally, I consider an earlier Spanish Navaja as plausible. The work on the brass cap, the brass filled 'dots' on the scales and the brass washer around the pivot all resemble features of my battered old Spanish Navaja. The blunted tip would seem to make sense should it open partially in the pocket.
Old post with pictures of mine. Significance of rounded point. Wherever it is from, I also really do like your knife. |
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#17 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Eastern Sierra
Posts: 429
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Could the tip serve as a marl spike for small cord such as old fishing lines?
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#18 |
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 539
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