Reworked corvo

Ian · 14th May 2018, 04:07 PM

This one finished recently online and was described as a "Canary Island knife," presumably because of the multi-colored stacked hilt. The seller hedged his bets by also including "Spanish colonial," "Mediterranean dirk," and "Bowie" in the description.

The hilt most closely resembles those found on older corvo, and I believe that this knife is a reshaped corvo, possibly one that suffered a broken or damaged tip. For comparison is shown a web picture of a corvo said to date from the War of the Pacific. The War of the Pacific was a nasty real estate dispute in which Chile fought against Peru and Bolivia (1879–1884) over part of the Atacama Desert, which Chile eventually won. The corvo figured prominently in that conflict and became much feared for the devastating wounds it caused.

Ian.

.

Mel H · 3rd June 2018, 04:28 PM

A Corvo that I have, for comparison.

ariel · 3rd June 2018, 08:09 PM

Ian and Mel,
What are the lengths of the straight parts of the blades of your convos?

Sajen · 3rd June 2018, 08:37 PM

Here my new acquired corvo, it's 9 1/4" long overall with a blade from 4 3/4".

Sajen · 3rd June 2018, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel H

A Corvo that I have, for comparison.

Hello Mel,

can you please add a picture where you can see the complete knife?

Thank you,
Detlef

Mel H · 3rd June 2018, 08:51 PM

Ariel and Sajen, The only other photo that I have at the moment is too large to upload. I'll sort it out this week and take another photo at a lower resolution and take some measurements.
Mel.

Ian · 4th June 2018, 05:11 AM

Ariel:

Neither of the knives I show is mine. The length of the spine on the refashioned example is just under 3 inches, as shown by the accompanying ruler used as a scale. Corvo range in size considerably. I have examples with blades as short as 3.75 inches and as long as 8.25 inches. In my experience these are definitely knives and not short swords.

Sajen:

Nice example of an older version. Perhaps late 19th C but probably early 20th C.

Ian.

Sajen · 4th June 2018, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Sajen:

Nice example of an older version. Perhaps late 19th C but probably early 20th C.

Thank you Ian!

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 23rd August 2018, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

The hilt most closely resembles those found on older corvo, and I believe that this knife is a reshaped corvo, possibly one that suffered a broken or damaged tip.

Hi Ian,

After looking again to this knife in question I don't think that it is a reshaped corvo, the spine look to straight to my eyes, when it would be indeed a reshaped corvo it would has been a rather big one.
And since I've bought the three examples shown in up for my collection I've done some research and think that I've seen a very similar knife shown with some other corvos but sadly can't find it anymore.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 24th August 2018, 01:58 AM

Hi Detlef.

I'm pretty sure the blade has been reworked but you could be correct. It would need to have been a large corvo to start with. What tilts me towards a reworked end of a corvo is the back of the knife at the tip. I think you can see a few mm of the remnants of the original down-curved spine--the deep clip does not go all the way to the point but ends a little way up the spine. That seems a sign to me that the tip has been reworked.

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

After looking again to this knife in question I don't think that it is a reshaped corvo, the spine look to straight to my eyes, when it would be indeed a reshaped corvo it would has been a rather big one.
And since I've bought the three examples shown in up for my collection I've done some research and think that I've seen a very similar knife shown with some other corvos but sadly can't find it anymore.

Regards,
Detlef

not2sharp · 31st August 2018, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

...I've done some research and think that I've seen a very similar knife shown with some other corvos but sadly can't find it anymore.

Regards,
Detlef

Was this the one that you remembered?

n2s

Sajen · 1st September 2018, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by not2sharp

Was this the one that you remembered?

n2s

No, sorry, don't think so, it was pictured with other corvos together.

Regards,
Detlef

not2sharp · 2nd September 2018, 05:51 AM

There are more shown in this old thread.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=spain

n2s

Sajen · 2nd September 2018, 11:47 AM

I've found it but my remembering wasn't correct, it wasn't shown with other corvos together. But it is very similar to the one shown by Ian: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=canary+island

14th May 2018, 04:07 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	Reworked corvo This one finished recently online and was described as a "Canary Island knife," presumably because of the multi-colored stacked hilt. The seller hedged his bets by also including "Spanish colonial," "Mediterranean dirk," and "Bowie" in the description. The hilt most closely resembles those found on older corvo, and I believe that this knife is a reshaped corvo, possibly one that suffered a broken or damaged tip. For comparison is shown a web picture of a corvo said to date from the War of the Pacific. The War of the Pacific was a nasty real estate dispute in which Chile fought against Peru and Bolivia (1879–1884) over part of the Atacama Desert, which Chile eventually won. The corvo figured prominently in that conflict and became much feared for the devastating wounds it caused. Ian. . Attached Images

3rd June 2018, 04:28 PM	#2
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	A Corvo that I have, for comparison. Attached Images

3rd June 2018, 08:37 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Here my new acquired corvo, it's 9 1/4" long overall with a blade from 4 3/4". Attached Images

4th June 2018, 05:11 AM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	Ariel: Neither of the knives I show is mine. The length of the spine on the refashioned example is just under 3 inches, as shown by the accompanying ruler used as a scale. Corvo range in size considerably. I have examples with blades as short as 3.75 inches and as long as 8.25 inches. In my experience these are definitely knives and not short swords. Sajen: Nice example of an older version. Perhaps late 19th C but probably early 20th C. Ian. Last edited by Ian; 4th June 2018 at 06:39 AM.

2nd September 2018, 11:47 AM	#14
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	I've found it but my remembering wasn't correct, it wasn't shown with other corvos together. But it is very similar to the one shown by Ian: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=canary+island Attached Images

3rd June 2018, 08:09 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Ian and Mel, What are the lengths of the straight parts of the blades of your convos?

3rd June 2018, 08:51 PM	#6
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	Ariel and Sajen, The only other photo that I have at the moment is too large to upload. I'll sort it out this week and take another photo at a lower resolution and take some measurements. Mel.

2nd September 2018, 05:51 AM	#13
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	There are more shown in this old thread. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=spain n2s