Inscriptions in Navajas, for Chris and who else

Chris Evans · 8th April 2007, 10:48 AM

Hola Fernando,

Muchisimas gracias.

For those incurable romantics, who like myself, are infatuated with these wonderful folding knives, Spanish navajas, Fernando has kindly made available a list on inscriptions that were commonly etched into the blades. Blades were usually eteched with popular sayings on only one side, as the navaja pointed from right to left.

The least I can do is to translate some of them into English:

Soy de Sevilla: I am from Seville

Soy defensa de mi dueno: I am the defender of my owner

Soy para cortar y no se presta: I am for cutting and not for loan

Viva el honor de mi dueno: Long life to my owners honour

Matare a tus enemigos con la ayuda de Dio: I will kill your enemies, with God's help

En Albacete me izo Ivan Carvajal: I was made in ALbacete by Ivan Carvajal

Soy defensa de mi dueno porque le cuesta el dinero soy de acero fino y fuerte y el que me quirea probal lo bera: I am the defender of my owner. Because he paid good money I am made from strong and fine steel. He who will try me will see that this is so

I should add that the bulk of the cutlers before 1900 were illiterate and their spelling was notoriously bad.

Again, many thanks

Chris
PS. Where did you get this list of inscriptions?

fernando · 8th April 2007, 04:13 PM

Hi Chris
This list was given to me by an antique Arms seller in Oporto, when i was mentioning a curious inscription engraved in an old sword blade mounted in one of my sword sticks. The only other time i had seen such inscription was in a XVIII century sword i saw at the Military Museum of Oporto:No al amor que no cause tromento ( in one side); Se no es firme conesta me lopagaras ( on the other side ). Quite sugestive, don't you think ? and also with a little mispelling.
Do you want me to go deep into the navajas inscription list origin ?
fernando

Chris Evans · 9th April 2007, 12:58 AM

Hi Fernando,

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Do you want me to go deep into the navajas inscription list origin ?
fernando

Very kind of you to offer - Why not? It is all good research. There is still a lot to be discovered about navajas.

Cheers
Chris

fernando · 9th April 2007, 06:07 PM

Hi Chris,
I have asked Mr. Barreto Costa ( that's the name ) how he managed to get the list. He says he has put it up himself, through the years. Being an Arms seller and collector, he buys and signs lots of publications. He started to write down all the inscriptions that came in the support texts of the several navaja examples, in order to make it easy to check on possible specimens he would eventually collect and trade, knowing that many times the inscriptions are faded and rather hard to read and interpreter.
Kind regards
fernando

Battara · 9th April 2007, 07:36 PM

Just for kicks, here is another navaja, but with this in Afrikaans:

Van aboor in varen ("from a true boar").

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...vaja+afrikaans

Chris Evans · 10th April 2007, 12:09 AM

Hi Fernando,

I am envious of Mr.Costa - He must have handled so many antique navajas! Thanks for making his notes available to us.

Hi Batara,

A fascinating piece, whose history I dearly would love to know. I am sure that on account of that inscription, it is a very valuable navaja.

Cheers
Chris

Battara · 11th April 2007, 01:12 AM

I'm not sure about the history, although I was told by another dealer in African weapons years ago that it is a Voortrekker knife, perhaps before the Great Trek by the Boers in what is now South Africa, when they made a trek up into the Transvaal in Northern South Africa, about 1850. It is crudly hand engraved cursive script.

Usually I'm not much into European, but this puppy caught my eye years ago (for dirt) and have enjoyed it's uniqueness.

9th April 2007, 06:07 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Egg of Columbus Hi Chris, I have asked Mr. Barreto Costa ( that's the name ) how he managed to get the list. He says he has put it up himself, through the years. Being an Arms seller and collector, he buys and signs lots of publications. He started to write down all the inscriptions that came in the support texts of the several navaja examples, in order to make it easy to check on possible specimens he would eventually collect and trade, knowing that many times the inscriptions are faded and rather hard to read and interpreter. Kind regards fernando

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8th April 2007, 10:48 AM	#1
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hola Fernando, Muchisimas gracias. For those incurable romantics, who like myself, are infatuated with these wonderful folding knives, Spanish navajas, Fernando has kindly made available a list on inscriptions that were commonly etched into the blades. Blades were usually eteched with popular sayings on only one side, as the navaja pointed from right to left. The least I can do is to translate some of them into English: Soy de Sevilla: I am from Seville Soy defensa de mi dueno: I am the defender of my owner Soy para cortar y no se presta: I am for cutting and not for loan Viva el honor de mi dueno: Long life to my owners honour Matare a tus enemigos con la ayuda de Dio: I will kill your enemies, with God's help En Albacete me izo Ivan Carvajal: I was made in ALbacete by Ivan Carvajal Soy defensa de mi dueno porque le cuesta el dinero soy de acero fino y fuerte y el que me quirea probal lo bera: I am the defender of my owner. Because he paid good money I am made from strong and fine steel. He who will try me will see that this is so I should add that the bulk of the cutlers before 1900 were illiterate and their spelling was notoriously bad. Again, many thanks Chris PS. Where did you get this list of inscriptions?

8th April 2007, 04:13 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Chris This list was given to me by an antique Arms seller in Oporto, when i was mentioning a curious inscription engraved in an old sword blade mounted in one of my sword sticks. The only other time i had seen such inscription was in a XVIII century sword i saw at the Military Museum of Oporto:No al amor que no cause tromento ( in one side); Se no es firme conesta me lopagaras ( on the other side ). Quite sugestive, don't you think ? and also with a little mispelling. Do you want me to go deep into the navajas inscription list origin ? fernando

9th April 2007, 07:36 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Just for kicks, here is another navaja, but with this in Afrikaans: Van aboor in varen ("from a true boar"). http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...vaja+afrikaans

10th April 2007, 12:09 AM	#6
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Fernando, I am envious of Mr.Costa - He must have handled so many antique navajas! Thanks for making his notes available to us. Hi Batara, A fascinating piece, whose history I dearly would love to know. I am sure that on account of that inscription, it is a very valuable navaja. Cheers Chris

11th April 2007, 01:12 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I'm not sure about the history, although I was told by another dealer in African weapons years ago that it is a Voortrekker knife, perhaps before the Great Trek by the Boers in what is now South Africa, when they made a trek up into the Transvaal in Northern South Africa, about 1850. It is crudly hand engraved cursive script. Usually I'm not much into European, but this puppy caught my eye years ago (for dirt) and have enjoyed it's uniqueness.