Is this a Navaja knife?

Kubur · 20th July 2019, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

I would say this is a modern piece; Vendetta meaning revenge, their traditional mythical culture.
.

Well well well I won't say mythical. These people like to fight. They will kill you if you just look at their sisters. I prefer to not speak of theirs mothers... Corsica produced Napoleon that is a good example of man of war. The original vendetta knife is similar to the Genoese knive that is just logic as Corsica shares more with Italia than France.

Best,
Kubur

kronckew · 20th July 2019, 10:31 AM

Kubar's sketch shows the traditional fixed blade version - I would like to eventually own one, but they are rare and expensive as antiques. Still made today tho.

Meanwhile, the 'real' folding versions are fairly well available, and all have basically the same general shape, a narrowish single edged spearpoint blade designed for thrusting, and the reduction in grip area just behind the bolster. they come in diffeent sizes, grip scale materials, and can be locking or not.

The french Laguiole style style usually has a long clipped spine single edge, also can be locking or non-locking, note NO notch.

Found a Mythical (

) Corsican knife maker that combines the best of both the fixed style and is folding (back-lock), not an antique tho. They also make the fixed blade stylus versions, just a whole lot more expensive. Mine: approx. 20.5 cm. open, 100 gm, 440C, hand made, each is unique.

kronckew · 20th July 2019, 11:03 AM

...and they make this one in wood grip - it looks very familiar, I think I've seen it's like before here.

A myth is as good as a smile.

fernando · 20th July 2019, 12:53 PM

Alex, the first example you showed is a rather interesting piece. Whether it could (should) be considered a navaja, i would humbly say no. Navaja ( Novăcula) is the name of a folding knife in a Spanish context, which i don't think is the case here.
It looks like it has (smith) marks in both blade faces, which is an undeniable added value; adding to that i would not reject the possibility that the three digit date in the handle is not for 1939 but for 1839.
In any case having nothing to do, in collecting terms, with your recent Corsican 'Vendetta' nor with the modern 'cutlery' that is being shown in its regard ... if i dare say

kronckew · 20th July 2019, 01:02 PM

...only shown for reference to their traditional shapes which are timeless.

ariel · 20th July 2019, 01:06 PM

Yes, it is a Navaja, most likely made in France ( Thiers was the gorilla of stamping them in huge quantities). This is described in a book by Denis Cherevichnik about the history of knife fights around the world. A splendid book published regretfully only in Russian. It reads like a “ Captain Blood Odyssey” but with impeccable historical analysis and background and a ton of references. If you are interested, I can send you a link to the publisher.

Have you found it in Uzbekistan, of all places?????

Well, if so, one could fantasize that it was brought there by one of the Soviet
“ volunteers” fighting in Spain on the Republican side. The very first pic shows a hammer and a sickle. Spain was a testing ground for both German and Soviet forces in preparation for WW2. Kind of like Syria these day.

fernando · 20th July 2019, 02:55 PM

S we would have a French couteau à ressort, exported to Spain tagged as navaja, in such a peculiar disguise, bought by a товарищ who then engraved it with an hammer & sickle, before being reallocated to Uzbekistan ...
Don't tell me Ariel; i know i am a schmuck

.

ALEX · 20th July 2019, 09:55 PM

Thanks to all for information and an interesting discussion.

Ariel, I did not even notice the 'hammer and sickle' symbol. The knife was found in Uzbekistan indeed, so the historical references you provided could well be a case.

Fernando, I also thought of the blade as being older, based on the marks is does look 18thC, however, even though the horn slabs show some age and insect damage, they do not look as old as the blade to me.

fernando · 21st July 2019, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

...Ariel, I did not even notice the 'hammer and sickle' symbol. The knife was found in Uzbekistan indeed, so the historical references you provided could well be a case...

Here i bow down to Ariel's knowledge

.

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20th July 2019, 10:31 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	Kubar's sketch shows the traditional fixed blade version - I would like to eventually own one, but they are rare and expensive as antiques. Still made today tho. Meanwhile, the 'real' folding versions are fairly well available, and all have basically the same general shape, a narrowish single edged spearpoint blade designed for thrusting, and the reduction in grip area just behind the bolster. they come in diffeent sizes, grip scale materials, and can be locking or not. The french Laguiole style style usually has a long clipped spine single edge, also can be locking or non-locking, note NO notch. Found a Mythical () Corsican knife maker that combines the best of both the fixed style and is folding (back-lock), not an antique tho. They also make the fixed blade stylus versions, just a whole lot more expensive. Mine: approx. 20.5 cm. open, 100 gm, 440C, hand made, each is unique. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 20th July 2019 at 11:13 AM.

20th July 2019, 11:03 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	...and they make this one in wood grip - it looks very familiar, I think I've seen it's like before here. A myth is as good as a smile. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 20th July 2019 at 11:14 AM.

20th July 2019, 02:55 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Just kidding ... S we would have a French couteau à ressort, exported to Spain tagged as navaja, in such a peculiar disguise, bought by a товарищ who then engraved it with an hammer & sickle, before being reallocated to Uzbekistan ... Don't tell me Ariel; i know i am a schmuck .

20th July 2019, 12:53 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Alex, the first example you showed is a rather interesting piece. Whether it could (should) be considered a navaja, i would humbly say no. Navaja ( Novăcula) is the name of a folding knife in a Spanish context, which i don't think is the case here. It looks like it has (smith) marks in both blade faces, which is an undeniable added value; adding to that i would not reject the possibility that the three digit date in the handle is not for 1939 but for 1839. In any case having nothing to do, in collecting terms, with your recent Corsican 'Vendetta' nor with the modern 'cutlery' that is being shown in its regard ... if i dare say

20th July 2019, 01:02 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	...only shown for reference to their traditional shapes which are timeless.

20th July 2019, 01:06 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yes, it is a Navaja, most likely made in France ( Thiers was the gorilla of stamping them in huge quantities). This is described in a book by Denis Cherevichnik about the history of knife fights around the world. A splendid book published regretfully only in Russian. It reads like a “ Captain Blood Odyssey” but with impeccable historical analysis and background and a ton of references. If you are interested, I can send you a link to the publisher. Have you found it in Uzbekistan, of all places????? Well, if so, one could fantasize that it was brought there by one of the Soviet “ volunteers” fighting in Spain on the Republican side. The very first pic shows a hammer and a sickle. Spain was a testing ground for both German and Soviet forces in preparation for WW2. Kind of like Syria these day.

20th July 2019, 09:55 PM	#8
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Thanks to all for information and an interesting discussion. Ariel, I did not even notice the 'hammer and sickle' symbol. The knife was found in Uzbekistan indeed, so the historical references you provided could well be a case. Fernando, I also thought of the blade as being older, based on the marks is does look 18thC, however, even though the horn slabs show some age and insect damage, they do not look as old as the blade to me.