South American Knives

[RobT]

Sajen,

From what I have been able to gather online, there is no such Solingen maker as Franz Wenk. The name Franz Wenk is a trade name for knives made by FANACU (Fábrica Nacional de Cuchilleria Uruguay). I wonder if there isn't a sort of play on words with Franz Wenk standing for a sly French wink.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Lee]

Well, RobT has done a fine job of revealing where that particular blade was made!

Struggling through Dagas de Plata with my virtually nonexistent Spanish language skills, I found a reproduction of a catalog page showing complete knives of various styles available from a German supplier (p. 12). Chapter 7 details the development of the blade making center of Tandil, starting in the later part of the first half of the 20th century. I suspect the vast majority of knives used imported blades that were locally mounted up until that time, and that since then the knives have increasingly become a completely South American product.

[RobT]

Lee,

Some of the online sources that supplied the Franz Wenk information also suspected that the the blades were actually made in Argentina and exported to Uruguay where hilts were added.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Lee

Well, RobT has done a fine job of revealing where that particular blade was made!

Struggling through Dagas de Plata with my virtually nonexistent Spanish language skills, I found a reproduction of a catalog page showing complete knives of various styles available from a German supplier (p. 12). Chapter 7 details the development of the blade making center of Tandil, starting in the later part of the first half of the 20th century. I suspect the vast majority of knives used imported blades that were locally mounted up until that time, and that since then the knives have increasingly become a completely South American product.

You are correct Lee, it seems that there was at the beginning an import from Solingen and Sheffield blades to South America and became later an own production under cooperation or bought names to a own production of blades.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Yesterday I get the information, that I am the winner from this Brazilian punal,
the description say:

Fine silver dagger (silverwork - probably South America), blade marked 'Salva Vida' ('Save Life') and 'G.L.& M.'; Length 33 cm (blade can be moved at the top - guide may be missing)

Pictures are the auction pictures.

[Sajen]

By this example is the chain still present about which Mr. Domenech write in his answer to Norman about his shown knife short time ago:
"You can observe that there is a little hook in the end of the sheath hook. Also there is a small hole in the decoration of the tip of sheath called "batiente" in Spanish.

This is so because this type of knives had a small chain going permanently attached to the hole in the extreme of sheath and other end of chain had a small ring to hung on the little hook.

This was a custom only used in Brazil to secure the sheath to the belt and avoid loosing the knife while riding a horse. Rarely the chain is still present in these old knives today but some knives still have them."

Here the thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28532

Sadly is only one side pictured. Soon as I have received it I will post more pictures.

[Fernando K]

hello sajen

this is not a dagger, but a "facon". It has a single edged side and a counter-edge on the other side, at the end, for approximately one third of its length. It has, like the dagger, a defense, in this case an "S". The tang is in the center of the blade, which makes it different from any knife, which has the tang on the opposite side of the edge.

affectionately

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Fernando K

this is not a dagger, but a "facon". It has a single edged side and a counter-edge on the other side, at the end, for approximately one third of its length. It has, like the dagger, a defense, in this case an "S". The tang is in the center of the blade, which makes it different from any knife, which has the tang on the opposite side of the edge.

Hello Fernando,

Yes, you are correct, it's a facon, my fault!

Best regards,
Detlef

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Sajen

...there was at the beginning an import from Solingen and Sheffield blades to South America...

Additionally, I learned from Dagas de Plata that the importer of the knife marked "Armeria de Paris" (later, from the early 20th century, called Armeria Carlos Rasetti) in post two above, had sourced these blades from Belgium. Decades ago, the husband of a friend of my late mother, who was born and raised in Argentina reportedly showed great delight when my mother showed him that knife and he showed great proficiency in brandishing it as he reminisced about that great Buenos Aires emporium he remembered from his youth. See: https://www.landofborchardt.com/1931cr_catalog.html

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Lee

Additionally, I learned from Dagas de Plata that the importer of the knife marked "Armeria de Paris" (later, from the early 20th century, called Armeria Carlos Rasetti) in post two above, had sourced these blades from Belgium. Decades ago, the husband of a friend of my late mother, who was born and raised in Argentina reportedly showed great delight when my mother showed him that knife and he showed great proficiency in brandishing it as he reminisced about that great Buenos Aires emporium he remembered from his youth. See: https://www.landofborchardt.com/1931cr_catalog.html

Hello Lee,
Yes, better I had written "produced in Europe" instead of Solingen and Sheffield.

Regards,
Detlef

[Lee]

I bought this puñal at a nearby semiannual flea market yesterday. I believe that I may well have walked past it previously, but I was trudging the fields alone yesterday and taking my time. The blade is 9¼ inches with some file work on the spine, evidence of repeated honing and a mark like the top of a handled trophy cup, either lightly struck or partially worn away. I could not find this mark in Dagas de Plata. At first the silverwork seemed a bit crude to me, but its appeal has grown. The cross section of the handle is very rectangular and the two narrower sides are not decorated. I am not sure that I believe the tiny '900' marks. The mounts have taken a few dings and I suspect it has been dropped onto a hard surface hilt first on at least one occasion.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Lee

I am not sure that I believe the tiny '900' marks...

Well, it should (only) be .

.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by RobT

From what I have been able to gather online, there is no such Solingen maker as Franz Wenk. The name Franz Wenk is a trade name for knives made by FANACU (Fábrica Nacional de Cuchilleria Uruguay). I wonder if there isn't a sort of play on words with Franz Wenk standing for a sly French wink.

Hello RobT,

Thank you very much, a seemingly fact I wasn't aware of. But a short online search shows that there the name "Franz Wenk" only pops up by Cuchillo Criollo knives. Worth a better research.

Regards,
Detlef