Odd Navaja For Comment

RobT · Yesterday, 02:18 AM

Hi All,

I find this navaja to be unusual so I am posting it here for your input. I have two main questions.
One: Could there have been a finial on the end? I can see no solder to indicate something is missing but the end could have been longer and simply cut off after the finial was lost. Currently, the blade point ends about 1/16” (1.5875mm) from the end of the hilt.
Two: Could this knife have actually been made in Morocco? I have never seen a navaja back spring that looks like this. The 20th century style back springs (like those on Okapi knives) are very flat. This one sort of looks like someone took a 19th century style back spring and and put it in the 20th century position outside of the hilt instead of the 19th century position between the hilt scales. The hilt decoration is also giving me a North African vibe but that could just be because a lot of Spanish motifs look North African.
The hilt is wood covered with sheet brass. Because the blade pivot pin has broken through the sheet brass, the wooden core has a tendency to slide in the brass cover when the blade is opened. The 13.25” (33.655cm) blade has a ratchet lock and is engraved on one side. Part of the engraving looks for all the world like a hot air balloon above a mountain.
Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
RobT

Chris Evans · Today, 08:10 AM

Hi RobT,

Have a look at this old thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2480

Hope that this helps, and

Cheers
Chris

Lee · Today, 03:06 PM

and here is my battered old example that seems to have a similar locking mechanism: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...4&postcount=15

Chris Evans · Today, 03:32 PM

Hi Lee,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

and here is my battered old example that seems to have a similar locking mechanism: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...4&postcount=15

The ring pull/release made its appearance around 1875, so yours is most probably earlier, but its general styling suggests 19th century.

Unfortunately inscribing date of manufacture was not an established practice.

Cheers
Chris

Yesterday, 02:18 AM	#1
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 489	Odd Navaja For Comment Hi All, I find this navaja to be unusual so I am posting it here for your input. I have two main questions. One: Could there have been a finial on the end? I can see no solder to indicate something is missing but the end could have been longer and simply cut off after the finial was lost. Currently, the blade point ends about 1/16” (1.5875mm) from the end of the hilt. Two: Could this knife have actually been made in Morocco? I have never seen a navaja back spring that looks like this. The 20th century style back springs (like those on Okapi knives) are very flat. This one sort of looks like someone took a 19th century style back spring and and put it in the 20th century position outside of the hilt instead of the 19th century position between the hilt scales. The hilt decoration is also giving me a North African vibe but that could just be because a lot of Spanish motifs look North African. The hilt is wood covered with sheet brass. Because the blade pivot pin has broken through the sheet brass, the wooden core has a tendency to slide in the brass cover when the blade is opened. The 13.25” (33.655cm) blade has a ratchet lock and is engraved on one side. Part of the engraving looks for all the world like a hot air balloon above a mountain. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images

Today, 08:10 AM	#2
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 678	Hi RobT, Have a look at this old thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2480 Hope that this helps, and Cheers Chris

Today, 03:06 PM	#3
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	and here is my battered old example that seems to have a similar locking mechanism: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...4&postcount=15