Anconetano_traditional italian knife for fishermans

M

martineden

Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
621
Hi all,
another italian traditional knife today, the “anconetano”. This knife is from the Italian Adriatic Sea coastal area, and was used mainly by fishermans



This particular knife was made by Giovanni “Nino” Nista from S. Benedetto del Tronto, specs are as follows:
Total length 195mm
Blade length 85mm
Steel AISI 420
Blade thickness 2mm
Wheigt 54 grams

The handle is “one-piece” cow’s horn


The blade is thin and straight pointed, usefull to work fishes


The original handle’s shape is curved


The blade spring is particular someway, in fact is external to the handle






As I previously said, the “anconetano” was used mainly by fishermans. The tang of the knife is shaped to help the fisherman in the net’s maintenance just in case



Some cutting trials, not bad at all


Hope you like it,
Ciao
Alfredo
 
Alfredo,
thanks for the pics and info. This kind of knife is new to me too. I guess we could start a bigger thread about Italian regional knives...you seem to have your share of them to show us :)
Somehow reminds of a Gobbo / Abruzzese pattern (even geographically it's pretty close), but the blade grind and the backspring make this very nice and a bit "off the path", at least in my experience. Very nice knife indeed :thumbup:

Fausto
:cool:
 
quattromori said:
Alfredo,
thanks for the pics and info. This kind of knife is new to me too. I guess we could start a bigger thread about Italian regional knives...you seem to have your share of them to show us :)
Somehow reminds of a Gobbo / Abruzzese pattern (even geographically it's pretty close), but the blade grind and the backspring make this very nice and a bit "off the path", at least in my experience. Very nice knife indeed :thumbup:

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...

Hi Fausto. Completely agree about a specifical 3D about traditional italian knives, I'll help as I can.
Yes the Anconetano call the Gobbo pattern (as you wrote, same area), it's one of the kind in my view.
Alfredo
 
Ok. So here we go.
Request for the powerful mods (and great hosts): can we merge this (and the other knife about the Senese) into a new thread about Italian regional knives?
Thank you very much guys.

Fausto
:cool:
 
i actually have a question. I know there are alot of cultural differences between italians and sicilians
but is there are difference in knife cultures between italy and sicily?

my grandfather's parents came off a boat from Palermo in the 1920's so I would be curious....

thanks in advance
 
Rsmith_77 said:
i actually have a question. I know there are alot of cultural differences between italians and sicilians
but is there are difference in knife cultures between italy and sicily?

my grandfather's parents came off a boat from Palermo in the 1920's so I would be curious....

thanks in advance
Click to expand...

You're welcome. Sicilians are italians :) that said, Italy is historically a sort of patchwork, with a lot of cultural differences between different regions. So, it's the same for knives: you will found really different shapes from North to South of the whole peninsula, and islands (Sardinia and Sicily). About Sicily, needless to say :) most traditional knives were shaped for duelling (Saraga, Liccasapuni, Sfilato da duello, ecc.), besides others (Mozzetta, Roncola) all-around knives.
 
far be it for me to argue with you
but if you tell a sicilian american that he is italian, you better be prepared to fight ;)

thanks, will have to google some of those names (roncola, mozzetta etc etc)
 
Rsmith_77 said:
far be it for me to argue with you
but if you tell a sicilian american that he is italian, you better be prepared to fight ;)
Click to expand...

Well...I can't speak for Sicilian Americans, but I know many Sardinians (not Sardinian Americans, I mean plain Sardinians living in Italy) who would react the same way if you addressed them as Italians... :D
As Alfredo pointed out, Italy is a big patchwork of cultures, and was born as a nation only 150 years ago (pretty young for this part of the world); before that, it was divided into smaller autonomous states, some of which had lasted for centuries. Also, different parts of the country were influenced by different cultures (Spanish in the west, Arabs in Sicily and southernmost Italy, and so on). What comes out is a country that hides inside big cultural differences (more than you might think, considering it's not a huge country), and a variety of knife patterns as well.
A good thing is, knife patterns (as many other things) still retain their "regional" trait. It's very uncommon to find, for example, a Sicilian farmer using a Pattada, or a Sardinian shepherd using a Gobbo. Maybe this makes things more messy, since some knives are mainly available in certain areas and almost impossible finds in other areas, but for us (at least for me), that's just richness.

Fausto
:cool:
 
I really enjoy seeing these regional traditional knives. Thanks for taking time to share this.

Greg
 
Rsmith_77 said:
i actually have a question. I know there are alot of cultural differences between italians and sicilians
but is there are difference in knife cultures between italy and sicily?

my grandfather's parents came off a boat from Palermo in the 1920's so I would be curious....

thanks in advance
Click to expand...

From Palermo in the 20's huh.
Looks like I might have a relative in Mississippi. LOL , although the last name Smith doesnt ring a bell :)
 
scarysharp said:
From Palermo in the 20's huh.
Looks like I might have a relative in Mississippi. LOL , although the last name Smith doesnt ring a bell :)
Click to expand...

Heh, mother's maiden name is Anzalone, little better?
but the relatives ended up in upstate new york, i ended up in mississippi due to the military :D
 
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