Continuing International Assistance - with Flair!!

Charlie - To give a bit more info on my castrating knife comment, a lot of people think of a small thin Spey blade as a castrating knife because that was the origin of the blade. The funny thing is, I don’t know anyone that actually uses the Spey to castrate. Most people I know use the clip on their trapper. But there are knives made specifically for castrating that I have seen people use and they resemble the knife of yours in this thread. They are made with a broad tip and no point for the safety of the people and animals if the animal is thrashing around.
 
Charlie, look at me, this is serious.

Be very careful of these Sardinian knives. They are very very beguiling and have a way of sneaking into the day to day carry. You don't realize it, but slow;y they take over and before you know it, they become the 'precious' that you wouldn't think of leaving home without. :eek:

It's been some years since Fausto gifted me the resolza, but it has Bec one to me what my beloved peanut once was. The simple friction folder action and exquisite craftsmanship of Senior Usai ended up totally beguiling me.

Beware the Sardinian knives, I think that deep in the hills there's an old shaman that puts a spell on these knives. Consider yourself warned!

This one has taken over my pocket for the past few years. Every time I try another knife, I miss the Sardinian siren.

 
At first look I was pretty underwhelmed with the mozzetta BUT more looking and reading
and the shaman's spell has obviously taken hold of me :). I think they are quite lovely,
and would be a treat to use. I'm mozzetta enchanted :cool:

Thanks for sharing.

Ray
 
Thank you for the great service, Achille! And for the pictures and stories!:thumbsup:
I learned winemaking from my grandfather, and my mother (his daughter). To think that a knife like this one might have been part of the cork production, for the corks we used, is pretty cool!:)

And thanks for the warning, Carl!!!! Must resist!!:eek:Must resist!!!:eek:

:D:D
 
Ya know, with a little careful work, that knife could be made into a really nice sheep foot!

Just saying'.

;)
 
jackknife said:
Ya know, with a little careful work, that knife could be made into a really nice sheep foot!

Just saying'.

;)
Click to expand...
Ahhhh! You blaspheme!! :eek:
You see a blank slate, and I see the Venus de Milo!!:rolleyes:
Actually two admiring knifemakers in my local club labeled it a beauty!!
One wants to use it as a model!!:)

And I know you are kidding me Carl!!:D
 
As with some knives, I'm not always a fan of a pattern, but I am a fan of the quality and craftsmanship that goes into them. It's always interesting to see knives from a certain geographical area, that are purpose-driven in their nature, and then modified over time to be artistic as well as functional. Looks like this one is very functional, thanks for sharing another "worldly" blade!
 
Âchillepattada said:
Hi,
It's was a great pleasure to build a bridge between an american connoisseur and a friend of mine in Sardinia :)
This mozzetta is a modern interpretation by Roberto Serra.
Here is mine, built in the same time :
mozz2-5445566.jpg


mozz3-544556a.jpg


mozz4-544556c.jpg

Best Regards
Âchille
Click to expand...

My Mozzetta's fraternal twin!!
Thanks for the pictures, Achille!!
 
Mmmm I have already seen such a collection o_O

I think that the shape of this "colonial" comes from the sailor's knife. As for the cork work or the mine, a pointed blade can be very dangerous on a boat.
I think it has been adopted to avoid its use in the fights between the soldiers .
Just an idea .

Ä
 
Âchillepattada said:
I think it has been adopted to avoid its use in the fights between the soldiers
Click to expand...
The standard knife in the 18th and 19th century was the Montpellier, very sharp (more efficient to undo wet knots than a round tip), made in Pèzenas on the Mediterranean coast, first used by fishermen, then the Royale and the French Navy for the use on ships based in Toulon, makers Bizzet-Dessaigne and Retru-Gros (Thiers), probably forgotten when steam replaced the sails. Nowadays only Cognet still sells some in two sizes.

icognetmontpelliergmcbd.jpg
icognetmontpelliergmcbd.jpg

The Colonial came later (1873) and was seemingly not in use in the Navy though I know of a similar pattern used on school ships in Brest. (the first school ship, initialy named "Commerce de Paris", offered by Parisian merchants, was more suitably renamed Borda in honor of a great scientist and engineer - one of the 72 scientists "Pride of France" whose name are on the Eiffel tower -. Since, all school ships are nicknamed Borda, whatever her real name.)

20571110.jpg

I have always been sceptical for the "anti-fight" explanation for the rounded tip. Think there are a lot of sharp objects on board (marlin-spike, hooks), further, on sailboats there was an iron disciplin.
 
Is the Montpellier a locking folder?

Merci for the history lesson - intéressant :thumbsup:

Ray
 
Jolipapa said:
I have always been sceptical for the "anti-fight" explanation for the rounded tip. Think there are a lot of sharp objects on board (marlin-spike, hooks), further, on sailboats there was an iron disciplin.
Click to expand...

YOU are the specialist ! Thanks for this piece of history :):thumbsup:

Â
 
My wallet is trembling in fear as I find these Sardinian knifes very attractive!
Thanks Achille!! For the pictures, the coin and the Tiki!!;)
:D
Mozzetta Deal 1.jpg
What happened:
Achille facilitated the Mozzetta deal for me! To show my appreciation, I sent him a little something. He in turn sent me a coin, and a Tiki!!:D
 
So, I did not realize the confluence of events that would follow this thread! More to come!!!
:)
 
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