Gaucho knives and cuchillos criollos of South America

[screened porch]

Well, I like your old name: "scrteened porch."

I don't know what got into me to make me change it. It cost money, too, or I might change it back.

 

[CelloDan]

There might be Weshmen in chapter 10!

Welshmen. IIRC quite a few Welsh went to Argentina in the mid nineteenth century.

I am not that fast a reader and I am nowhere close to chapter 10 however I quickly glanced through it to see what it was about.

The chapter describes the rising tensions and animosity among the gauchos towards the wave of immigrants that poured into Argentina in the last part of the 19th century.

The ruling elite promoted immigration as a "panacea", a way to modernize the nation and "tame" the gaucho.

In 1872, in the city of Tandil, province of Buenos Aires, a group of gauchos murdered 17 foreigners. This dreadful event " shook the province and the nation, and repercussions extended to Europe" pg 173

I found it very interesting how the same ruling elite that fought to eradicate the gaucho and its way of life then worked hard on "rehabilitating" him as a national symbol.

Excerpt from page 6:
" Faced with rapid socioeconomic changes, Argentina's intelligentsia experienced a sense of loss and fear. The flood tide of foreigners seemed to imperil Argentinidad , the essential Argentine national character. Nationalists resurrected and rehabilitated the once maligned gaucho. He became a symbol, an ideological weapon, used by the ruling elite against the threatening demands of immigrant workers"
"The ruling elite that successfully subdued the gaucho now enshrined him in national mythology"

I am really enjoying this book I had read good reviews about it and is one of the very few in the English language.
The author thoroughly researched the subject spending considerable amount of time digging thought national and police archives in Argentina as well as studying the works of local historians.

He has a few other books about the cowboy of North America, the Bandidos of Latin America and a book comparing the north american cowboy and the southern gaucho.
I think I have plenty of reading material ahead

Oh, and about the Welsh
I recently became aware of their immigration to Patagonia in a couple articles I had read about the area.
Also, interestingly enough, I learn about two famous cowboy outlaws that went into hiding in Patagonia; Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid of the "Wild Bunch" gang.

From Wikipedia: "The Pinkerton Agency had known their location for some time, but the snow and the hard winter of Patagonia had prevented their agent Frank Dimaio from making an arrest. Governor Julio Lezana issued an arrest warrant, but Sheriff Edward Humphreys, a Welsh-Argentine who was friendly with Cassidy and enamored of Place, tipped them off"

I leave you today with I painting by Juan Carlos Ferreyra Santos titled "En la peña"
I love it It depicts several items of gaucho culture in one portrait; The mate and the "pava" (kettle), the asado, a cuchillo criollo, the apparel and the "botas de potro", the guitar, the red wine flowing, the empanadas, the two gauchos drooling over the empanadas ... or the one holding them lol

I am drooling over this picture now So hungry for empanadas

 

[Prester John]

Also, interestingly enough, I learn about two famous cowboy outlaws that went into hiding in Patagonia; Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid of the "Wild Bunch" gang.

Great movie with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. From about 55 years ago? Was going to post a clip from the ending, but wouldn't want to ruin it if you haven't seen the movie.

Those empanadas sure look good, by the way!

 

[CelloDan]

Great movie with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. From about 55 years ago? Was going to post a clip from the ending, but wouldn't want to ruin it if you haven't seen the movie.

Those empanadas sure look good, by the way!

Yeah, I recently saw the movie which I enjoyed

The ending left me in a bit of shock as I was really rooting for the outlaws lol

That is what prompted me to read more about them and get a more accurate description of their exploits.

Now, there appears to be several accounts and theories that they may have actually survived and lived several more rather uneventful years

 

[screened porch]

Yeah, I recently saw the movie which I enjoyed

The ending left me in a bit of shock as I was really rooting for the outlaws lol

That is what prompted me to read more about them and get a more accurate description of their exploits.

Now, there appears to be several accounts and theories that they may have actually survived and lived several more rather uneventful years

According to Leonard Nimoy's In Search Of, Butch at least made it home and his family know where he's buried but won't say.

 

[kamagong]

I'm so glad to see this thread updated with recent activity. It's one of my favorites in the forum.

I don't have anything substantive to add, but being a firm believer that everything is better with pictures, here is one of me with my puñal.

 

[cbach8tw]

 

[kamagong]

Getting ready for the big game.

 

[CelloDan]

View attachment 2490564View attachment 2490565

Great pair right there
I really like the sheath with the diamond decoration in the middle

I'm so glad to see this thread updated with recent activity. It's one of my favorites in the forum.

I don't have anything substantive to add, but being a firm believer that everything is better with pictures, here is one of me with my puñal.

View attachment 2490466

Getting ready for the big game.

View attachment 2492138View attachment 2492141

Looking good Christian !
I was talking to someone in Argentina last Friday about purchasing a faja and a boina for myself.
We will finalize it tomorrow .
What's delaying things a bit is that I have a BIG head LOL with a circumference of 60 cm or about 23.5 inches and not many in that size are kept in stock usually.
I remember trying to buy a Tilley hat for my sailing adventures and told by the two stores in town that my size was a special order

I had issues in the army trying to fit the standard beret on my head

edit: oh btw, who are you cheering for ?

 

[kamagong]

One guess.

 

[CelloDan]

You guys are a terrible influence and a bunch of enablers ... and I am weak

I present to you my newest addition to my criollo stable.
More details to come about this piece in the next couple days

I am happy gaucho today

 

[Prester John]

You guys are a terrible influence and a bunch of enablers ... and I am weak

I present to you my newest addition to my criollo stable.
More details to come about this piece in the next couple days

I am happy gaucho today

Wow!

 

[screened porch]

You guys are a terrible influence and a bunch of enablers ... and I am weak

I present to you my newest addition to my criollo stable.
More details to come about this piece in the next couple days

I am happy gaucho today

Ooh! real silver!
I'm going to go check on the 49ers.

 

[kamagong]

I was talking to someone in Argentina last Friday about purchasing a faja and a boina for myself.
We will finalize it tomorrow .
What's delaying things a bit is that I have a BIG head LOL with a circumference of 60 cm or about 23.5 inches and not many in that size are kept in stock usually.
I remember trying to buy a Tilley hat for my sailing adventures and told by the two stores in town that my size was a special order

Lol...

Your post made me curious. I meaured my head size and it is right around 60 cm. I guess I have a BIG head and will also have to special order a boina. Maybe after I get a faja.

You guys are a terrible influence and a bunch of enablers ... and I am weak

I present to you my newest addition to my criollo stable.
More details to come about this piece in the next couple days

I am happy gaucho today

Thank you, we try. Beautiful knife. I suppose you need two fajas now, a humble woven one and another with silver coins to wear to the pulperia.

 

[screened porch]

Mine's about 24". If we must have extra large brains, we'd better have extra large brain-pans.

 

[Prester John]

What's delaying things a bit is that I have a BIG head LOL with a circumference of 60 cm or about 23.5 inches and not many in that size are kept in stock usually.

Your post made me curious. I meaured my head size and it is right around 60 cm. I guess I have a BIG head and will also have to special order a boina. Maybe after I get a faja.

Mine's about 24". If we must have extra l

Pinhead Vince reporting.

 

[CelloDan]

Lol...

Your post made me curious. I meaured my head size and it is right around 60 cm. I guess I have a BIG head and will also have to special order a boina. Maybe after I get a faja.

Mine's about 24". If we must have extra large brains, we'd better have extra large brain-pans.

I am relieved that I am in good company and not the only "cabezón" ... however at the same time a bit disappointed that I am not as unique as I thought I was

Thank you, we try. Beautiful knife. I suppose you need two fajas now, a humble woven one and another with silver coins to wear to the pulperia.

Gracias Christian

My gaucho fortunes are improving and you make a good point ... I think I will need a second fancy faja with silver coins and all !

Hey, about that silver "looney" you mentioned a few post back lol

 

[CelloDan]

Good evening folks
Allow me to share a few details about my second cuchillo criollo that joined me yesterday

I had been searching for this type of beautiful and elaborately decorated criollo for a little while now as I felt that the time had come to at least try to get one.
The search can soon get overwhelming and stressful so I also made a point to try not to thing about it to much.

I had seen mine on the big auction site and was attracted to it but the price and the fact that I never bought anything in this manner also made me hesitate and pause.
It was not until I realized that the location provided for the knife was VERY close to home !!!
In fact it tuned out it was just around the corner from the church building we attend weekly on a neighbouring small town.

I reach out to the seller yesterday morning and the rest is history
I picked it up in person for a very nice price and got to spend time and talk knives with the seller for a while.

The knife was bought by a friend of the seller's mother on a trip to Argentina back in 1963. The knife sheath has a small engraving with "Buenos Aires, 1-10-63"
The knife then ended up being in possession of his mother and stored away all these years.

It has never being sharpened or used and it was kept in its original box all this time.

The sheath is stamped 800 indicating the type of silver used. I am told the the gold accents were tested at a local shop and are 18k gold.

I am no expert however I have no reason to doubt that especially since the handle and its sheath were crafted and sold at a "Plateria" in Buenos Aires called "Casa Parodi" that was open for business for more than 80 years ( 1940-2022)

The box still has the logo of "Casa Parodi"

A google search indicates "Plateria Casa Parodi" still has a website however upon further reading on their social media page it looks like they had to close "temporarily" sometime in 2022.

A search of google street view indicates that a business with a different now operates at that address

Follow this link to take a stroll through downtown Buenos Aires and see where my new Verijero started it's long journey north, in time and space to reach me

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GbLoUzhPGHrBmZY57

The former address of "Plateria Casa Parodi" with a new name on the front door. The rest of the signs around the main door appear to remain the same.

I then went on a further quest to find about the stamp, the blade and it's origins.
Fascinating stuff ... stay tuned for tomorrow

Good night

 

[Prester John]

Good evening folks
Allow me to share a few details about my second cuchillo criollo that joined me yesterday

I had been searching for this type of beautiful and elaborately decorated criollo for a little while now as I felt that the time had come to at least try to get one.
The search can soon get overwhelming and stressful so I also made a point to try not to thing about it to much.

I had seen mine on the big auction site and was attracted to it but the price and the fact that I never bought anything in this manner also made me hesitate and pause.
It was not until I realized that the location provided for the knife was VERY close to home !!!
In fact it tuned out it was just around the corner from the church building we attend weekly on a neighbouring small town.

I reach out to the seller yesterday morning and the rest is history
I picked it up in person for a very nice price and got to spend time and talk knives with the seller for a while.

The knife was bought by a friend of the seller's mother on a trip to Argentina back in 1963. The knife sheath has a small engraving with "Buenos Aires, 1-10-63"
The knife then ended up being in possession of his mother and stored away all these years.

It has never being sharpened or used and it was kept in its original box all this time.

The sheath is stamped 800 indicating the type of silver used. I am told the the gold accents were tested at a local shop and are 18k gold.

I am no expert however I have no reason to doubt that especially since the handle and its sheath were crafted and sold at a "Plateria" in Buenos Aires called "Casa Parodi" that was open for business for more than 80 years ( 1940-2022)

The box still has the logo of "Casa Parodi"

A google search indicates "Plateria Casa Parodi" still has a website however upon further reading on their social media page it looks like they had to close "temporarily" sometime in 2022.

A search of google street view indicates that a business with a different now operates at that address

Follow this link to take a stroll through downtown Buenos Aires and see where my new Verijero started it's long journey north, in time and space to reach me

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GbLoUzhPGHrBmZY57

The former address of "Plateria Casa Parodi" with a new name on the front door. The rest of the signs around the main door appear to remain the same.

I then went on a further quest to find about the stamp, the blade and it's origins.
Fascinating stuff ... stay tuned for tomorrow

Good night

What a great find, Dan. Congratulations!

 

[kamagong]

Thank you for sharing the backstory on your new cuchillo criollo. Is it another verijero?

I had seen mine on the big auction site and was attracted to it but the price and the fact that I never bought anything in this manner also made me hesitate and pause.
It was not until I realized that the location provided for the knife was VERY close to home !!!
In fact it tuned out it was just around the corner from the church building we attend weekly on a neighbouring small town.

I reach out to the seller yesterday morning and the rest is history
I picked it up in person for a very nice price and got to spend time and talk knives with the seller for a while.

Right around the corner and picked up in person? That knife was meant to be yours.

The entire package is beautiful. I'm very happy for you.

Now we just need to work on getting you a Boker or Herder.