Gaucho knives and cuchillos criollos of South America

[MichelGuendler]

I happen to have a very similar knife in my collection, also by Broqua & Scholberg.

 

[Trubetzkoy]

Well, you shouldn't worry too much, that knife is worth quite some bucks lol. It might have been in Germany after WW2, but with all certainty it was brought by someone that had been in Uruguay prior to WW2. I don't know if you know this, but Scholberg is the most respected brand of Gaucho knives, like ever. They had many competitors, many also very good. But Scholberg knives have some sort of mystique behind them.

Another possibility is that it just never left Europe. I guess we'll never know. I did know of Scholberg's reputation, but I'd say that which brand was the most respected or coveted depends on the region. For example, I'm pretty sure that the Arbolito name is bigger than that of Scholberg in Argentina, and so probably is Herder.

I happen to have a very similar knife in my collection, also by Broqua & Scholberg.

Please do show! I really wish mine was marked. Perhaps it was at some point, though the blade didn't show signs of refinishing before I restored it. (I showed the original state of the knife, with the broken tip, in post #261, in case you haven't seen it yet. I actually didn't do much to the blade other than regrinding the tip and false edge -- just hand-sanded it with 800 grit.)

 

[screened porch]

I found another of these today; $7.50 before a discount of ca 20%.
It looks like someone had a small accident with a cutting wheel.
By Tome.

 

[CelloDan]

I found another of these today; $7.50 before a discount of ca 20%.
It looks like someone had a small accident with a cutting wheel.
By Tome.

Nice Jer !

I found a couple more pictures on my internet travels of these knives with the mark or gouge at exactly the same spot.
I am positive they are all different knives. One auction site stated that it may be from factory.
I don't know what to think of it but I find it very interesting !

Well kamagong , I hope you will be proud of me !

This ain't no Verijero mi amigo !
No señor !!!

Meet my new 9.5 inch (24 cm ) puñal

I got it for a real bargain ( thanks for the heads up T Trubetzkoy )
It is of contemporary manufacture. After searching high and low I found the place in Tandil where distribute them from. The store specialises in gifts and related merchandise for entrepreneurs and such. The knife retails for about $ 200.
Fleabay let it go for $30.

Perhaps not too valuable as a collectors item however I like how the knife adheres to the "patron" or general pattern associated with the traditional puñal.
My first knife with a vaina picasa too

 

[kamagong]

Well kamagong , I hope you will be proud of me !

This ain't no Verijero mi amigo !
No señor !!!

Meet my new 9.5 inch (24 cm ) puñal

I got it for a real bargain ( thanks for the heads up T Trubetzkoy )
It is of contemporary manufacture. After searching high and low I found the place in Tandil where distribute them from. The store specialises in gifts and related merchandise for entrepreneurs and such. The knife retails for about $ 200.
Fleabay let it go for $30.

Perhaps not too valuable as a collectors item however I like how the knife adheres to the "patron" or general pattern associated with the traditional puñal.
My first knife with a vaina picasa too

Bravo Dan!

That's a wonderful size, a proper puñal. Not the most practical for everyday use, but I bet it elicited a mischievous grin when you took it out of its package.

What did Diana think?

I also really like the vaina picasa of your new knife. It's an altogether beautiful rig.

Any pictures of the mark side?

BTW I'm seriously tempted by a puñal with a 31.5 cm blade.

 

[screened porch]

I found a couple more pictures on my internet travels of these knives with the mark or gouge at exactly the same spot.

That is interesting. As usual, I wish I were a psychometric clairvoyant.

Meet my new 9.5 inch (24 cm ) puñal

Wow! Beautiful.
Modern manufacture and it still has the crossways grind. Also interesting.

Fleabay let it go for $30.

Holy you-know-what.

BTW I'm seriously tempted by a puñal with a 31.5" blade.

Would that still be a punal at 31.5 inches?

What's a vaina picasa again?

 

[kamagong]

What's a vaina picasa again?

It's a leather sheath with metal trim.

 

[CelloDan]

but I bet it elicited a mischievous grin when you took it out of its package.

Yeap

What did Diana think?

She was like "wow, are you collecting swords now ? "

Modern manufacture and it still has the crossways grind. Also interesting.

Yes, I found that very interesting as well.
Overall the knife does a very good job at following the traditional pattern characteristics of the type for the region it comes from.
I think Mr Domenech would approve

Would that still be a punal at 31.5 inches?

Inches, centimeters ... Does it even matter ?

Any pictures of the mark side?

The stamp on the mark side reads "Martin Fierro"

Holy you-know-what.

Perhaps it helped that the seller had some challenges with his spelling lol

Agentina ? ( where is that ? )

Guacho ??? ( guacho is the slang word for "orphan" in Argentina, without mother ( or father, or both )

 

[kamagong]

Is that Martin Fierro's knife?

 

[Trubetzkoy]

Did somebody say puñal?

It's by the not-so-well-known maker Bleckmann (mentioned in Domenech's Dagas de plata), c. 1920. The condition is pretty good, with most of the mirror polish intact, although the handle and scabbard were very filthy when I got it. These were advertised as silver, but based on the weight and the absence of any marks I'd say they're silver-plated nickel silver.

Officially, this has become the largest knife in my collection (with a 12" blade). Below is a picture with an average-size verijero by Eberle (6" blade) for comparison:

p.s.: Sorry about the far-from-ideal cloth used in the first two pictures. No presentable surface was available at the time .

 

[CelloDan]

p.s.: Sorry about the far-from-ideal cloth used in the first two pictures. No presentable surface was available at the time .

Very nice !!!
A 12 inch blade, wow ! That's 30.5 cm

Allow me to share the pic that you had pm me a little while ago.

No cloth on this one lol
I like how this photo shows the beautiful sheath

 

[Trubetzkoy]

I like how this photo shows the beautiful sheath

Yeah that was before cleaning it. It's funny how gunk can actually highlighy the patterns in metal in a visibly nice way. Believe me, though, it didn't feel nice, haha (the black wasn't just tarnish, it was actual filth). It cleaned real nice with acetone and a toothbrush:

An interesting detail about this knife is that the tang actually doesn't go all the way through the handle. I used a magnet and it turns out that the tang ends around the middle section, much like cuttlery-handled Sheffield knives. Unlike the latter, however, this one seems to be soldered in place, since I feel no play or resin cracking when applying pressure. Interesting construction fact, given the Behemoth of a blade...

Here's another knife I found online a while go, seemingly with the same blade model:

I assume these were made for the Uruguayan market, given the spherical bolster and the country of manufacture in Spanish (in Portuguese it would be Alemanha). That said, the example from the last picture has an Argentinean-style sheath, so I'm not sure.

 

[CelloDan]

Yeah that was before cleaning it. It's funny how gunk can actually highlighy the patterns in metal in a visibly nice way. Believe me, though, it didn't feel nice, haha (the black wasn't just tarnish, it was actual filth). It cleaned real nice with acetone and a toothbrush:

Wow !!!
The pic got me fooled thinking it was silver tarnish.

My Verijero, which I had cleaned with a special cloth, has tarnished again after not handling it or using it for a few months.
I like how it looks so I am leaving it as is ( plus silver tarnish is tedious to keep at bay anyway )

You mentioned that the sheath might be silver plated instead of solid silver.
I am hoping that it tarnishes just a bit I like how it gives a bit of depth and contrast to the handle decorative work.

 

[Trubetzkoy]

Wow !!!
The pic got me fooled thinking it was silver tarnish.

My Verijero, which I had cleaned with a special cloth, has tarnished again after not handling it or using it for a few months.
I like how it looks so I am leaving it as is ( plus silver tarnish is tedious to keep at bay anyway )

You mentioned that the sheath might be silver plated instead of solid silver.
I am hoping that it tarnishes just a bit I like how it gives a bit of depth and contrast to the handle decorative work.

Some of it was tarnish, but gunk made for most of it. When I applied the acetone, it created a thick black slur very quick. I did gently polish it after cleaning it -- hence the lack of tarnish now. But I'm not concerned because, as you mention, silver tarnishes very quick, so a more vintage look could be achieved in as little as a few months.

I do think it's good practice to clean these repoussé metal fittings in antiques, since they often accumulate crap and, most importantly, they can withstand it. Antique doesn't equal dirty. Polishing, on the other hand, is more debatable, since that does attack tarnish and patina and one could go through plating. In the case of your silver verijero, I would try the toothbrush + acetone method to see if anything comes out. That shouldn't remove the tarnish. Avoid soaking it though, since that could affect the the resin inside the handle.

 

[kamagong]

Yeah that was before cleaning it. It's funny how gunk can actually highlighy the patterns in metal in a visibly nice way. Believe me, though, it didn't feel nice, haha (the black wasn't just tarnish, it was actual filth). It cleaned real nice with acetone and a toothbrush:

An interesting detail about this knife is that the tang actually doesn't go all the way through the handle. I used a magnet and it turns out that the tang ends around the middle section, much like cuttlery-handled Sheffield knives. Unlike the latter, however, this one seems to be soldered in place, since I feel no play or resin cracking when applying pressure. Interesting construction fact, given the Behemoth of a blade...

Here's another knife I found online a while go, seemingly with the same blade model:

I assume these were made for the Uruguayan market, given the spherical bolster and the country of manufacture in Spanish (in Portuguese it would be Alemanha). That said, the example from the last picture has an Argentinean-style sheath, so I'm not sure.

Thank you for that. I so enjoy the gaucho knives you share with us. I see that you enjoy fine metalwork, of a quality not easily found nowadays.

 

[CelloDan]

Enjoying my new Yerba Mate set

Thermos, Yerbera ( container to store the yerba mate ) and Gourd/Bombilla.

Today, I am enjoying the "Canarias" brand from Uruguay.

For some reason, this brand is more expensive here in North America than other brands from Argentina.

Notice the difference in the yerba mate between the Canarias brand and the Argentine brand "Cruz de Malta."

Uruguayan yerba mate consists of tiny leaves and dust, with almost no stems in the tea mixture. This makes it harder to prepare for beginners, as the "bombilla" (straw) is more prone to clogging and the flavour can be very strong if not prepared with the utmost care ( I am still messing up on occasion with Uruguayan yerba )

Argentinian yerba mate is made from chopped leaves in larger pieces and includes stems and twigs. It is easier to prepare and less prone to blocking the bombilla.

Uruguayan yerba mate has a more "grassy" flavor, which I enjoy, while Argentine yerba can be more bitter and have a bit of a "smoky" flavor due to the way the leaves are dried and processed with smoke.

Lionel Messi is known to enjoy the "Canarias" brand.
He was introduced to it by his best friend Uruguayan footballer Luis Suárez.

#10

 

[screened porch]

For some reason, this brand is more expensive here in North America than other brands from Argentina.

They spend all that money chopping the leaves finer!

I used my big Juca to watch Branagh's Haunting in Venice: Hercule Poirot on hallucinogens, but maybe there really are ghosts, too.
Just try to murder me, you saucy minx.

 

[CelloDan]

They spend all that money chopping the leaves finer

That makes sense Jer

I used my big Juca to watch Branagh's Haunting in Venice: Hercule Poirot on hallucinogens, but maybe there really are ghosts, too.
Just try to murder me, you saucy minx.

“No comprendo”
I am going to need a bit of time unpack this one lol

Nice to see that big Juca in your collection
( how thick is the stock/spine?)

 

[screened porch]

I am going to need a bit of time unpack this one lol

Sorry. It's just that I like to watch TV with a knife, and put myself into the story. The murderess would have had more trouble with me and my Juca than she did with the people she did kill.

how thick is the stock/spine?)

6mm.

 

[screened porch]

Thank Heavens the Nieto Criollo Gaucho is out of stock everywhere!
I've been trying to buy one, having forgotten that I already have one. I found it right next to the sterile second that I was looking for.