Gaucho knives and cuchillos criollos of South America

[Trubetzkoy]

Dangnabbit!

Nice! Had you shown this one before? If so, I can't remember. How long is the blade? Is it double-edged? These nordestino, pepper-mill-shaped handles have grown on me...

 

[screened porch]

Nice! Had you shown this one before? If so, I can't remember. How long is the blade? Is it double-edged? These nordestino, pepper-mill-shaped handles have grown on me...

Thanks!
I'm sure I've posted it somewhere before. 11" blade, double-edged. The edges aren't sharpened at all, but maybe that's why they call it de ponta. Characteristic of the bandits in the arid mountains of NE Brazil, who had to wear leather all over all the time because of all the thorns.

Uncle Don was there to fly US Navy dirigibles to spot German u-boats.

 

[Trubetzkoy]

Thanks!
I'm sure I've posted it somewhere before. 11" blade, double-edged. The edges aren't sharpened at all, but maybe that's why they call it de ponta. Characteristic of the bandits in the arid mountains of NE Brazil, who had to wear leather all over all the time because of all the thorns.

Uncle Don was there to fly US Navy dirigibles to spot German u-boats.

Interesting about the unsharpened bevels, same as the nordestina I shared recently.

 

[CelloDan]

This one I acquired recently. It was described as being of unknown origin, but due to its style and construction it's a corvo atacameño (atacameño < Atacama, the name of what is currently a region of Chile), probably from the time of the War of the Pacific (between Chile, Bolivia, and Perú, 1879-1884).

Fascinating !!!
Great to see and learn about Chilean criollo knives !
Thanks for sharing.

 

[kamagong]

The capybara has gone extinct!

It appears as if Maxi has a new signature. It looks nice, and I'm sure it'll be better for his brand's recognizability, but I for one will miss the old etch.

 

[CelloDan]

I for one will miss the old etch.

I too will miss the iconic capybara !

 

[cbach8tw]

The capybara has gone extinct!



It appears as if Maxi has a new signature. It looks nice, and I'm sure it'll be better for his brand's recognizability, but I for one will miss the old etch.

View attachment 2822636

Me too, it was a cool logo that caught my eye for his work.

 

[Trubetzkoy]

RIP capybara, you will be missed. In all seriousness though, crazy to think this thread started with Dan's verijero two years ago. Back then, I didn't have any gaucho knives; now, my wife rolls her eyes at me whenever a new one appears in the mail.

 

[cbach8tw]

viva el gaucho!

 

[kamagong]

RIP capybara, you will be missed. In all seriousness though, crazy to think this thread started with Dan's verijero two years ago. Back then, I didn't have any gaucho knives; now, my wife rolls her eyes at me whenever a new one appears in the mail.

Tell me about it. I have another one on the way. I wanted a smaller Arbolito that I could make into a user. When I found one the next city over I couldn't resist.

 

[kamagong]

I've been trying to source a Boker Arbolito 4218H, the 20 cm carbon steel gaucho knife with stag handle. I remember them being available even here in the US years ago, but they seem to have disappeared.

I found my 20 cm Arbolito. No longer sold here in the U.S., I thought I would have to concoct some scheme to get one from Argentina. Alas, there was no need. Fate smiled upon me, as I found this less than ten miles away.




Here she is next to her larger sibling.



Now I want to find an Arbolito with an older stamp. That and maybe a 28 cm blade, just like Hector Casales.

 

[kamagong]

I spent the night familiarizing myself with my new knife, and comparing her with the 25. Although the boxes, sheaths, and etch are identical, I noticed a couple of differences. First, the etch on the 20 is shallower than the one on the 25. Second, the bolster to blade transition is much more angular.



I wonder if these details are significant and if they might indicate which of these knives is older.

 

[CelloDan]

RIP capybara, you will be missed. In all seriousness though, crazy to think this thread started with Dan's verijero two years ago. Back then, I didn't have any gaucho knives; now, my wife rolls her eyes at me whenever a new one appears in the mail.

Your post made me smile mi amigo
You are putting together a very nice collection !
I only have 3 so far (my wife has not rolled her eyes at me yet )
Thanks for sharing your insights over the past couple years !

"I found my 20 cm Arbolito. No longer sold here in the U.S., I thought I would have to concoct some scheme to get one from Argentina. Alas, there was no need. Fate smiled upon me, as I found this less than ten miles away.

Awesome Christian, that is great !

Now I want to find an Arbolito with an older stamp. That and maybe a 30 cm blade, just like Hector Casales.

Man, that would be great !!!

Here is a video discussing the the different "cuños" or stamps used over the years
It is in Spanish however the close captions in English are not bad.

A couple of websites showing the different Arbolito stamps

ARBOLITO 20 CENTIMETROS (CRIOLLOS)

Sin lugar a dudas, en nuestro país, “Arbolito” es una de las marcas sinónimo de excelencia, calidad y prestigio, emblemática de las origina...

bacotacticoscuchillos.blogspot.com

ArmasBlancas

Armas Blancas - Una comunidad de aficionados, artesanos & coleccionistas de armas blancas

www.armasblancas.es

I wonder if these details are significant and if they might indicate which of these knives is older.

Interesting differences. I'll see what I can find.

I'll never forget the day my trusty Verijero arrived two years ago !
I felt a real "high" holding it for the first time, a "rush" like no other unboxing provided
Recalling the moment while looking at pictures and a little video of the unboxing brings a smile to my face

"Carpincho" ( for capybara in Spanish) released in the Canadian wilderness, meets snow for the first time

 

[kamagong]

I'll never forget the day my trusty Verijero arrived two years ago !
I felt a real "high" holding it for the first time, a "rush" like no other unboxing provided
Recalling the moment while looking at pictures and a little video of the unboxing brings a smile to my face

"Carpincho" ( for capybara in Spanish) released in the Canadian wilderness, meets snow for the first time

The carpincho, like all rodents, breeds quickly and relentlessly. That first one somehow became five. Even now it exercises a strong influence. I had bought my 20 cm Arbolito intending to make her a user, but there is really no point since she is so close in size I doubt she would do anything better than the carpincho.

So the 20 is going to stay in her box and I will use the 25. Maybe I can use it for pizza like RayseM . At the very least I can bring her to asados knowing I will likely have the biggest cuchillo.

 

[Trubetzkoy]

Times really flies. When I was a little boy, and then a teenager, I used to scoff at my parents and grandparents when they'd tell me so, but here I am...

kamagong 's and CelloDan 's comments about Böker's older gaucho knives and the corresponding stamps reminded me of two things. The first, that early 20th-century verijero that I missed and ended up selling for 60 bucks. FML. The second, a recent conversation I had with an acquaintance from Argentina who sells, restores, and reassembles old gaucho knives/parts, about the big German brands from back in the day (the so-called casas mayores 'major bands'). He was saying that the finest antique knives he'd ever held were by Herder, not Böker/Arbolito; and yet the latter became by far the bigger one of the two in Argentina. It makes me wonder to what extent marketing played a role, Böker having developed a trademark specifically for the South American market and even having opened a branch in Argentina.

Either way, I hope to some be able to procure an early Böker gaucho knife. I particularly like to a facón model/variant that was sold frequently with an acid-etched Böker blade (without the Arbolito trademark, interestingly) and Art-Deco style handle and sheath scabbard fittings marked "Coco", also manufactured in Germany. Here's an example I saw recently online (the etching is barely visible though):

 

[kamagong]

kamagong 's and CelloDan 's comments about Böker's older gaucho knives and the corresponding stamps reminded me...a recent conversation I had with an acquaintance from Argentina who sells, restores, and reassembles old gaucho knives/parts, about the big German brands from back in the day (the so-called casas mayores 'major bands'). He was saying that the finest antique knives he'd ever held were by Herder, not Böker/Arbolito; and yet the latter became by far the bigger one of the two in Argentina. It makes me wonder to what extent marketing played a role, Böker having developed a trademark specifically for the South American market and even having opened a branch in Argentina.

Interesting...I wouldn't turn my nose up at an old Herder, especially one with filework. I like the look of the spade, just like the little tree.

I'm sure marketing played a role, but it's one of those things we'll just never know. Then again, the Arbolito may have acquired its legendary status simply because more of them made their way to Argentina over the years which meant that more people developed a sentimental affection for the brand.

 

[A.L.]

Your post made me smile mi amigo
You are putting together a very nice collection !
I only have 3 so far (my wife has not rolled her eyes at me yet )
Thanks for sharing your insights over the past couple years !

Awesome Christian, that is great !


Man, that would be great !!!

Here is a video discussing the the different "cuños" or stamps used over the years
It is in Spanish however the close captions in English are not bad.

A couple of websites showing the different Arbolito stamps

ARBOLITO 20 CENTIMETROS (CRIOLLOS)

Sin lugar a dudas, en nuestro país, “Arbolito” es una de las marcas sinónimo de excelencia, calidad y prestigio, emblemática de las origina...

bacotacticoscuchillos.blogspot.com

ArmasBlancas

Armas Blancas - Una comunidad de aficionados, artesanos & coleccionistas de armas blancas

www.armasblancas.es

Interesting differences. I'll see what I can find.

I'll never forget the day my trusty Verijero arrived two years ago !
I felt a real "high" holding it for the first time, a "rush" like no other unboxing provided
Recalling the moment while looking at pictures and a little video of the unboxing brings a smile to my face

"Carpincho" ( for capybara in Spanish) released in the Canadian wilderness, meets snow for the first time

I want a capybara knife too >:3

 

[screened porch]

I want a capybara knife too >:3

Maybe he hasn't thrown out the stamp.

 

[CelloDan]

Either way, I hope to some be able to procure an early Böker gaucho knife

Too bad about the missed chance on that verijero.
You do have a knack for finding and spotting good knives ( and prices ) so I am sure it's just a matter of time before one early Boker criollo will find its way into your collection

I want a capybara knife too >:3

Yeah, I know what you mean, "carpinchos" are cool

The carpincho, like all rodents, breeds quickly and relentlessly. That first one somehow became five. Even now it exercises a strong influence.

Like I said, the "carpincho" is one very cool gaucho

 

[oldmanwilly]

Somehow Instagram has been suggesting posts by various craftsmen making what I assume are traditional leather crafts for Brazilian Gauchos. I'm not sure how this happened, but I'm not exactly complaining. I am puzzled, however, at the function and Genesis of this knife and sheath setup that I keep seeing over and over again:

Looks like good leather work to me and a handy pairing, typically including what appears to be an inexpensive carbon steel butcher/skinning knife. But, why so large? Especially when worn like this:

I have worked cattle on horseback and otherwise many times and the last thing I would think to bring is a canoe paddle to shove into my belt. I can't see that being anything more than a major annoyance; constantly getting caught on ropes and brush and getting smacked by my elbow.

Am I missing something here? Are there some methods used by Brazilian Gauchos that are not used by the Argentines that make this set up desirable? Is it just a tradition that developed and persists simply because it is a tradition? Or is it a new trend?