Guilty pleasure, Navaja repro

[oregon]

Navaja, spanish for knife.

This giant repro is solid, very heavy and the ratchet locks the blade open at various angles. $17 at OKCA last weekend. I cannot find a flaw in its construction, fit or finish. Terrific bludgeon, inexpensive, quite sharp and real work to carry.

It is not a JJ Martinez but it kind of gets me in the mood for one.

Anyone carry a classic ratcheting Navaja?

oregon

 

[Arathol]

I have a 4 3/4" stag handled Martinez here on the computer desk right now, along with a 6" olive wood Esparcia. They are nice pieces, but I wouldn't put either one of these ratchets in my pocket ever. The one thing I have observed with the ones I've handled is that they don't stay closed. The ratchet mechanism allows the blade to open slightly, exposing in the case of the Martinez the point and about 1 inch of the edge. The Esparcia is much worse. The blade freely opens until the point is about 2" from the handle, at which point the first ratchet tooth engages. Theres nothing to keep the blade closed and contained inside the handle while in your pocket.

 

[Arathol]

heres a pic of the Martinez

 

[oregon]

Beautiful! Thank you kindly for the pic.

Stainless, brass pins and stag are a great combination. Do you use the knife at all?

Thank you for the tip that a failing common to this type of knife is that it won't stay closed in the pocket. Ouch. Now I see that mine has no "keep closed" mechanism as well.

oregon

 

[Arathol]

I've had this knife for several years, haven't used it much at all. Not because its not a good knife, but because of the opening problem. You just can't carry it in your pocket safely.

 

[sixgunner455]

Beautiful! Thank you kindly for the pic.

Stainless, brass pins and stag are a great combination. Do you use the knife at all?

Thank you for the tip that a failing common to this type of knife is that it won't stay closed in the pocket. Ouch. Now I see that mine has no "keep closed" mechanism as well.

oregon

You have a pocket that thing will fit in!?!?

 

[oregon]

You have a pocket that thing will fit in!?!?

Of course I do. I buy my pants at Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey big top big and tall.

The guilty pleasure is the hughness of this piece. I have no business with such a big knife but I went ahead and bot it anyway. If you think this one is stupid you should see my bohemoth Opinel which is more like an oar than a knife.

You know, I think what happened to me was that I saw the tribute to Toledo at OKCA and particularly liked the antique Navaja in that collection. You don't see these knives that often. And, good ones cost real money. Some day maybe.

oregon