Navaja?

R

RedEdge77

Joined
Jul 13, 2005
Messages
2,303
Can someone give me the 101 on these knives. I did a search and came up to some stuff but would like to know more. Also where would you find one of these type of knives?

Thanks for putting up with my bothersome questions:o :)
 
This is a good topic, in which I've had quite a bit of interest for some time (ever since I was a kid. I saw a Sherlock Holmes show/movie on TV where one guy used a big, ratcheting Navaja, and I thought it was neat).

Does anyone have a recommendation as to which company or manufacturer makes a quality product, or which ones to avoid?

Peace.
 
can someone elaborate on this 'racheting" action some navaja's have? What is the history behind why they had this (whick I am assuming is merely a click-click sound they made before the lock engaged). Anyone?
 
From what I've read in catalogs, and in one old encyclopedia, the click of the Navaja was a very frightening sound, mainly because of the fact that the gypsy wielding it might kill you if you didn't have any money on you.
 
Check out an old movie called "The Pride and the Passion". It takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. In it Cary Grant gets into a knife fight with a gypsy using navajas the size of folding pruning saws. Sophia Loren was really looking hot in that one. It was made in 1957.
 
There's plenty of printed info in Spanish, a Google search should bring some. I'm including two pictures form a book that I have, the cover and an example where you can see the ratchet (from Seville XIX century, it says 36 cm which is about 14 inches but it does not say if open or closed).

My book says the navaja in this form appeared at the beginning of the XVII century but there is mention of folding navajas for defensive use since at least the mid XVI century.

There are many still made in Spain, some are very good, some are cheap and/or tourist stuff, I've heard Albacete is a good place to get one.

Luis

jq6ffc.jpg


jq6hde.jpg
 
Don Luis,

Very nice photos. Mr. Clark of the movie you speak of Mr. Grant fights with a Spanish Partisan fighter not a gypsy, the movie is based on the book "The Gun" by C.S. Forrester. My Father was very proud of that movie because it showed a navaja but was also disappointed that it dipicted an English soldier killing a Spanish fighter with his own traditional weapon. A better movie is "The Mission" when Robert Deniro properly uses his navaja with his sword to kill his own brother.

Sgtp the ratchets of the navaja are to prevent the user from closing the knife on their fingers. In Catalan the knife is called the Carraca due to the sound it makes.

For all the Exposito brand I believe is above all others being offered on the intenet. I perfer them above all others. Unless of course you can afford a trip to Albacete and have one made!

Bilbanito
 
Navajas are the traditional Spanish folding knife. Like American slipjoints, there are a few different patterns:

-Albaceteña, probably the best known onw, with the curved handle and a blade similar to a clip point.

-Capaoras, similar to Albacete navajas but with a broader blade with lots of belly. "Capar", the verb from which the name of the knife comes, means to castrate.

-Machete, one of my favourite patterns. It has a spear point blade and a rectangular or slightly oval handle (looks like a very big and fancy SAK). They make awesome users and the smaller ones are beautifull gentleman's knives.

-Taconcillo, with a spear point blade and the traditional curved handle.

There are a lot more variations, these are the ones I own. I bought them on a trip to Spain in a place called Cuchillería Simón, which is one of the oldest knife stores in Madrid, they have several very good makers working for them in Albacete.

There are some excellent custom navaja makers, my favourite is Mr. Expósito. He does some excellent work. I have his card somewhere... I'll post his contact info when I find it.

I don't know if there are any good places online to buy navajas, I wouldn't buy them from one of the big Spanish production knife companies. Hand made ones aren't much more expensive and are a lot nicer.
 
Just an OT comment, the Mission was a great movie. Check it out if you can. All I remember is his sword, I forget the Navaja.
 
Mr. silenthunterstudios,

When the two brothers are clenched, Robert Deniro flips his navaja with his left hand and performs a thrust to his brother's belly. In another scene after he reaches the village one of the male villagers uses the same navaja to cut the rope tied to his armor.

Recently I watched Van Heilsing and the Gypsy Princess/ Vampire slayer keeps and uses a long navaja on her outer left boot.

Bilbanito
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top