Need opinions on this Spanish Navaja, please

M

mykem

Joined
Feb 23, 2001
Messages
294
Hi guys,

I'm hoping to find someone who owns or has owned one of these knives.

Here it is on youtube. The knife in question starts at the 6:25 mark of the video. The vid is in Russian. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Iu8JKz9_s

The knife is described thusly on ebay;

NAVAJA BANDOLERA CARRACA

Navaja Bandolera Clásica Española carraca de 6 muelles,* fabricada por Martinez .Albainox . Hoja en acero inoxidable 440 de 11*cm. seguro palanquilla. Virola inox. Puño en madera roja. Medida total abierta 27 cm."

( link to ebay auction removed)

The seller insists it's made in Spain, not China but who knows these days.

Because of it's relatively low price it will be easy for people to say, "Piece of crap, Chinese knockoff," and so on.

That's why I'm hoping to find someone who has some experience with it.

To be honest, I just like the looks of it and the fact that it's a ratchet lock. I found a video of it and counted six "clicks" as it was opened up, so I have to say it is a real ratchet locking knife.

Thanks.
 
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i know nothing about the knife, however i read the link (I'm pretty sure putting a link might be against the rules, just fyi) if it is fake they are going a long way to prove that it is not. For one it is shipping from Girona in Catalunya, Spain. additionally, on the listing itself it says its authorized by the spanish civil guard. also the seller has great feedback.

one thing to note is that this knife is cheap because thats exactly what you are getting. a cheap knife (this is coming from a spaniard) by no means is it "junk" but it will be outdated and average quality compared to folders we see nowadays. To be honest most knives coming from china would have better fit and finish than most knives coming from Spain. (there are always exceptions)
 
AlvaroDPD said:
i know nothing about the knife, however i read the link (I'm pretty sure putting a link might be against the rules, just fyi) if it is fake they are going a long way to prove that it is not. For one it is shipping from Girona in Catalunya, Spain. additionally, on the listing itself it says its authorized by the spanish civil guard. also the seller has great feedback.

one thing to note is that this knife is cheap because thats exactly what you are getting. a cheap knife (this is coming from a spaniard) by no means is it "junk" but it will be outdated and average quality compared to folders we see nowadays. To be honest most knives coming from china would have better fit and finish than most knives coming from Spain. (there are always exceptions)
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Alvaro,

Muy interasante. Gracias!

And now that I've all but exhausted my Spanish, let me thank you again. :)

Maybe we'll get lucky and find someone who has had their hands on one but for some reason I have the feeling we won't.

I do appreciate the overall insight you provided me. I learn something every time I come here. Good people make a good forum.
 
No problem I'm by no means an expert! Just my own personal opinion mixed with my own personal experience. I think the knife will be fine if you want it visually. My concerns arise if your thinking this could be a great knife to "use".

There are some guys on here that have alot of experiences with these knives (the Navaja) that is. Hopefully they get on and see this post!

Keep practicing Spanish is a great language! ( no bias here whatsoever!)
 
AlvaroDPD said:
No problem I'm by no means an expert! Just my own personal opinion mixed with my own personal experience. I think the knife will be fine if you want it visually. My concerns arise if your thinking this could be a great knife to "use".

There are some guys on here that have alot of experiences with these knives (the Navaja) that is. Hopefully they get on and see this post!

Keep practicing Spanish is a great language! ( no bias here whatsoever!)
Click to expand...

Spanish is a wonderful language.

A Cuban friend of mine, a businessman, gave something, absolutely free to another Cuban and the guy he gave it to made some little complaint, and my friend said something to him that made the guy apologize profusely.

Later I asked him what he said. He told me, "I said, 'When a man gives you a horse, don't count the horse's teeth."

I knew horses tend to lose teeth as they age but was still puzzled until the lightbulb went on in my head.

He told the guy, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

Yes, I love Spanish! It's a great language.
 
For that price, the steel is probably very poor quailty, like a Navaja that I had. Also the brass pin, towards the back of the handle, often sits high enough, so that it comes in contact with the blade when folded. If you close the knife too hard, it chips out the blade in that spot.
 
I don't have a Bandolera brand Navaja, but I have something that I think is similar made by Cuchilleria Joker in Albacete, Spain. As has already been said, it's entirely possible that these knives originate in Spain. That's where my Joker came from, but these knives in the $30-$60 price range really aren't that great. I got mine because I wanted to feel the shape and weight of a "sort off" classic Navaja in my hand...and play with the ratcheting lock tab. If you're buying it to see how the Navaja style feels in hand, I think you'll be fine. If you're buying it to be a user, I think you'll end up being disappointed.

Maybe someday I'll be able to buy a true Navaja, but I wouldn't expect to do so online without handling it first. The true, handcrafted Navajas are quite expensive.
 
I don't think you are being fooled. As Hackenslash said there are a number of Navajas that are quite cheap. But they look stylish and can get a feeling for the pattern itself. I only have one and it's Joker as well in olive wood. It's quite alright F&F wise but it has a bit of up and down play and the steel is 440. Combined with the handle shape it's not a user. More a tastesample! :-)

Origin%20RR%20Joker.jpg

Her together with a French Tickler from RR. Navaja is the mother of both this pattern and the Laguiole

/ J
 
Llasi said:
This knife is Chinese.
Martínez Albainox = Chinese.
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Hi Llasi,

I found several retailers in Spain who sell this same knife. All of them say it is made in Spain. I can find no evidence anywhere that says it is made in China.

Now, I'm not saying it's not made in China. It may be made in China, I don't know. But could you provide me with a little more evidence other than, "This knife is Chinese. Martínez Albainox = Chinese."

That just doesn't tell me much.

Thanks.
 
Sorry had to remove the link to the live auction. We do not allow that for obvious reasons of a lot of past abuse.

Navajas can run the gamut from excellent to "my money would be better spent on something else" I would try to check out that version in person before making the dive on ebay.
 
Big fan of Navajas.

You'll find some real ones on the Aceros de Hispania website, a reputable dealer I have used in Spain. The Navaja being a regionel design, they have a pretty good selection in their "Stilettos" section.

Martínez Albainox is NOT Chinese to the best of my knowledge. I'd need to see proof of that.
 
Bastid said:
Sorry had to remove the link to the live auction. We do not allow that for obvious reasons of a lot of past abuse.

Navajas can run the gamut from excellent to "my money would be better spent on something else" I would try to check out that version in person before making the dive on ebay.
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My apologies for posting that link. It won't happen again. And thank you for not being "heavy handed" about it. I made the mistake out of ignorance. But now I know. :)

And thanks for the advice about getting my hands on one before buying. Believe me, I've been looking around but, short of going to Spain, I don't think I'll be able to.
 
mykem said:
Llasi,

Waiting to hear from you to find out how you know this knife is made in China.

Thanks.
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Hi.
Well, I´m not really interested in stopping anyone to purchase a particular knife. I firmly believe that everybody is perfectly free to do whatever he wants to do with his money. So, go a buy a navaja from Martinez Albainox. Beautiful, shiny, big, noisy. If you like it, go and buy. Not that bad for such a cheap folder.
But if you really are asking for opinions, mine is that if you want to get a genuine Spanish navaja, better look for it in a Spanish manufacturer. Martínez Albainox isn´t a manufacturer, but a distributor. Perfectly legitimate and fair business. In fact, Mr. Martinez has never tried to get the recognition of the warranty trademark "AB-Cuchillería de Albacete" (you can google it, and check the manufacturers entitled to use it).
Probably because none of its marketed brands are made in Spain, but mostly in China. In fact, one of the reasons of the bad image of this company is that it´s importing chinese knock-offs of traditional and cheap Spanish models made by small family-owned factories, at much lower prices. Take for example the “Extremeña” and “Pallés” brands. But in this particular case I wouldn´t call the folder a fake, because it´s a common model that´s been made for a long time by a great number of manufacturers. It´s just a China made folder. Not bad, just Chinese.
Please, take into account that I´m in no way bashing this company, among other reasons, because as far as I know, they´ve never said especifically that their knives are made in Spain. I´ve never read or heard them claiming to commercialize Spanish made knives.
They´re just distributors, running a fair business, and at least in Spain, everyone (knife people, of course) knows the kind of products marketed by Albainox.
And regarding proofs, try and ask for any Albainox cutlery seller to prove that the knives are made in Spain.
Just my 2 cents.
Best regards.
 
Yep. I am from Barcelona, Spain.
In our country everyone knows Albainox imports cheap Chinese crap aimed for tourists and such, teenagers and people who have no idea about the knife industry. They are the "Spanish MTech" or "United Cutlery with different name in Spain", we could say.
Spanish CEO, Chinese manufacturing and QC, they are the worst junk in the market.
 
Can you name some sources for an authentic Navaja? I'd like a nice one some day...
 
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