Quality inexpensive Spanish Navaja ,which brand?

I don't know enough to give you a meaningful survey of the field. I do have a couple of examples to get you started. Or not. You may well know more than I do already.

A few people here have these Pallares Solsona knives; quite inexpensive and inexpensively made, but I kind of like 'em, especially the leaf blade. You might be able to find the leaf blade singly, but these came as a pair only. The blade is held by the plastic scales directly, with no liners.
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My other one is an Aitor Castor. It also hs a leaf blade and a fish tail handle(I think that's the term for it). It is much more substantial than the Pallares, with bubinga covers and steel liners. The spring is quite fierce, but nevertheless the blade pinches open quite easily. It is the second knife from the left in this crappy cell photo.
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I assume you are looking for knives in this style and not just any Navaja, a term which could apply to any folding knife.

I believe that Pallares has some higher quality offerings. Aitor appears to be a pretty big company that sells a wide range of folders in many styles.
 
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I have one from Joker in Spain, that I find of pretty good quality, with 440C blade and olivewood and brass handles.
 
I don't have any good suggestions, but a caution. I ordered an Aitor Castor not too long ago and was very disappointed. I was prepared for a strong backspring from the many reviews, but the one I received was unusable. I couldn't open the blade by hand, at all. Along with a huge gap between the scale and liner, it was returned almost immediately. I did try to flush out the joint and oil it up, but it was just atrocious. I still would like to pick one up, because I liked the looks and it fit well in my hand, but I would only buy one I could handle in person or trust the seller to check it out before sending.
Bruce
 
I have seen few Barbudo navajas,they look awesome and quality product.Does anyone have one of these?Do they ship to foreign countries?
 
lonestar1979 said:
Does anyone have jj martinez navaja,how are they,how about esposito or joker?
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lonestar, I have 3 knives from JJ Martinez. 2 are Spanish Sodbuster Jrs (navaja de campaña), 1 with wood and 1 with stag handle. The other is called a marinera, with a spearpoint blade and ABS plastic covers with an anchor "shield" and a small bail. Here are some pics:
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The first two have inox blades (even though I ordered carbon steel in each case!), while the third is carbon steel (1055, IIRC). My impression is they're intended to be inexpensive work knives, and they're built that way: solid, but not very refined fit and finish.

I also have 3 knives made by Joker. One is large with olive wood covers and carbon steel blade, the other two are smaller with bull horn covers and stainless blades. More photos:
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These knives cost more than those from JJ Martinez, and I think they're built better (although the last one pictured has some significant liner gaps).

My daughter lives in Spain and I bought the first, fourth, and fifth knives pictured when I went to visit her. She ordered the second and third knives from a Spanish website at my request and brought them to me when she came home for a visit this summer. The last knife was a gift she brought me a year ago, bought while she was traveling in Spain. All 6 knives are good ones, in my opinion, and they have additional sentimental value. But I don't know anything about shipping policies to the US, etc.

- GT
 
lonestar1979 said:
I have seen few Barbudo navajas,they look awesome and quality product.Does anyone have one of these?Do they ship to foreign countries?
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Is my “Machete Ribera del Duero”, with handle made from wine barrel (Ribera del Duero) french oak. “Machete” is a traditional spanish pattern.
Miguel Barbudo is one of my favourites knife makers now in spain, and he has good products with good prices. All handmade.
I think he ship to everywhere, but you can contact to him. Is a nice person. And, if I can help you, only send me a PM.






​

And here is my JJ Martinez working. In kingwood. Good knives made in Spain by Martinez family with a mínimum Price.

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And sorry about my english, friends. I try...​
 
Difeasy,how are those Barbudo navajas?I contacted the maker and might be ordering one,I like the materials and thinner blades,but have also seen one stag navaja from Cudeman for about 30e that I like,but am not sure of quality.
 
difeasy said:
Is my “Machete Ribera del Duero”, with handle made from wine barrel (Ribera del Duero) french oak. “Machete” is a traditional spanish pattern.
Miguel Barbudo is one of my favourites knife makers now in spain, and he has good products with good prices. All handmade.
I think he ship to everywhere, but you can contact to him. Is a nice person. And, if I can help you, only send me a PM.
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Those are pretty cool! Thanks.
 
Lonestar1979, Barbudo is awesome, as you said. About Cudeman, to be honest, I haven´t got any knife, but is a known brand here in Spain. It´s fine. Of course, you can not comapare with GEC, Queen even Case. That´s why I come to this fórum…
Order both is the best option, in my opinion. You will have a good factory knife with your Cudeman and you will have an special handmade spanish knife with soul in the case of Barbudo.

Thanks to you, donutsrule.

5K Qs, I love your “Marinera”. Is what we call “navaja de toda la vida”. My father used one like that when I was a child and now I´ll buy another one to my son to go fishing with him. Cheap knives not too refined, but strong and good, to use generation after genaration. And made here by a family that understands and respects this tradition as a way of life.
 
difeasy said:
...
5K Qs, I love your “Marinera”. Is what we call “navaja de toda la vida”. My father used one like that when I was a child and now I´ll buy another one to my son to go fishing with him. Cheap knives not too refined, but strong and good, to use generation after genaration. And made here by a family that understands and respects this tradition as a way of life.
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Thanks for your comments, difeasy! :) That JJ Martinez marinera is probably the best 10 euros I ever spent on a knife. Here's a later picture that shows the patina the knife has developed as I've enjoyed using it.
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difeasy said:
...
And here is my JJ Martinez working. In kingwood. Good knives made in Spain by Martinez family with a mínimum Price.


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And sorry about my english, friends. I try...
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I love YOUR JJ Martinez, too, difeasy! :thumbup:
And your English is good (infinitely better than my Spanish :(), but your knives are even better!

- GT
 
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How are Celaya navajas?They are inexpensive and have a lot of simple models in carbon steel.I like the simplicity of those,are they made in Spain,how is quality?
 
These Celayas are inexpensive and made of wood entirely,with clip point blades in different sizes.Looks like a nice beater knife!
 
Flamenca 110 mm!,Have ordered Joker navaja clasica with bone handle and Cudeman knife,untill I get Flamenca.
 
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