Quality inexpensive Spanish Navaja ,which brand?

After the last three machetes, I was ready to try a few that were a little higher end. These are a little bit nicer, and a little more expensive, but the finish is still a bit rough. Regardless, I am happy with them as they are pretty unique.

Francisco Valencia with Tapitas and carbon steel.

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Francisco Valencia with an internal spring, although it doesn't create tension on the blade. It works the the same way as the others, just made slightly different. This one has what they call partridge eyes and stainless blade.

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Last, a not so inexpensive custom by Julian Panadero. Tapitas with San Mai VG-10 blade. This was about the price of an average GEC Northfield at dealer pricing, and also has outstanding fit and finish. It's unfortunate that the others don't reach this level of fit and finish.

One thing I forgot to mention is that all of the J.J. Martinez and Francisco Valencia navajas have what appears to be a plastic spacer at the center spring pin inside, while the customs have metal. The customs still rest on the metal in the blade well, so adding a strip of leather is important

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Finally, a group shot

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The one navaja that I was able to obtain here in the US is this Joker in the Sevillian style. I've heard Joker is hit and miss as far as their quality goes. I bought two of these, sent one back and probably should have sent this one back too. I'd say this has the worst quality of all the Spanish navajas I've handled. It looks neat, and is more of a novelty, but not well made.

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Here you can see the handle is bent. The bolsters and liners are one piece of cast brass. Large gaps between the spring, liners and wood covers.

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They crinked the blade in the center so it would sit in the blade well but it still touches the liner on one side when closed.

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The wood slabs are so poorly fitted, they even added some wood putty to all the ends where they meet the brass bolsters.

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Despite it's poor construction, it is still an interesting knife but better examples at a similar price point could probably be found.
 
Here is a pair of J.J Martinez navajas in bull horn with partridge eyes. Both stainless steel, one with an internal spring. These have better fit and finish than the other ones I have of this brand. I came to the conclusion that it partly depends on the dealer as to if you'll get a good one or not.

These both come in a large and small size, these are the small ones with the blades coming in at approximately 3.5".

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One thing that seems to be persistent with Spanish navajas is the ever present clasp style lock with palanquilla. These seem so pervasive in Spain that I've even seen modern Spanish customs with this type of lock, bedecked in carbon fiber and Damascus steel. They are typically constructed one of two ways, curved and bent or flat and rolled. The rolled ones seem a little nicer to me.

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Here you can see that even with the nicely filed spring, the finish is unpolished.
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Overall, if you can live with a few warts, these are actually pretty nice, unique knives and fun to collect without breaking the bank
 
Some Navajas used to dwarf knives like the Espada XL (7.5in). I bought that knife, because I wanted a very beautiful but modern reproduction of the Navaja, a knife I have been lusting after since I got into knives, trying to replicate with a $15 Amazon-China-brand clasp-Verlangerungsmesser style folding clasp bowie, on a slipjoint action but the clasp folds up and acts as a lock. What happened to clasp knives?

I want the traditional Navaja. Somewhere between 9 and 15 inches of blade length, these would be. I am afraid some of the larger ones may not be the most stable, what with all that blade to what amounts to an Okapi ring-lock, right? But (read this quote earlier on the forums and stole it), it's the magician, not the wand, right? These existed and were trusted before, why not now with better materials and better craftsmanship?

Do you guys think anybody would custom-make me a large, traditional Navaja?
(I am just asking aloud to anyone who knows anything, traditional knives and custom knives are still a huge and vast unexplored word for me that I am just getting into)
 
That Joker looks so legit, but is evidently constructed poorly. I would like to find a Navaja with quality build, but that is not pretending to be a pocketknife.
 
Hashishiin said:
Some Navajas used to dwarf knives like the Espada XL (7.5in). I bought that knife, because I wanted a very beautiful but modern reproduction of the Navaja, a knife I have been lusting after since I got into knives, trying to replicate with a $15 Amazon-China-brand clasp-Verlangerungsmesser style folding clasp bowie, on a slipjoint action but the clasp folds up and acts as a lock. What happened to clasp knives?

I want the traditional Navaja. Somewhere between 9 and 15 inches of blade length, these would be. I am afraid some of the larger ones may not be the most stable, what with all that blade to what amounts to an Okapi ring-lock, right? But (read this quote earlier on the forums and stole it), it's the magician, not the wand, right? These existed and were trusted before, why not now with better materials and better craftsmanship?

Do you guys think anybody would custom-make me a large, traditional Navaja?
(I am just asking aloud to anyone who knows anything, traditional knives and custom knives are still a huge and vast unexplored word for me that I am just getting into)
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Yes, you can find these types of navajas still, but for something like that, which will be well made and have your life depend upon it, you would be wise to go with a custom maker and it won't be cheap. These types of locks are actually much stronger than you think
 
draggat said:
Yes, you can find these types of navajas still, but for something like that, which will be well made and have your life depend upon it, you would be wise to go with a custom maker and it won't be cheap. These types of locks are actually much stronger than you think
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I was wondering about that lock, I only have one knife with a ratcheting lock, a Cold Steel Kudu (Okapi) knife, and I was checking out the lock because I was giving one as a gift to my fiancee's kid brother and wanted to make sure it was all good. It seems very secure.

This is wonderful to know that it can be done. Thank you. Yes, these smaller Navajas are beautiful, and I may actually get one as an EDC utility pocket knife just because I enjoy the style, but I want the real deal. Yes, it seems custom is the way to go.

I haven't even seen many pictures of the type of Navaja I would like. It will be a great idea for my first custom knife.
 
I've always like the navaja style knives, and have acquired a couple over the past years. The problem is you can't put them in your pocket because they won't stay closed.....
Both have significant freeplay, which allows the blade to open enough to cause a serious problem if you were to reach into your pocket.
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Do they all do this?
 
Arathol said:
I've always like the navaja style knives, and have acquired a couple over the past years. The problem is you can't put them in your pocket because they won't stay closed.....
Both have significant freeplay, which allows the blade to open enough to cause a serious problem if you were to reach into your pocket.
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Do they all do this?
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Some of mine are very tight and I've had a few get loose like that. It's fairly easy to fix, especially if it has a proud pivot pin like the one on the bottom. Hold the navaja so that just the pivot pin is resting on something solid metal and then tap the other side of the pin with the round side of a ball pien hammer. It may take a few whacks, but it will tighten up.
 
draggat said:
Some of mine are very tight and I've had a few get loose like that. It's fairly easy to fix, especially if it has a proud pivot pin like the one on the bottom. Hold the navaja so that just the pivot pin is resting on something solid metal and then tap the other side of the pin with the round side of a ball pien hammer. It may take a few whacks, but it will tighten up.
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Not a problem with the pivot pin, they were like that since new. Hammering on the pin until the blade can't move isn't a viable answer. The problem is crappy design. There is no engagement in the ratchet when closed, no tension to hold it closed at all. An extra tooth or two to extend the ratcheting mechanism would eliminate the problem. I would not want a knife in my pocket that may or may not open by itself. If you intend to carry one, get a leather pouch to put it in.....
 
Arathol said:
Not a problem with the pivot pin, they were like that since new. Hammering on the pin until the blade can't move isn't a viable answer. The problem is crappy design. There is no engagement in the ratchet when closed, no tension to hold it closed at all. An extra tooth or two to extend the ratcheting mechanism would eliminate the problem. I would not want a knife in my pocket that may or may not open by itself. If you intend to carry one, get a leather pouch to put it in.....
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Yes, I understand. I have one with the ratcheting teeth that I haven't posted yet and it doesn't engage until it begins to open either. All of these are basically friction folders until locked open, so tightening the pivot gives it some resistance to opening. You don't want to tighten it so much that it is difficult to open, but enough that you can't just shake the blade open. The maker should have tightened it in the first place.

I agree, carrying in a leather pouch is the way to go.
 
draggat said:
Yes, I understand. I have one with the ratcheting teeth that I haven't posted yet and it doesn't engage until it begins to open either. All of these are basically friction folders until locked open, so tightening the pivot gives it some resistance to opening. You don't want to tighten it so much that it is difficult to open, but enough that you can't just shake the blade open. The maker should have tightened it in the first place.

I agree, carrying in a leather pouch is the way to go.
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It would be great if a company came about that would improve upon the locking system and give it a bit of a detent for assistance staying closed. Some modern improvements to the ratchet lock system.
 
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