spanisch "navaja" clasp knife

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surfer

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Hello from Spain!
Can anybody give me some information about the "navaja" in everyday use? I'm thinking to buy a "navaja", but don't know anything about quality.
Here the navajas cost between 20 Euros for a small tourist version, to 50 euros for a bigger (about 13" open) version in 440, to 90 Euros for a Big knife (over 16" open) and over 120 for a handmade beauty...
like the original fighting navaja is about 16" or over, I want a big one! but what about the usability? lock up strengh? Every info on the navaja is wellcome!

The search function don't work, so I can't find much info.

thanks a lot

surfer
 
Hello

I like the Navajas as well, at least from what I see. Never actually held a REAL one. Seen a few knock-offs but nothing genuine.
 
As you whould do with any knife, get the very best you can afford.
Take special care in selecting the axis, since they are designed to be flicked open, and being such a big blade it takes much stress.
If you can afford a custom one that has no fancy features, so much the better, because that is what a spanish would buy.
My favorites have bulls horns slabs. They are colour black and very nice to the hand, but pretty expensive. Just ask for them, and don´t go to a shop that is close to a tourist path, or you may buy it way overpriced and of inferior quality. Avoid any made in Toledo.
If you are in Barcelona, e-mail me and I will tell you where to go.
If not, sorry, I can´t be more specific.
Jaime.
 
Toledo had a few centuries ago quite a good reputation around europe for making excellent swords. Nowdays, they produce huge swords for tourists and not much more of interest. They are basically very beautiful, useless and expensive pieces of cutlery. Albacete produces cheap knives that are ment to be used every day.
The first knife in the pictures is the classical design for every day use. You can easily find that model at any size you like.
The second one looks good, but if you are looking for something proven spanish from centuries ago, that thing is as close as Mickey Mouse of being Iberian.
The last knife is called Capadora, met to cut the bull´s balls. Not too used nowdays.
When I was a boy most of the folding knives I got to use where quite like the first one in the pics, and they were very good to make traps and to eat with. They are great skinners and all around knives. I really recomend them.
The prices on that link, as you may expect, are way too high. The most expensive knife there should be 70euros, and the cheapest one maybe 20.
As a side note I recomend you to take a look at Muela folding knives. They are all hand finished, and at a price you may not believe. They are very well reputed, as are their fixed blades, and have an incredibly extensive catalog of products, for any use, any finish you are looking for, from tactical tantos to exposition handmade 6.000$ knives.
Jaime.
 
¡Hola surfer!¡Viva Andalucía! ;) I own several navajas from cheap crude models to big ratcheting models. The Spanish brands I own are from Muela, Andújar, Exposito and Cuchillería Sami. I must admit, I don't carry one everyday, but once in a while, I'll carry this one and use it on occasion. I really like the blade shape and doesn't frighten people like the bigger 6 and 7 inch blade models. :D
One day, I'd like to get a custom model myself, but alas, I'm across the Atlantic now and haven't put serious thought in acquiring one yet.

For the North American market www.cutlerytogo.com has an okay selection of Spanish knives, but they are overpriced. I also agree with Jaime on Toledo once being "THE" place in all of Europe to turn to for the best swords, but nowadays most of the stuff made there is suitable for hanging on a wall, not for actual use.
 
Thanks a lot!
That ones from sami look good and here I saw them in some shops. Do you know what kind of steel they use? I think it will be at least 440 A? If they're really handmade their price is great!

regards from spain

surfer
 
Hola Jaime!
this weekend I passed by a knifeshop in málaga (not a tourist one, but hided in the deepest old town "barrio", and could not resist..
after trying a few ones I decided for that one
http://www.cutlerytogo.com/navsevhor.html
an exposito albacete navaja sevillana. It's BIG, everytime I look at it lying in my house, I'm impressed again about it's size, opened nearly 12". In the shop i checked it's sharpness and maybe the old man saw in my face some disapointment (it was not hairpopping, but good) and grinded it to DEADLY sharp.. ;) it hurted me to se him grinding away nearly 1mm, but he ist the professional..
I was impressed about the price here, cutlerytogo.com want's 110$, here it costs between 55 Euro and 61 Euro (in an other shop closer to the tourist center).
I compared it to an other big navaja from ANDUJAR, but there ist no comparison. the exposito is a beauty, and made to use, not just a wallhanger.

saludos de españa

surfer
 
Me alegro de que encontrases lo que buscabas...
It is a very nice knife and looks functional. Congratulations!.
The sharpening matter in pretty much the same all around spain. There are very few individuals who sharpen by hand, but every knife seller is a very skilled grinder.
Enjoy your new knife!.
Nos vemos.
Jaime.
 
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