Spanish blades, some info and loooots of pics :D

well, have been beating on the com-g-16 and it is holding up. It may be that the 2 pins in the handle are actually securing a full tang, always thought it was a half tang but the only way to know for sure would be to destroy the handle and I do like the handle, so it will stay as is. The sheath on the Rhino proved to be a bit bothersome with that snap at the throat snagging the guard on the draw, so I made a kydex sheath for it and modified the stock sheath, cutting off the snap at the throat and riveting a strap. Will post shots later.
 
Awesome collection! When I went to Spain a couple years ago to visit family, I picked up a couple knives. A Cudeman in Toledo and a ratcheting Navaja in Santiago. You definitely need a folder to round out your collection. And I'm sure you already know, but the larger the folder, the better. Traditionally, outlaws used them in Spain and would sometimes carry ones with 6"-7"+ blades. The one I have is much smaller but I've been trying to track down a monster Navaja for a while. Also, the "carraca" (ratcheting) mechanism is a traditional characteristic. Some newer reproductions won't have it. Makes an awesome sound when operating the knife.
 
Matter of fact, I'm waiting for a shipment from Spain that will bring a Cudeman traditional folder with carraca amongst other knives. I have my eye on an artisanal "pastora" style pocket knife with bull horn handle from artisan Luis Vergara, sporting a carraca, and also a Celaya "bandolera" with a 6" blade...but I have put myself on a "knife diet" until April at least :D
 
yea, as soon as I get this new shipment i will post photos of them plus the ones that have had mods or new sheaths.
 
well, while I'm still waiting for that shipment, I've been busy with the ones I have. As much as I like the first leather sheath made by me for the Arocho, I decided to make a right-hander for it. Tooled Herman Oak leather, double loop leather lace stitching.

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I DO like Muela knives :D
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Been fascinated with the rhino since I got it a couple of weeks ago. Forgot to mention it's a departure from the most used stainless steel in Spain, Molibdenum-Vanadium (or MOVA) which has been compared to 440C. The Rhino is made out of Sandvik 14C28N with a high saber flat grind, my favorite grind. The only thing I didn't like about it is the way the sheath was made. Good concept, poor execution. The snap that secured the handle snagged the blade on the draw and insertion, and the straps are too tight to pass a belt thru them unless using only the top snap, which makes it a too loose scout carry. I came up with 2 solutions: modify stock, and kydex. The retention snap was cut off and a regular strap was riveted, adding a bungee to avoid accidental cuts to it. The side stitching will be taken off later to add a spacer at the base of the straps with a loop for firesteel later. The kydex was done with the intention of piggybacking it to my boomslang (work in progress) and tek-lok carry.

Stock sheath...shoulda taken a shot of it before modding but oh well...

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how it looks now

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Kydex, excellent fit, no rattle, no rub and some swag :D

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Finally, I stacked the handle of the Commando as I intended. I plan on really using this one and let it develop a natural patina on both the blade and handle.

It looked like this

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And now it looks like this

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So far it fits nicely in a SOG Seal Pup sheath, but leather will be done for it soon. Now, back to the tracking and waiting...
 
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Great collection!

Your mentioning the US cavalry catalog really took me back, wow. I remember they had Tekna knives shaped like credit cards and pens, and the whole hollow handled survival knife craze was in full swing back then.

And didn't they carry an Aitor survival knife, this one with a hollow handle and better made than most, plus the sheath (hard plastic) converted to a slingshot? Never held one but it struck me as a cool idea and it got good reviews I think.
 
Mikael W said:
Thanks for the pic's and the humor!:D:thumbup:
It's a great collection of Spanish cutlery and that's not shown too often.

Do You have a favorite user?


Regards
Mikael
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So far I have used often the Kodiak and the MT-1, but the Commando and Rhino will be getting heavy rotation. Too many knives, too little time hehehe. I am definitely going outdoor more this year, but no favorite - so far.
 
MassMatt, you are referring to the Aitor Jungle King, which is still being made by them and has a solid reputation - along with a hefty tag. I am still trying to decide wether or not to add a hollow handle to my collection, but all reviews on Spanish websites of the Jungle King are very favorable.
 
Nice collection and thank you for sharing! :thumbup:

I've always liked the look of a lot of what Muela offers (esp. the Rhino and Gazapo), but I never purchased one until I came across a "KMPIKA skinner" at a local Hardware Hank a few weeks ago - simple rubber-handled knife, $20. I bought it in part out of simple surprise at finding Muela stocked at a store in a town of ~1000 people! I doubt I could find another seller for hundreds of miles around.

My only other Spanish cutlery is a broadsword a close friend brought me from his semester in Madrid.

Again, thank you for sharing!
 
One of my first knives is a model of Muela, called Skorpion, all black bowie 7 inches blade with a black leather sheath, good quality overall, the spanish made knives are very common and somewhat affordable here in Mexico. Later, as I Learned more about knives and steels, I started ordering from the US (first Cold Steel and later ESEE and Spyderco) and have not looked back since.
 
JustSomeGuy, the MT-1 Handle is neither porous nor fully slick, so yeah, it cleans up pretty good. Poleaxe, I have to agree, the Coyote is one beautiful blade, thanks.
 
I go to Spain to visit my brother. Muela is pretty easy to find there at great prices if you look around. Here are their knives I've gotten over the years. I have used them all for camping and use the facon for cooking duty, all of them have held up quite well.

Kukri by Muela

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Nice boar knife aka light smatchet.

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This is a muela Escudero I got in 2004, also marketed as a boar knife. Not to many boars in Minnesota though :)

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A muela facon is the small knife. It has a full tang. The 2nd is present I got from a old GF, a big full tang bowie with a peened pommel; a extremely solid knife but a bit handle heavy with the full tang.

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zuluninja said:
Muela Commando. I do like these knives, but prefer the older versions as they are thicker and have a full rat tail tang. This one is a newer version that I took the rubber handle off to discover it was a half tang riveted to a pommel extension :thumbdn:. The hardware is not brass. Made a mold and poured epoxy mixed with glow-in-the-dark powder, polished blade

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more...
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Do You mean the threaded pommelscrew was riveted to a halflenght tang?

I've seen a tang like that made by an ABS Mastersmith.

I experiment with the technique, as welding in an already hardened steel seems more difficult.
Using a bolt and a nut gives a mechanical assembly, that seems to give a very strong connection between the handle and blade.
I think the method requires a handlematerial that is stiff in itself and rubber doesn't look to be the best choice.

Your epoxy version is probably stronger than the original.
I have used good quality stacked leather, but a roll or taper of Sambar stag, gives a lot more strenght IMO.

Your Kodiak user is very classy looking, but how does it perform?


Regards
Mikael
 
Very nice! I really like Aitor. I have an El Montero that looks a little different from yours . It must be from a different period of time. I also have a jungle king II skinner ( the small knife that came with the JK II). I am glad to see that Aitors are once again becoming more available. My grail AITOR is a Jungle King I. thanks for sharing.
 
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