Spanish Notch?

I'd go with whatever Joe P. has to say. However, remember that in terms of cutlery, and in so many others instances, the Spanish were heavily influenced by the Arabs. And the curly cue at the end of the blade not only can serve a specific purpose, like catching an opponent's blade, but also an aesthetic one. That shape is very much in line with Arabian art.
 
I like how Terry V. does it, and I like his mini notch on the top of blades. I never understood them but the look is starting to really grow on me.
 
I think the spanish notch ist just decoration. Check out antique spanish knives, loads of decoration, filework, holes in the blade to hold poison, rimes like "si esta vibora te pica, no vayas a la botica" (if this viper bites you, don't go to the pharmacy), mirrows on the handle...... at the end, antique spanish knives are fancy weapons, made to be shown and to scare off the oponent.

Regards
surfer
 
I've been doing some research on this topic for a couple days. Now, it seems like the notch fills many rolls, but primarily some kind of nautical task. I'm not entirely certain, but i have a feeling that it's for retaining the twist of a rope after a cut is made in it. You hook the notch on the opposing side of the rope and press with your thumb as you twist so that you can fix the tip and prevent the rope from un-spooling. Or to make a clean cut in a rope. This is actually quite difficult to explain. The Spanish Notch seems to originate from a rather consistent style up until a certain point, which indicates that the primary use for that notch changed from a utilitarian role into an artistic one.

Personally, i think it adds a bit of character to the blade. Especially if you have a rather simple design without too many features. I don't personally own a knife with a spanish notch, but after this research i think i should make a small blade with a traditional old school notch and play around with items similar to that era. I think it's wise to consider this notch originally as a tool function, since we see a lot of old ''cheapo'' knives using it. As far as we know it could be for shaping flint or dealing with materials that are simply forgotten.

I highly doubt that it has combat use, especially for ''locking'' a blade. My mental image of a knife fight isn't that optimistic.
 
Appears this topic was brought back to life with a recent post. I have always liked the "look" of a Spanish notch. Amazed at all the different possible uses but the one I have most commonly heard is to catch the blade of your opposition in a fight. In any case, here is one I had Tim Hancock do for me on a small folder for strictly aesthetic reasons.
Tim%20Hancock%20Folder.jpg
 
What mr. Paranee said.

(though mr. Levines theory sounds intriguing IMO).

Personally, Id most likely not be able to catch anything in the Spanish Notch ...except maybe navel lint, but then Im no professional knife fighter.
 
Well...I'm quite a bit greyer and balder than I was when I started this thread, but thanks for the updated information.:thumbup::D
Lovely Hancock folder by the way.

Cheers,

Ian.
 
The way to keep a twisted line from unravelling is to tie a "whipping"* on the end.
The whipping was tied with cord much smaller than the line.
Back in the days of hemp lines and cord they were often tarred to promote longevity.
Someone opined here, ages ago, that the notch was used to scrape off excess tar from the smaller cord used on board ships in the day.

True or not, I don't know.
*whipping
http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/common-whipping
 
Hi, i’m from Spain and surfing the web looking for some info about spanish notch i found this vídeo in youtube that may help you to understand the origins of this feature of some knives. The only thing is that is in spanish, but explains almost every theory about it. I hope it’ll bring you some light if you are able to understand it.
Sorry if i’ve made any mistake in my english.
Regards
 
WOW! Such a comprehensive historical video. Timeless information!

Yes, I wish I could understand the narrator. Regardless, the amount of VERY interesting and beautiful Spanish knives are there to admire. The notch has one new-to-me origin which I was shown: as a pin relief for a metal scabbard spring. Got it.

Even has my photo above at 22:35" :) Nice.

Thanks for the post and the work on your (?) video.
 
I’m sorry but I did not make that video. I found it in the web and i’m not able to translate it all to english becouse it lasts about 1 hour. I hope you find a knife-lover person who understands spanish. That vídeo was “chapter two” from a series of videos about spanish cutlery that you can see in the web.
 
I believe they developed out of the chiseled ricassos of the Vendetta Corsas. Samuel Bell's Mediterranian Bowie obviously has significant Vendetta influence--and that chiseled ricasso looks as close to a Spanish notch as I've been abe to find.

Oh yeah, and those were decorative. Same reason for fancy filework on some of today's fighters
 
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