The bonny wee Sgian Dubh

Sarge, we used to think about that a lot, back in the days Bill published Rockwell testing results with his files on the DOD's.

Kesar used to come in at 57, 58, ; while Bura was always 59 or 60 or even a tad higher. I thought Kesar was making his khuks for the real world where real people had to work. (and it was Yvsa back then who pointed out that 57 is a lot easier to sharpen but still a good working edge) But everyone wanted 'hard', and the Kesar's weren't quite as desirable, for that and other reasons. (Bura had the elegant form)


munk
 
I've noticed this with my Okapi and Opinel - they're hard enough to work, but they'll sharpen up on just about anything. I remember one time in particular where I was whittling some wood with the Opinel; afterwards, I stropped it back to sharpness on the very same wood that I'd been whittling with it. That works for me.

I've seen Gauchos mentioned time and again here. Please, folks...I've got too many knives as it is. Stop tempting me.
 
I think the gauchos use the knife for eating..........as well as the mongolians

Cut, poke, and into the mouth. :)

Kinda hard to do with a 18" AK. :o
 
You're telling me the Gauchos would eat the Mongolians who came over the land bridge from Alaska?



munk
 
munk said:
You're telling me the Gauchos would eat the Mongolians who came over the land bridge from Alaska?



munk
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I always wondered where "Mongolian Barbecue" got it's start.:eek: :rolleyes: :p

Sarge
 
Dave Rishar said:
I've seen Gauchos mentioned time and again here. Please, folks...I've got too many knives as it is. Stop tempting me.
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Dayum Dave, what be wrong wit you? :confused: You know that you can never have *too many* knives!!!! :rolleyes: :p ;) :D

I have wanted a Gaucho knife ever since I read about the South American cowboys.
I finally bought a Gaucho knife from one of the dealers that sells on ePrey, maybe gave a little too much for it compared to what I could've got one for if I'd a bid on one but not complaining as I was able to pick the one I wanted instead of taking pot luck. That's worth a few extra bucks to me.
What I found really unusual and strange is that it came completely unsharpened!!!! :o
It's on the soft side but as Sarge says, "Tough as hell.":thumbup: :D

And speaking of knives that are on the softer side...
I read an article quite some time back maybe in Blade or maybe in one of the yearly knife books I used to get every year about a fellow who went to China and traveled way into the back country.
And of course there was a language barrier so much that neither side could explain themselves in technical terms.
IIRC he was some what of a bladesmith himself and was completely flabbergasted when he found the country made knives were almost dead soft.
Again IIRC he finally showed one of the craftsmen how to properly harden a blade.
Then he was embarrased because the craftsman had no way at all of sharpening the hard steel. The craftsmen had no choice but to make the knives the way they did as it was the best the people could actually use for any length of time.
I found the story really interesting and insightful.:thumbup:
 
Yvsa,
Who made the blade of your facon (gaucho knife)? Belver? Ju Ca? El Chaja? All of 'em are good, just wondering. One of the things I've learned is that in Tandil, blade makers just make blades, someone else makes the handles and scabbards.

Interesting side note, my blade of choice is El Chaja, not because they're any better than the others, but because I love the name. None of my Mexican friends could interpret it for me, so I had to do some serious research. El Chaja means "The Screamer". The Screamer is an ugly, duck sized, bird, domesticated by the gauchos for a special quality it has. Ever loyal and vigilant, the screamer will sound a loud alarm at the approach of any stranger or animal it percieves as a threat, thus alerting it's owners to danger. How cool is that?

El Chaja
f2.jpg


Sarge
 
Just for grins, and to tease Dave:p , here's a pic of my favorite El Chaja bladed gaucho knife, along with my own rough and ready full tang version, made from an old file, and fitted with slabs of Bocote wood.:thumbup:

Sarge
 

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I especially like the second from the bottom which is your last knife ? I don,t know if it is a trick of the light, the color of the blade seems to match the color of the antler . Whatever it is it is a pleasing effect . I agree that a short knife has its drawbacks . I also think they have an advantage for close in delicate work or where discretion is necessary .
I have a couple of neck knives made from broadheads . The longest of which is less than two inches . You couldn,t pry with them or even carve really . They are more a useful decoration . There are some broadheads over three inches long . They have a three to one ratio which makes them an interesting shape . They are also used for african game and so are made extremely durable . Even in this case they are more something you would have as a decoration on a quiver that you could grab for a quick slash at something . Not that I would ever want to they would do a decent job at minor surgery as well . Maybe just for removing the occassional thorn or splinter . They could handle more as well .
 
I wonder if a Gaucho originally served a similar purpose as a" main gauche" as they are both spelled in a similar manner . "Gaucho" seems like it says "lefty" to me or a second knife one would use in their left hand .
 
Nice work Sarge. A very practical and pretty knife. Being of Scottish heritage, I really need one.:)

I love the gauchos too, but only have a couple cheapies.

AG Russell has a couple of very nice, if pricey, Boker gauchos made from 1070 carbon steel with stag handles. You can see them at http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/a_through_d/boker/boker_gaucho_10_inch_blade.html

I'd love to see you make one like them, even if a little smaller. Maybe a 5 or 6" blade?

Steve
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Just for grins, and to tease Dave:p , here's a pic of my favorite El Chaja bladed gaucho knife, along with my own rough and ready full tang version, made from an old file, and fitted with slabs of Bocote wood.:thumbup:

Sarge
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:thumbup:

Dav may want yours ! :p
 
I especially like the second to last where the blade seems to be similar in color to the antler handle . Is that just a trick of the light ?

As far as "Gaucho" is concerned could it possibly originally have the same use as the French "Main Gauche"? They are spelt similarly . Were not the spanish also fond of a knife in their second hand when they fought with their main weapon in their right ?

I have a couple of knives made from archery broadheads . The are an inch at their widest by just over two inches long They are perhaps .030 thick so you are not doing any prying or even serious puncturing . They are however seriously scary sharp . The one thing I can think of that they are well suited for would be to remove deeply imbedded splinters or other minor surgeries . I consider them useful decorations . When I make a quiver for arrows I usually include a place for a little broadhead knife along with a true skinner .
There are some broadheads that are over three inches long and have a pleasing line to them . They would still fall in the useful decorative heading with me . They shore are purty though !
 
A more viable weapon, and one that was undoubtedly a participant in "unpleasantries", would be the Sgian Achlais or "armpit dagger". Same general blade shape, but a good bit larger at around 5-6 inches, they were carried concealed inside the jacket or vest. Don't think one of those ain't on my "do list".
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That made me cringe Sarge, until I read on and saw that you meant it was carried near the armpit, NOT inserted into the armpit. SOmething about that area being pierced...:eek: :eek:

Very nice little knives btw:thumbup: :cool:

I've always wanted a traditional Dirk---got any of those Sarge?
 
I posted what is relatively the same reply twice . I tried editing . It won,t edit . Don,t worry you are not seeing double double .
 
ferguson said:
Nice work Sarge. A very practical and pretty knife. Being of Scottish heritage, I really need one.:)
Steve
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That's a done deal Steve, check, correction to last, make that, "that's a done deal, eventually". Got to wait a couple of weeks for the Gathering of the Highland Clans. There, I should be able to pic up a small version of Clan Ferguson's family crest, perfect size for mounting on the handle of a sgian dubh.

"Dulcius Ex Asperus" (sweetness after endeavor)
4crests_1865_23138403


Sarge
 
gaucho: 1824, from Sp., probably from a native S.Amer. language, cf. Araucanian cauchu "wanderer."



gauche (gōsh)
adj.
Lacking social polish; tactless.

[French, awkward, lefthanded, from Old French, from gauchir, to turn aside, walk clumsily, of Germanic origin.]
 
Kismet said:
gaucho: 1824, from Sp., probably from a native S.Amer. language, cf. Araucanian cauchu "wanderer."
gauche (gōsh)
adj.
Lacking social polish; tactless.
[French, awkward, lefthanded, from Old French, from gauchir, to turn aside, walk clumsily, of Germanic origin.]
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REPLY :
I do not know how figurative a language Spanish is ? The French have many words which appear to mean the same thing and really have the same origins in many cases . The reason Gauche besides the literal translation has a figurative translation as being tactless or lacking polish because the left bank of the seine river had clothing shops and others that were considered inferior to the right bank . How Gauche !(left) would mean the person in question shopped on the left bank . Asd is also noted there are paralell and just as valid definitions .

Gaucho in Spanish may very well mean only wanderer . As there is a "main Gauche " weapon in France I put forth that as the Spanish were also fond of a weapon in their left hand that "gaucho" may have originated as a left hand weapon .
I know people who fence and are interested in any form of second hand weapons from cloaks, canes, scabbards and the now famous "Main gauche " I will ask them and get back to you . I am not sure if any of them follow the Spanish style and Gaucho is certainly a common term and may not transcend the class/social barrier intact .It will be interesting to find out .
 
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