Two Brazilain Antique Knives

Ivan Campos · Jan 18, 2001

I am an avid collector of Brazilian antique knives and thought you would like to see my latest acquisitons.
The one with clear horn slab handle is a Sorocabana. It is a factory-made Sorocabana of the simples type, but is in very good condition and bears a very clear mark, besides having its original sheath. This is the general type of traditional knife of my region. It was probably made in the 50s or early 60s. this is the type of knife I really collect.
The other is a typical Northeastern dirk. Its handle is composed of has horn disks and nickel plated folded brass sheets. This is a very usual type of knife, and nickel plating was a common metjhod of embellishing this kind of knife. It was made from the 30s to the 40s, probably.
Noone of them is too rare but both are enough collectible.
Enjoy.

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Ivan Campos
Full-time knifemaker...finally!

http://www.bitweb.com.br/users/campos

judge · Jan 21, 2001

Interesting knives, thanks for posting. It´s always nice to learn a little about a country´s traditional knife patterns.
The right one looks a little like a Hossom bowie, doesn´t it?

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"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron

Gaucho · Jan 21, 2001

Ivan,

These remind me allot of Argentine cuchillos. Its interesting how our two countries, as neighbors, evolved similar blades.

Do the Brazilians have anything like a single edged Facon or double edged Daga- each with a full guard?

Mario

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Gaucho

Tuvo muy mala suerte...se callo en mi cuchillo.

Ivan Campos · Jan 21, 2001

Hello, Judge. Funny, i thought the same when I first saw Jerry Hosson's work.
Mario, the variety of knives and styles found in Brazil is immense, but they can be divided - I do it at least - in three categories: gauchas, wich are generally similar to the ones found in Argentina and Uruguai, the Sorocabanas, found only around my region of São Paulo and the Nrtheastern knives, those made on the states above Espirito Santo. Under these categories, the number of divisons is enormous and there can be other categories out there I am not aware of, as there is virtually no written registers about them.
This large piece is Argentine and i am posting it here as a gift for you , my friend. hope you like it.
I'll post some more pictures tomorrow or later today.

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Ivan Campos
Full-time knifemaker...finally!

http://www.bitweb.com.br/users/campos

Gaucho · Jan 22, 2001

Great Daga, Ivan! It evokes a lot of memories.

Thank you so much

,

Ciao,

Mario

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Gaucho

Tuvo muy mala suerte...se callo en mi cuchillo.

Gaucho · Jan 22, 2001

BTW, Ivan,

If, in your wanderings, you should ever come across a top notch antique facon or daga at a reasonable price, I'd be very interested. I have a couple of Argentine blades that have been in my family for years, but would like to build a small collection over time.

TIA,

Mario

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Gaucho

Tuvo muy mala suerte...se callo en mi cuchillo.

Geraldo Leão · Jan 22, 2001

Ivan,
belas facas, oops! great knives!

Let me show another ethnic beauty. A rough beauty I agree.
Was made by Mestre Paulo, a 78 years old maker. His father did combat knives to brazilian outlaw called cangaceiros, in the early 20th century.

Here's the link to the sheat work.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1398636&a=11127313&p=38837957
G.

Ivan Campos · Jan 22, 2001

Very interesting piece, Geraldo. very atypical.
how long is it? Does it bears any marks? Is the maker still alive? Tell us some more about it.

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Ivan Campos
Full-time knifemaker...finally!

http://www.bitweb.com.br/users/campos

Geraldo Leão · Jan 23, 2001

Yes Ivan, the maker is alive and well. Email me and I will send you the adress.
The knife was crudelly forged from spring steel and is marked PP at the right side of the blade. It's 15"1/4 overall and has a 9"3/4 blade. The handle was made with brass and some black material (rubber or vinil).
The father of the maker did the knives to Lampião, a very famous northwestern outlaw.

Mario, I have an interesting piece which was used in the sad war Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay fought against the little and heroic Paraguay. It's a 16" blade fully tapered to point and from guard to pommel. The furnitures are nickel-silver (alpaca?). Here's the link. It was a gift from my padrinho. Enjoy it.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1398636&a=11127313&p=38841131

not2sharp · Jan 25, 2001

Excellent knives. Thanks for sharing.

Has anyone published any catalogs on Brazilian 19th century edge weapons?

N2S

Geraldo Leão · Jan 26, 2001

Not in my knowledge, N2S, but maybe Ivan can answer it better. He is da man about antique Brazilian knives.

G.

Gaucho · Jan 26, 2001

Geraldo,

Excellent pic! Thank you so much.

It looks like a sabre that had broken at one point and was then reworked into a shorter blade. This was quite common among the gaucho militia during the war years.

Mario

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Gaucho

Tuvo muy mala suerte...se callo en mi cuchillo.

Ivan Campos · Jan 27, 2001

Thanks, Geraldo!
Regarding books about Brazilian knives, the only one I know about is called "Apontamentos sobre a faca de ponta" and it is about Northeastern knives. It is very poorly printed and but has consistent information about the styles of knives and their makers, but it's research won't reach too far back in time. It is VERY hard to find - even I don't have one of these!
I have been joining material and oieces for a book on sorocabanas for almost ten years but am very far from getting even started yet. Maybe one day...

What about this one? It is made by a blacksmith of my town wich is almost 80 years old and is exactly like the old smith-made sorocabanas were, including the enterso (the blade and handle are pinned togheter right after the bolster). It's made of plowshare steel (1095 I suppose) and selectively heat treated. The handle is made of two slabs of horn with brass liners and pins. People over here today prefer Celeron (a checkered brown type of micarta) as it is more pratical for everyday use and it won't delaminate with time. This is a relatively small piece but sorocabanas use to came in sizes from 2 to 40 inches, anyway.
I will place an article on Cutelaria hoje soon showing this guy making a sorocabana from start to finish soon, and one of his knives (probably the one made for my article)will be later tested in Tactical Knives by Jerry Vancook.
Enjoy!

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Ivan Campos
Full-time knifemaker...finally!

http://www.bitweb.com.br/users/campos

not2sharp · Jan 27, 2001

Ivan,

Put me down for a copy of your book.

Do they have knives like that in the south. I spent a month looking all over Rio for an example of native blade wear with no success. I guessing the nicer folk knives are rare.

N2S

Ivan Campos · Jan 28, 2001

N2S
I'll ship you an autographed copy... in 2015, if I keep this pace!
The knives you can find in Rio are usually of the northeastern style.
If you want one like the piece i have just shown to you, I can order it to you, no problem. E-mail me for details.
I am trying to find a gaucho knife for you to see an example of the knives from the south.
Though the different regions have very different knife patterns, all SEEM to came from the mediterranean dirk.

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Ivan Campos
Full-time knifemaker...finally!

http://www.bitweb.com.br/users/campos