Navajas of the Galleons

[Dmitry]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

So why didn't we have locking navajas earlier on? I tend to agree with Forton that as long as better weapons were available, there was simply no need for clasp knives, which IMO even at their best are vastly inferior to fixed blades.

That makes much sense. Gadgets like the locking knives would be relegated to the people who could afford them.
Like this Italian mid-16th c. folding spetum in the Higgins Museum.
The locking mechanism, with a button release looks similar to the weapon-grade folders.
Was it made out of necessity? Hardly. It was a one-a-kind gimmick, but a beautiful one.

But why did the locking knives blossom later on? Tradition?
Unfortunately I don't read Spanish...