Navaja, opinion requested

[Sajen]

Hello Rick,

thank you for comment! Would be a nice pair. I've done in the meantime some research and it could be that the blade of mine was painted once as well, I've seen that 19th. century ones were sometimes also painted. And I agree, both are very similar from shape and construction.

Regards,
Detlef

[Rick]

The mother of pearl scales are from plastic .

[Chris Evans]

Sajen,

Your navaja is consistent with those made in the first half of the 20th century in the Castilla La Mancha region . Because of its large size and engraving, it was intended either as a display piece or souvenir. By the 20th century, those intended for use seldom had blades larger than 6”.

I cannot make out from the photo if it bears a brand name or the ubiquitous “recuerdo” (souvenir). If there is a brand name, then I may be able to trace its origins better.

Cheers
Chris Evans

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

Sajen,

Your navaja is consistent with those made in the first half of the 20th century in the Castilla La Mancha region . Because of its large size and engraving, it was intended either as a display piece or souvenir. By the 20th century, those intended for use seldom had blades larger than 6”.

I cannot make out from the photo if it bears a brand name or the ubiquitous “recuerdo” (souvenir). If there is a brand name, then I may be able to trace its origins better.

Cheers
Chris Evans

Hello Chris,

thank you very much for your informed comment. The only word I can read is "Sevilla" near the pivot point. This is however in Andalusia.
The knife will be inspected when it arrives at it destination. When there is a brand name also I will show it here.
Thank you again for your helpful comment.

Regards,
Detlef

[Chris Evans]

Detlef,

If its says "Sevilla", then that what appears to be a church is probably "La Giralda", a common engraving theme for souvenir navajas sold from that city.

A common practices was to omit the brand name if the knife was intended to be sold by a third party or a location other than the manufacturing town, usually Albacete or Santa Cruz De Mudela. Must mention that any number were marked "Toledo" and engraved with bull fighting themes, to satisfy tourists desire for the legendary steel that that city was once famous for and also the popular image which at the time Spain projected to the world, notwithstanding that it was probably made in the one of those above mentioned locations.

I should add that according to some, those metallic strips traversing the handle were far more common with navajas made in Santa Cruz De Mudela, but cannot vouch for this.

Cheers
Chris

[Sajen]

Hello Chris,

thank you again for all the great informations. So it is either a souvenir or a display piece but most probable made in Santa Cruz de Muelda and from around the beginning of the 20th century when I am allowed to summarize.

Regards,
Detlef

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

... then that what appears to be a church is probably "La Giralda" ...

Sure thing Cris .
Actually i recognized this famous tower before discerning the name Sevilla; been there but, didn't have the courage to walk all the way up .
These navajas, when not being touristic pieces (XVIII-XIX century) are getting each day more and more expensive .

[Chris Evans]

Fernado,

Originally Posted by fernando

Sure thing Cris .
Actually i recognized this famous tower before discerning the name Sevilla <snip>

I have a stag handled beauty with a 6"blade, probably made by the famous cutler Julian Galvan, that has on it the Giralda etched and enameled. Notwithstanding that it is a display/souvenir piece it is extremely well made.

Cheers
Chris

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Rick

The mother of pearl scales are from plastic .

Hope that the scales from my one are from real horn instead of plastic.

[Chris Evans]

Detlef

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hope that the scales from my one are from real horn instead of plastic.

The most common way of making a navaja handle was from a piece of horn, without liners, though some had liners as well, especially those made from stag antlers. Those three small pins, from the middle to the end, embedded in the handle suggest the presence of a liner, in which case the scales could well be plastic, but not necessarily. These days the firm of Exposito makes navajas with horn scales pinned to liners.

As for dating it with accuracy, very hard to say as these were seen as late as the early sixties, after which stainless steel blades tended to replace carbon steel. However, if the handles are plastic, then closer to 1950 than much earlier.

Cheers
Chris

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

Detlef



The most common way of making a navaja handle was from a piece of horn, without liners, though some had liners as well, especially those made from stag antlers. Those three small pins, from the middle to the end, embedded in the handle suggest the presence of a liner, in which case the scales could well be plastic, but not necessarily. These days the firm of Exposito makes navajas with horn scales pinned to liners.

As for dating it with accuracy, very hard to say as these were seen as late as the early sixties, after which stainless steel blades tended to replace carbon steel. However, if the handles are plastic, then closer to 1950 than much earlier.

Cheers
Chris

Hello Chris,

still have the hope that the scales are from horn. Will provide the information of the used material when it arrived.

Regards,
Detlef

[Chris Evans]

Detlef,

According to this cached post by Antonio Montejano, a distinguished contemporary Spanish engraver, the engraved and enameled navaja became widespread in the 1945-75 period. He adds that these works were not of the best quality or taste: http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=au

Cheers
Chris