Reworked corvo

ariel · 21st April 2020, 03:40 PM

There is a whole family of similar knives with the sharp working edge being on the concave side of the blade. Most of them are “oriental”: Yemeni Janbia, Arab-Persian khanjar, Sumatran karambit, Indian bank. With a little bit of imagination one can suggest some common origin.

But what about Chilean corvo? Was it a descendant of Maghribi koummya (khanjar) brought by the Spaniards all the way to South America or just a parallel development?
Taking into account the “ Mediterranean” handle I tend to lean toward the former.

Sajen · 21st April 2020, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

There is a whole family of similar knives with the sharp working edge being on the concave side of the blade. Most of them are “oriental”: Yemeni Janbia, Arab-Persian khanjar, Sumatran karambit, Indian bank. With a little bit of imagination one can suggest some common origin.

But what about Chilean corvo? Was it a descendant of Maghribi koummya (khanjar) brought by the Spaniards all the way to South America or just a parallel development?
Taking into account the “ Mediterranean” handle I tend to lean toward the former.

Hello Ariel,
I don't think so, it was rather a farmers knife in old times similar to the German hippe. See also what Wikipedia tell us: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvo_(knife)
Attached is a picture from European antique Hippen, taken from the net.

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 21st April 2020, 06:39 PM

Another, more meaningful picture

ariel · 22nd April 2020, 04:54 AM

Wow!
Never heard of them.
Although in retrospect I should have recalled Roman sica and pruning knives.

Thanks for a new way of thinking!

Sajen · 22nd April 2020, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Wow!
Never heard of them.
Although in retrospect I should have recalled Roman sica and pruning knives.

Thanks for a new way of thinking!

Hello Ariel,

The thank have to went to Ian!

All what is known about this knives he write down once in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=corvo

I've only tried to make it more visible by showing a in the complete world under many different names known knife used as tool.
That such tools can develop to a weapon happened not only in Chile, look to Indonesia, Madura where the celurit has a similar devolopment: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=celurit

Regards,
Detlef

21st April 2020, 06:39 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,212	Another, more meaningful picture Attached Images

21st April 2020, 03:40 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	There is a whole family of similar knives with the sharp working edge being on the concave side of the blade. Most of them are “oriental”: Yemeni Janbia, Arab-Persian khanjar, Sumatran karambit, Indian bank. With a little bit of imagination one can suggest some common origin. But what about Chilean corvo? Was it a descendant of Maghribi koummya (khanjar) brought by the Spaniards all the way to South America or just a parallel development? Taking into account the “ Mediterranean” handle I tend to lean toward the former.

22nd April 2020, 04:54 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Wow! Never heard of them. Although in retrospect I should have recalled Roman sica and pruning knives. Thanks for a new way of thinking!