Inscriptions in Navajas, for Chris and who else

Chris Evans · 7th November 2007, 04:43 AM

Hi Gav,

We are in luck.

On page 94 of "Introduccion Al Estudio De La Cuchilleria Artistica De Albacete", by Ferrer, there is a 54cm (open) navaja by Alvaro Garcia, that looks just like yours and was made in 1910.

It does not have the engraving on the blade and the handle decoration is different, but the profile of the blade and handle are pretty much the same as yours.

Unfortunately my scanner is down at the moment, but when I get it working again I will post it here.

Cheers
Chris

Chris Evans · 7th November 2007, 05:40 AM

Hi Folks,

Scanner is going again. Sorry about the orientation but it is the only way that I could post it.

Cheers
Chris

Gavin Nugent · 7th November 2007, 05:41 AM

Your the man Chris, I will be wanting to pay you a personal visit one day. Great work everyone, you all have a vast array of knowledge to draw from!! We are all learning heaps in this forum.
With regards to the large navaja I have here, I think reading the script would be greatly benefited by a good clean, there is some heavy pitting to the blade that does make the script a bit of guess work and I know can never be put right, but I feel with with a good clean and a consistant surface to view the words, a clean might just help get this insciption deciphered, or maybe some one knows some one who can read old Spanish and lives in Brisbane Australia.
I have seen all sorts of methods spoken of for cleaning blades, but what would be best in this case or should I just forget the thought and be happy with what is.

regards

Gav

Chris Evans · 7th November 2007, 06:05 AM

Hi Gav,

1. Would like to meet you also. Very few navaja enthusiasts in Australia. If you are heading my way drop me an e-mail and we'll meet. I just sent you my address by PM.

2. Re Cleaning

This is an ever recurring question - Conservation or Restoration.

Probably it is best to leave it alone. I take the view that an antique is a window to the past and anything that could diminish or obliterate the historical record is undesirable. With that said, I think very light cleaning should be OK.

Cheers
Chris

Marc · 7th November 2007, 08:46 AM

Spanish is one of my "mother languages", so in fact there's no real merit in me being able to fill the gaps... I'm used to antique inscriptions, also, especially in weaponry/cutlery, so this one was not that hard... it's people like Chris or Fernando who have real merit by being able to provide such huge amount of knowledge from the "outside", even if it's such a close "outside" as Portugal

Glad to be of any help, always.

Best,

Marc

Gavin Nugent · 7th November 2007, 09:11 PM

Hi guys, below as another link I had stashed away for a rainy day. As I too have a great interest in ship wrecks, treasure hunting and diving, I was quite interested when I stumbled accross this Spanish galleon article some time ago that crossed into my love of navajs, enjoy!

http://www.melfisher.org/navajas.pdf

Gav

fernando · 7th November 2007, 10:10 PM

Hi Gav

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

http://www.melfisher.org/navajas.pdf

Thanks for the ( one more ) link.

This is one more reason for you to buy LA NAVAJA ESPAÑOLA ANTIGUA by Forton.
Among precious info and pictures, you will find there, stuff matching with what is said in this link as also, for example, that Jan Sanders painting "The surgeon". Another interesting info is the origin of the word Navaja. And a zillion of other precious things. Although it is in Castillian, there's lots of visual stuff ... and there is Chris, to give a hand at translating some punctual parts

7th November 2007, 05:40 AM	#2
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Folks, Scanner is going again. Sorry about the orientation but it is the only way that I could post it. Cheers Chris Attached Images Last edited by Chris Evans; 7th November 2007 at 05:54 AM.

7th November 2007, 05:41 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Cleaning of blades Your the man Chris, I will be wanting to pay you a personal visit one day. Great work everyone, you all have a vast array of knowledge to draw from!! We are all learning heaps in this forum. With regards to the large navaja I have here, I think reading the script would be greatly benefited by a good clean, there is some heavy pitting to the blade that does make the script a bit of guess work and I know can never be put right, but I feel with with a good clean and a consistant surface to view the words, a clean might just help get this insciption deciphered, or maybe some one knows some one who can read old Spanish and lives in Brisbane Australia. I have seen all sorts of methods spoken of for cleaning blades, but what would be best in this case or should I just forget the thought and be happy with what is. regards Gav

7th November 2007, 06:05 AM	#4
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Gav, 1. Would like to meet you also. Very few navaja enthusiasts in Australia. If you are heading my way drop me an e-mail and we'll meet. I just sent you my address by PM. 2. Re Cleaning This is an ever recurring question - Conservation or Restoration. Probably it is best to leave it alone. I take the view that an antique is a window to the past and anything that could diminish or obliterate the historical record is undesirable. With that said, I think very light cleaning should be OK. Cheers Chris Last edited by Chris Evans; 7th November 2007 at 06:20 AM.

7th November 2007, 09:11 PM	#6
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Another link for those navaja historians out there. Hi guys, below as another link I had stashed away for a rainy day. As I too have a great interest in ship wrecks, treasure hunting and diving, I was quite interested when I stumbled accross this Spanish galleon article some time ago that crossed into my love of navajs, enjoy! http://www.melfisher.org/navajas.pdf Gav

7th November 2007, 04:43 AM	#1
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Gav, We are in luck. On page 94 of "Introduccion Al Estudio De La Cuchilleria Artistica De Albacete", by Ferrer, there is a 54cm (open) navaja by Alvaro Garcia, that looks just like yours and was made in 1910. It does not have the engraving on the blade and the handle decoration is different, but the profile of the blade and handle are pretty much the same as yours. Unfortunately my scanner is down at the moment, but when I get it working again I will post it here. Cheers Chris

7th November 2007, 08:46 AM	#5
Marc Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Madrid / Barcelona Posts: 256	Spanish is one of my "mother languages", so in fact there's no real merit in me being able to fill the gaps... I'm used to antique inscriptions, also, especially in weaponry/cutlery, so this one was not that hard... it's people like Chris or Fernando who have real merit by being able to provide such huge amount of knowledge from the "outside", even if it's such a close "outside" as Portugal Glad to be of any help, always. Best, Marc