Here is a website where you can get a translation of the famous 19th century Spanish Manual del Baratero, a handbook on how to use the navaja, the cuchillo and scissors of the Gitanos, an often cited work.

http://geocities.com/mjruhala/EMDB/page11emdb.html

I have not read this translation in full, preferring the original in Spanish. I would like to alert forumites that a critical phrase, "navaja de muelle" has been translated as switchblade, whereas a literal translation would have to be: Navaja with a blade affixing spine-spring.

The reason that I am drawing attention to this is that the majority of 19th century navajas had only blade affixing spine-springs, in the manner of modern pen-knives, rather than the full mecahnical locks found on the more famous Southern Sevillanas, which were prohibited by law - Furthermore, many had no spring at all and these resembled barbers razors.

However, in the colloquial, both sprung types, with and without a lock, were commonly referred to as navajas de muelle, so we do not know to which type the author refers to. But, we have reason to believe that he had lockers in mind given his reference to thrusts, as these hits were very risky if the blade could fold unexpectedly as it encountered resistance.

Cheers
Chris

[This message has been edited by Evans Chris (edited 08-12-2004).]

[This message has been edited by Evans Chris (edited 08-12-2004).]

Latcho dives phral,
I am new here and have spent the last hour or so reading through the different thread; on this one I had read this far when I was about to make similar comments as you made in your post.

Although I live in England it's good to find another Rom on this group.

Latcho dives
Wayne

I too am of Rom blood like Roadscholar and Ileigha. I was taught to fight with a churi from the age of about 5 by my uncles ( as were my cousins).

the 2 variations of Churi I used were a 3" sheepsfoot/ wharnecliffe style blade and a larger 9" style similar to the khyber knife shape.

As was taught to me I am teaching mo chavo; he has just started to work with me making his own Churi's (under my supervision).

and for the last year he has been training with me in the style of knife fighting I was taught, so far he has learned: forward and reverse grips, basic cuts & thrusts, and blocking his opponents knife arm/ wrist with his blade . As he gets older he will progress to larger blades and it is my hope he will take to the Kindjal as I did - as our traditional weapon is the 23" curved Kindjal similar to the Cossack weapon.

the Rom of my Ancestry fought with 2 Kindjal and so do I ; I am currently working on a pair of Kindjal with oak handles for my training. Once I have finished them, if anyone is interested I will post pictures of them.

Why do I teach my sons? well it goes back to the old Rom saying :
Rom bi Churi, matcho bi Panni
translates roughly to 'A Man without a knife is like a Fish without Water'

regards
Wayne