Goucho Knife

[Miguel]

Hello everyone, thought you may like to see this item for comment and interest. I think it is one of the small knives used by the Gauchos for utility purposes such as eating etc. It is a very pretty piece having a a silver hilt and scabbard heavily embossed with floral decoration. The blade is made from good quality steel and has a keen edge.
O/L is 8.25 ins, blade length is 4.75 ins x 1 ins wide.
Regards
Miguel

[Oliver Pinchot]

That's a very handsome knife, Miguel.
It dates 1950s-60s, and I think this manufacturer is still in business. The mounts are Alpaca metal, this is another term for nickel silver.

[Chris Evans]

Miguel,

You have a small Creole knife, (Cuchillo Criollo) made by the late “La Movediza” factory in Tandil (Prv Buenos Aires) Argentina. The sheath and handle are made from German silver (Alpaca), a cheap substitute for real silver.

Cutlery was imported into Argentina up to WWII, but during the hostilities they were forced to make their own and La Movediza, named after a locally famous rock, was such an enterprise, but which lamentably ceased production in 1963. As such, these blades acquired desirability as collectables, though the famous European brands imported earlier, remain the most sought after.

Cheers
Chris

PS For the rock, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedra_Movediza

[VANDOO]

YOURS IS A NICE LITTLE KNIFE. HERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF ITS FULL SIZE COUSINS FOR COMPARISON.

[Chris Evans]

Vandoo,

Now that is a knife, or rather a `facon' of heroic proportions!

Could you tell us something about its provenance?

Cheers
Chris

[VANDOO]

UNFORTUNATELY THE KNIFE IS NOT MINE AND ALL I HAVE IS THE PICTURE AND NO MEASUREMENTS. THE BLADE MAY HAVE BEEN MADE FROM AN OLD BAYONET BUT OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T ADD MORE. :shrug:

[Chris Evans]

Vandoo,

Well, even just as eye candy it is a handsome piece indeed!

Cheers
Chris

[Miguel]

Thank you Oliver and Chris for your very informative comments and Vandoo for showing its big brother. I would have liked to have owned one of those. :)
Regards
Migue