My First Navaja..... mid 19c? ....comments please

[katana]

Bought this Navaja recently, (but awaiting arrival). Found a very similar one on the web, but it is larger, (mine is 15'' fully open), and has an engraved blade. The description of the similar Navaja is as follows,

Antique Spanish Navaja dated mid 19th C, realised in Santa Cruz De Mudela. Handle is wood covered in brass with engraved pattern and decorative holes.
It measures 21 5/8 ‘’ fully open.

Would I be right in thinking that the date and origin of my Navaja is the same? Any info would be greatly appreciated, thankyou

[fernando]

Hi Katana
It all indicates your conclusion is correct.
Mine is more to the 18th century, similar to one shown in a very famous Navaja books ( Forton ) and is 23" open. The (non expert ) visible differences between these and yours are the blade fixing (?) and the ratchet scoops. This could show that your example is from the same provenance with a couple later improvements. Also, yours being of smaller dimensions would fit the same situation, as Navajas kept shortening.
The experts in the Forum will most probably confirm Santa Cruz de Mudela, mid 19th century ... or earlier.
regards
fernando

[Chris Evans]

Hi Katana,

Fernando summed it up neatly. A navaja that in all probability was made in Santa Cruz de Mudela, in the first half of the 19th century or earlier. I have one very similar to yours and its construction is noteworthy because it is typical of the early navajas, which changed during the nineteenth century with the spring becoming housed between a handle halves. The quality of these was generally low by even Spanish standards and the Frenchman D'Avillier around 1862 wrote:

"....Santa Cruz de Mudela is a rival of Albacete. When careless, we were accosted by large numbers of vendors, men, women and children, who tried to sell us their wares by repeating the prices of daggers and knives several times. We bought a few items, so as not to disappoint and also to help a fledging industry which has as yet to match that of Sheffield. Without a doubt, this is primitive cutlery, even worse than that of Albacete and which has given rise to the popular verse:

`Bad knife,
Cuts the finger,
Instead of the stave' ................"

He obviously did not think much of the navajas made in Albacete either, because of his observations:

"...Albacete is to Spain what Chatellerault is to France and Sheffield to England. Here they make folding knives, knives and daggers in huge numbers. It is rough work that reminds one of the work of Arabs...."

And the above probably explains why French made navajas flooded the country and almost completely displaced the native product.

Cheers
Chris

[katana]

Thankyou, both for your time and information. :)

[Chris Evans]

Hi Katana,

Got your PM and I sent you a reply.

Cheers
Chris