Gaucho knife for ID please: Argentine 'La Movediza'

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

Hi Ron,

The general practice in Argentina was, and remains for `plateros' (silversmiths) to manufacture furnishings with which they mount trade blades from various sources. Until the 2nd world war, blades were obtained from Europe, mostly from Germany and France. With the hostilities, the importation of blades largely, or entirely, ceased, and local manufacturers commenced turning out blades in the township of Tandil, some 200kms from the city of Buenos Aires. `La Movediza' was regarded as one of better know brands, though none of the locally made blades was as highly thought of as the famous imports.

So a Creole knife is a composite work of a single, or even a number of `plateros' and a blade manufacturer. As such ascribing a single identity to them is a dubious exercise. Often they wear the name of the retailer that sold it. With the passing of time, highly esteemed old Euro blades habe been re-mounted in expensive new furnishings, so apart from the blade one cannot even be sure of the age of the piece as a whole.

Some time ago and in another thread, Gonzalo mentioned the currently reprehensible practice of cutting down old military bayonets, mounting them in rich furnishings and selling them as antique 'facones'.

Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris,

What were these made for exactly? I take it they weren't really Gaucho knives by the 1940s, so who was buying them?

Best
Gene