Navaja, opinion requested

Chris Evans · 4th August 2015, 02:08 PM

Fernando,

You are the boss here, I was merely trying to be helpful!

Here I list two of my more attractive enameled navajas. I suspect that both originated from Santa Cruz De Mudela around 1950. The unusually high level of workmanship points the finger at Julian Galvan or someone he taught. Perhaps Carlos can throw some light on them. They both have 6"carbon steel blades, liners and back spring, as well as bolsters (virola y rebajo).

The only legible inscriptions are Sevilla and E Leon (The rest was abraded out during grinding)) on the one with the Giralda and the other only bears the ubiquitous faux Toledo targetting tourists.

Cheers
Chris

Sajen · 4th August 2015, 02:37 PM

Wow, two beautiful navajas!

Chris Evans · 4th August 2015, 03:11 PM

Detlef,

Thanks for the compliment, they are indeed a level above what was being sold in the old days.

But I feel a bit silly. I had the answer to one of my questions all along in one of my books. "E Leon" was most likely the cutler from Santa Cruz whose full name was Enrique Leon Lopez, active in the 1950s. There are other navajas of similar high quality in existence, all bearing the same inscription.

Cheers
Chris
PS My source is La Navaja De Santa Cruz De Mudela

Sajen · 9th August 2015, 10:40 AM

The navaja has arrived at it's destination. The scales are fortunately from horn, at a small area bugs have done their work.

The inscriptions are "La Giralda" at the tip of the blade and above from "Sevilla" is to read "armeria" bordered with two "z" which mean "weapon shop" when my translation is correct. So it is maybe indeed a display piece!?

Here some more pictures.

Gavin Nugent · 9th August 2015, 12:25 PM

One of my first loves in weapons was the Navaja and Sword cane...just something about them.

The one pictured reads CUCHILLERIA GAVILAN STA CRUZ de MUDELA and is of the place and period Chris writes about.

I've had many Navaja and one that sticks out in my mind was of the exact same profile with a beautiful panel of script that read;

"Cuando acaricia mi mano"
"la cacha de esta navaja"
hasta los valientes tiem?lau"
"al ver mis bravas houzanas"

It was manufactured by Alvaro Garcia Albacete and is thought to pre-date these by many decades.

Good to see you here Chris.

Gavin

fernando · 9th August 2015, 02:59 PM

Gavin, may i ?

"Cuando acaricia mi mano"
"la cacha de esta navaja"
hasta los valientes tremblan" (tremble)
"al ver mis bravas hazañas" (feats)

.

Chris Evans · 10th August 2015, 08:45 AM

Detlef: Glad to read that the scales are horn. Does the handle have metallic liners? If you can, please take a close-up photo of the ARMERIA, the ZZ and anything else that may give us a clue; Maybe I can trace its origins from one of my reference books.

Gavin: That's a nice one, and yes, there's something very special about navajas.

Fernado: Thanks for the correction, but keep in mind that many of the cutlers were illiterate, so bad spelling was the norm, rather than the exception

And here's my loose tranlsation into English:

"Cuando acaricia mi mano"
"la cacha de esta navaja"
hasta los valientes tremblan" (tremble)
"al ver mis bravas hazañas" (feats)

When my hands caress the handle of this navaja
Even the brave tremble
After having seen my brave feats.

Cheers
Chris

Gavin Nugent · 10th August 2015, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Gavin, may i ?

"Cuando acaricia mi mano"
"la cacha de esta navaja"
hasta los valientes tremblan" (tremble)
"al ver mis bravas hazañas" (feats)

.

Thank you Fernando.

Gavin

Chris Evans · 10th August 2015, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

The navaja has arrived at it's destination. The scales are fortunately from horn, at a small area bugs have done their work.

The inscriptions are "La Giralda" at the tip of the blade and above from "Sevilla" is to read "armeria" bordered with two "z" which mean "weapon shop" when my translation is correct. So it is maybe indeed a display piece!?

Here some more pictures.

"Aremeria Z of Sevilla was a sports store and a branch of Deportes Zulategui. According to this website, it was et up in 1945 and has ceased trading: http://www.sevilla.org/urbanismo/pub...ur/CAS_278.pdf

According to this webpage, Deportes Zulategui it is still trading, but not as Armeria Z: http://www.citiservi.es/sevilla/depo...82385_247.html Perhaps you can drop them a line and seek more information.

From the above we can confidently say that your navaja was made under contract, probably in Santa Cruz De Mudela, to be sold by Armeria Z post 1945.

Cheers
Chris

4th August 2015, 02:08 PM	#1
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Fernando, You are the boss here, I was merely trying to be helpful! Here I list two of my more attractive enameled navajas. I suspect that both originated from Santa Cruz De Mudela around 1950. The unusually high level of workmanship points the finger at Julian Galvan or someone he taught. Perhaps Carlos can throw some light on them. They both have 6"carbon steel blades, liners and back spring, as well as bolsters (virola y rebajo). The only legible inscriptions are Sevilla and E Leon (The rest was abraded out during grinding)) on the one with the Giralda and the other only bears the ubiquitous faux Toledo targetting tourists. Cheers Chris Attached Images

9th August 2015, 10:40 AM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,274	The navaja has arrived at it's destination. The scales are fortunately from horn, at a small area bugs have done their work. The inscriptions are "La Giralda" at the tip of the blade and above from "Sevilla" is to read "armeria" bordered with two "z" which mean "weapon shop" when my translation is correct. So it is maybe indeed a display piece!? Here some more pictures. Attached Images

9th August 2015, 12:25 PM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	One on my desk now One of my first loves in weapons was the Navaja and Sword cane...just something about them. The one pictured reads CUCHILLERIA GAVILAN STA CRUZ de MUDELA and is of the place and period Chris writes about. I've had many Navaja and one that sticks out in my mind was of the exact same profile with a beautiful panel of script that read; "Cuando acaricia mi mano" "la cacha de esta navaja" hasta los valientes tiem?lau" "al ver mis bravas houzanas" It was manufactured by Alvaro Garcia Albacete and is thought to pre-date these by many decades. Good to see you here Chris. Gavin Attached Images

9th August 2015, 02:59 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Gavin, may i ? "Cuando acaricia mi mano" "la cacha de esta navaja" hasta los valientes tremblan" (tremble) "al ver mis bravas hazañas" (feats) . Last edited by fernando; 9th August 2015 at 09:42 PM.

10th August 2015, 08:45 AM	#7
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Detlef: Glad to read that the scales are horn. Does the handle have metallic liners? If you can, please take a close-up photo of the ARMERIA, the ZZ and anything else that may give us a clue; Maybe I can trace its origins from one of my reference books. Gavin: That's a nice one, and yes, there's something very special about navajas. Fernado: Thanks for the correction, but keep in mind that many of the cutlers were illiterate, so bad spelling was the norm, rather than the exception And here's my loose tranlsation into English: "Cuando acaricia mi mano" "la cacha de esta navaja" hasta los valientes tremblan" (tremble) "al ver mis bravas hazañas" (feats) When my hands caress the handle of this navaja Even the brave tremble After having seen my brave feats. Cheers Chris Last edited by Chris Evans; 10th August 2015 at 11:40 AM.

4th August 2015, 02:37 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,274	Wow, two beautiful navajas!

4th August 2015, 03:11 PM	#3
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Detlef, Thanks for the compliment, they are indeed a level above what was being sold in the old days. But I feel a bit silly. I had the answer to one of my questions all along in one of my books. "E Leon" was most likely the cutler from Santa Cruz whose full name was Enrique Leon Lopez, active in the 1950s. There are other navajas of similar high quality in existence, all bearing the same inscription. Cheers Chris PS My source is La Navaja De Santa Cruz De Mudela