South African Navaja for comment

Battara · 4th March 2006, 06:58 PM

Oh yes I agree in that it was orginally made in Spain and exported or found its way to South Africa. The "boor" spelling is an alternative Afrikaans spelling of "Boer". I will see what I can do in the extra photos.

Chris Evans · 5th March 2006, 02:48 AM

Hi Battara,

That is almost certainly a Spanish navaja, and given its general shape, most likely from Sevilla. According to samples given in Forton's Navajas Antiguas, it was probably made in the late 19th century, at a time when the navaja was on its way out of usage in Spain and the few cutlers that remained tried to sell their wares in the remaining Spanish colonies. How that one ended up with the Afrikaans inscription is a bit of a mystery as the blades were generally etch engraved before the knife was assembled. It could have been custom made in Spain for a Boer customer, or alternatively, the etched engraving could have been added later

There is always the possibility, though remote, that that knife was made not in Spain, but elsewhere, as they were made in many parts of the world, as afar as India, their basic construction being very low tech, though quite labour intensive - Perhaps by a Spanish cutler who migrated to S.Africa. The style of engraving on the bolsters and the blade strongly suggests Spanish workmanship.

On second thought, are you sure that inscription is in Afrikaans and not misspelled Spanish? Those cutlers were for most part illiterate and their spelling was notoriously bad - Those words could overlap with misspelled Spanish.

Cheers
Chris Evans

Battara · 5th March 2006, 09:33 PM

I am quite sure it is Afrikaans, especially since I am somewhat familiar with Afrikaans and even more familiar with Spanish. I think the message was engraved later than the manufacture of the blade.

Chris Evans · 7th March 2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I am quite sure it is Afrikaans, especially since I am somewhat familiar with Afrikaans and even more familiar with Spanish. I think the message was engraved later than the manufacture of the blade.

Well, you certainly have a most unusual and collectable navaja.

Cheers
Chris

RSWORD · 7th March 2006, 02:50 AM

Actually, Jose, I made that request several years ago.

fernando · 7th March 2006, 07:59 PM

Sorry to interfere.
It is indeed fascinating that this spanish navaja ended up in SouthAfrica.
Forton assures that national production was so short, comparing to local demans that, in fact, during 1850-1869 ( there are no prior registration records ) Spain has imported an average ( imagine ) one million navajas per year ... no razor specimens included ( the name navaja actually comes from a type of razor blade ). Instead, their exports were minimum and practically directed to Portugal.
So hardly this is a trade piece ?
I have resided in Durban for a couple years, working with Afrikaaner coleagues. Their language is fascinating, both sound and construction wise.
But it appears that afrikaans started to be written in Latin alphabet long after the Boer war, like around 1850... as it was written in Arabic before, for circumstancial reasons. Could it be that the inscription is from an iliterate ( like the majority at the time ? ) doing "verbal" writting ?. Couldn't an "official" text be close to VAN A BOER (IN) WAAR ?.
But then, if this specimen is "from a true Boer", doesn't this mean this is a presentation navaja, from a Boer to somebody, probably another Boer?
Such an interesting piece.
Sorry again to have interfered.

Battara · 7th March 2006, 08:19 PM

Oh no interference at all Fernando. In fact, you hit the nail on the head. I agree that the inscription was done by someone who could very well be illiterate and presented to another Boer.

Afrikaans in Arabic script - who knew?

"Several years ago" - good point Rick.

5th March 2006, 02:48 AM	#2
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 685	Hi Battara, That is almost certainly a Spanish navaja, and given its general shape, most likely from Sevilla. According to samples given in Forton's Navajas Antiguas, it was probably made in the late 19th century, at a time when the navaja was on its way out of usage in Spain and the few cutlers that remained tried to sell their wares in the remaining Spanish colonies. How that one ended up with the Afrikaans inscription is a bit of a mystery as the blades were generally etch engraved before the knife was assembled. It could have been custom made in Spain for a Boer customer, or alternatively, the etched engraving could have been added later There is always the possibility, though remote, that that knife was made not in Spain, but elsewhere, as they were made in many parts of the world, as afar as India, their basic construction being very low tech, though quite labour intensive - Perhaps by a Spanish cutler who migrated to S.Africa. The style of engraving on the bolsters and the blade strongly suggests Spanish workmanship. On second thought, are you sure that inscription is in Afrikaans and not misspelled Spanish? Those cutlers were for most part illiterate and their spelling was notoriously bad - Those words could overlap with misspelled Spanish. Cheers Chris Evans Last edited by Chris Evans; 5th March 2006 at 09:05 AM.

4th March 2006, 06:58 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Oh yes I agree in that it was orginally made in Spain and exported or found its way to South Africa. The "boor" spelling is an alternative Afrikaans spelling of "Boer". I will see what I can do in the extra photos.

5th March 2006, 09:33 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I am quite sure it is Afrikaans, especially since I am somewhat familiar with Afrikaans and even more familiar with Spanish. I think the message was engraved later than the manufacture of the blade.

7th March 2006, 02:50 AM	#5
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	Actually, Jose, I made that request several years ago.

7th March 2006, 07:59 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Sorry to interfere. It is indeed fascinating that this spanish navaja ended up in SouthAfrica. Forton assures that national production was so short, comparing to local demans that, in fact, during 1850-1869 ( there are no prior registration records ) Spain has imported an average ( imagine ) one million navajas per year ... no razor specimens included ( the name navaja actually comes from a type of razor blade ). Instead, their exports were minimum and practically directed to Portugal. So hardly this is a trade piece ? I have resided in Durban for a couple years, working with Afrikaaner coleagues. Their language is fascinating, both sound and construction wise. But it appears that afrikaans started to be written in Latin alphabet long after the Boer war, like around 1850... as it was written in Arabic before, for circumstancial reasons. Could it be that the inscription is from an iliterate ( like the majority at the time ? ) doing "verbal" writting ?. Couldn't an "official" text be close to VAN A BOER (IN) WAAR ?. But then, if this specimen is "from a true Boer", doesn't this mean this is a presentation navaja, from a Boer to somebody, probably another Boer? Such an interesting piece. Sorry again to have interfered.

7th March 2006, 08:19 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Oh no interference at all Fernando. In fact, you hit the nail on the head. I agree that the inscription was done by someone who could very well be illiterate and presented to another Boer. Afrikaans in Arabic script - who knew? "Several years ago" - good point Rick.