Cuchillo Criollo, "Gaucho knife", Brazil or Uruguay ? Age?

Norman McCormick · 2nd March 2023, 07:18 PM

Hi Detlef,
I suspect blades were imported from Europe and mounted locally. R.Laydner would appear to be a Cutler based in Porto Alegre, Brazil. If we accept that your knife and mine come from the same hand then yours is from Brazil as is mine. I see your blade doesn't have a manufacturers name on it so there is a possibility it might be local although I would probably err on the side of it being an import from Europe. As far as age is concerned I don't know but I don't see any reason it couldn't date from the late 19thC early 20thC. An e-mail to Abel Domenech would give you a much more definitive answer and I have found him to be most approachable and helpful. I didn't contact him re my knife as the stamps gave me the info I needed but I would be interested in what he had to say about yours as ours are near siblings. If you do contact Mr Domenech please feel free to send the photos of mine as well to show him the similarities in the hilt architecture.
My Regards,
Norman.

2nd March 2023, 07:18 PM	#4
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,613	Hi Detlef, I suspect blades were imported from Europe and mounted locally. R.Laydner would appear to be a Cutler based in Porto Alegre, Brazil. If we accept that your knife and mine come from the same hand then yours is from Brazil as is mine. I see your blade doesn't have a manufacturers name on it so there is a possibility it might be local although I would probably err on the side of it being an import from Europe. As far as age is concerned I don't know but I don't see any reason it couldn't date from the late 19thC early 20thC. An e-mail to Abel Domenech would give you a much more definitive answer and I have found him to be most approachable and helpful. I didn't contact him re my knife as the stamps gave me the info I needed but I would be interested in what he had to say about yours as ours are near siblings. If you do contact Mr Domenech please feel free to send the photos of mine as well to show him the similarities in the hilt architecture. My Regards, Norman.