Interesting Spanish Canary Islands Punal

[Chris Evans]

Hi Gene,

Originally Posted by Atlantia

I'm happy with either designation to be honest. I think these are a bit of a missed opportunity in the colllecting field as they are rather nice.
I've had a proper Albacete punal for a while and have missed getting a few of these canary 'baby brothers' on ebay I was delighted to find this one at a boot-sale last week.

I am with you on this one - They are rather eye catching.

I completely see why you'd think it was the rest of the handle had worn down but its actually the other way around and the metal spacers are soft but raised. Definately there to afford better grip....Which is why I thought it was worthy of a thread.

Given that they are hand made, at least used to be, I wonder how they intentionally achieved that effect. I mean, the oversized disks are easy enough, but were the others polished/filed down? Can you see abrasion or wear marks on the spacers in the valleys?

In that second link I gave, you can see how they are made and would appear that they aim for a smooth finish. Of course, being made one at a time they can cater for individual requests and preferences. Judging from the photos, it would seem that a number of the spacers were not abraded down - Just a thought, could it be an unfinished knife?
Cheers
Chris

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

...Just a thought, could it be an unfinished knife? ...

I humbly subscribe such reasoning
Fernando

[Atlantia]

Hi Gentlemen,
I must admit I did initially wonder that myself, but the other disks are polished and finished
Also the rest is finished and it has a scabbard.
You dont think this is a crude way of adding grip?
Lol, unfinished wouldn't be a problem they are soft metal disks.

[Chris Evans]

Hi Gen,

I have the feeling that this will remain one of those unresolved mysteries.

Are you going to sand the disks down and finish it?

Cheers
Chris

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

Hi Gen,

I have the feeling that this will remain one of those unresolved mysteries.

Are you going to sand the disks down and finish it?

Cheers
Chris

I'm Undecided Chris!
I can't imagine its not deliberate to have these disks there but they are weird for sure....
hmmm, not a decision I'lll rush

Regards
Gene

[celtan]

Hi,

There are lots of spanish terms for the small armas blancas.
The facon tends to be a larger, more brutish type of field blade.
Cuchillo is a generic term, that can be applied to all, even to cooking/eating utensils.
A daga/dagger suggest a more elaborate affair, more knightly and developed, elegant even, and usually sporting a developed cross guard. They are highly personalized.
A puñal is virtually any fighting blade that can be held in a fist, not refined, its crossguard being either very small or absent.
The navajas and cuchillas (feminine terms) apply only to folding knives, albeit they can be of herculean dimensions.
Me'self, I highly dislike the traditional spanish knives in general. like the Albacetes. Their brute shape seems to infer a decidedly ruffianish nature. OTOH, I find the shape of the old swiss daggers extremely attractive.
I guess that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...: )

Best
Manolo

Originally Posted by Atlantia

I'm Undecided Chris!
I can't imagine its not deliberate to have these disks there but they are weird for sure....
hmmm, not a decision I'lll rush

Regards
Gene

[Chris Evans]

Hi Manolo,

Originally Posted by celtan

Hi,

A puñal is virtually any fighting blade that can be held in a fist, not refined, its crossguard being either very small or absent.

Nicely put, though I would add that such a grip emphasizes the use of the point, so it is not really applicable to a knife primarily intended to cut.

The navajas and cuchillas (feminine terms) apply only to folding knives, albeit they can be of herculean dimensions.

I am not sure about current Spanish colloquialisms (the old ones are largely forgotten or of uncertain meaning due to the vide spread illiteracy that persisted until WWII ) but in South America, a "cuchilla" is applied to any broad fixed blade. But the folks who use them are not all that concerned with correct terminology and cuchillo/cuchilla are often used synonimously.

OTOH, I find the shape of the old swiss daggers extremely attractive. I guess that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...: )

I certainly agree with you on this one. Generally daggers were intended as companion weapons an were often lavishly decorated, but even the simpler ones had a certain gracefulness about them, albeit a deadly one.

Cheers
Chris