Goucho Knife

Miguel · 16th September 2016, 07:31 PM

Hello everyone, thought you may like to see this item for comment and interest. I think it is one of the small knives used by the Gauchos for utility purposes such as eating etc. It is a very pretty piece having a a silver hilt and scabbard heavily embossed with floral decoration. The blade is made from good quality steel and has a keen edge.
O/L is 8.25 ins, blade length is 4.75 ins x 1 ins wide.
Regards
Miguel

Oliver Pinchot · 17th September 2016, 01:50 AM

That's a very handsome knife, Miguel.
It dates 1950s-60s, and I think this manufacturer is still in business. The mounts are Alpaca metal, this is another term for nickel silver.

Chris Evans · 17th September 2016, 02:01 AM

Miguel,

You have a small Creole knife, (Cuchillo Criollo) made by the late “La Movediza” factory in Tandil (Prv Buenos Aires) Argentina. The sheath and handle are made from German silver (Alpaca), a cheap substitute for real silver.

Cutlery was imported into Argentina up to WWII, but during the hostilities they were forced to make their own and La Movediza, named after a locally famous rock, was such an enterprise, but which lamentably ceased production in 1963. As such, these blades acquired desirability as collectables, though the famous European brands imported earlier, remain the most sought after.

Cheers
Chris

PS For the rock, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedra_Movediza

VANDOO · 17th September 2016, 06:02 AM

YOURS IS A NICE LITTLE KNIFE. HERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF ITS FULL SIZE COUSINS FOR COMPARISON.

Chris Evans · 17th September 2016, 07:03 AM

Vandoo,

Now that is a knife, or rather a `facon' of heroic proportions!

Could you tell us something about its provenance?

Cheers
Chris

VANDOO · 17th September 2016, 07:09 AM

UNFORTUNATELY THE KNIFE IS NOT MINE AND ALL I HAVE IS THE PICTURE AND NO MEASUREMENTS. THE BLADE MAY HAVE BEEN MADE FROM AN OLD BAYONET BUT OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T ADD MORE.

Chris Evans · 17th September 2016, 08:28 AM

Vandoo,

Well, even just as eye candy it is a handsome piece indeed!

Cheers
Chris

Miguel · 17th September 2016, 04:52 PM

Thank you Oliver and Chris for your very informative comments and Vandoo for showing its big brother. I would have liked to have owned one of those.

Regards
Migue

16th September 2016, 07:31 PM	#1
Miguel Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 584	Goucho Knife Hello everyone, thought you may like to see this item for comment and interest. I think it is one of the small knives used by the Gauchos for utility purposes such as eating etc. It is a very pretty piece having a a silver hilt and scabbard heavily embossed with floral decoration. The blade is made from good quality steel and has a keen edge. O/L is 8.25 ins, blade length is 4.75 ins x 1 ins wide. Regards Miguel Attached Images

17th September 2016, 06:02 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	YOURS IS A NICE LITTLE KNIFE. HERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF ITS FULL SIZE COUSINS FOR COMPARISON. Attached Images

17th September 2016, 01:50 AM	#2
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 456	That's a very handsome knife, Miguel. It dates 1950s-60s, and I think this manufacturer is still in business. The mounts are Alpaca metal, this is another term for nickel silver.

17th September 2016, 02:01 AM	#3
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 661	Miguel, You have a small Creole knife, (Cuchillo Criollo) made by the late “La Movediza” factory in Tandil (Prv Buenos Aires) Argentina. The sheath and handle are made from German silver (Alpaca), a cheap substitute for real silver. Cutlery was imported into Argentina up to WWII, but during the hostilities they were forced to make their own and La Movediza, named after a locally famous rock, was such an enterprise, but which lamentably ceased production in 1963. As such, these blades acquired desirability as collectables, though the famous European brands imported earlier, remain the most sought after. Cheers Chris PS For the rock, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedra_Movediza

17th September 2016, 07:03 AM	#5
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 661	Vandoo, Now that is a knife, or rather a `facon' of heroic proportions! Could you tell us something about its provenance? Cheers Chris

17th September 2016, 07:09 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	UNFORTUNATELY THE KNIFE IS NOT MINE AND ALL I HAVE IS THE PICTURE AND NO MEASUREMENTS. THE BLADE MAY HAVE BEEN MADE FROM AN OLD BAYONET BUT OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T ADD MORE.

17th September 2016, 08:28 AM	#7
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 661	Vandoo, Well, even just as eye candy it is a handsome piece indeed! Cheers Chris

17th September 2016, 04:52 PM	#8
Miguel Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 584	Thank you Oliver and Chris for your very informative comments and Vandoo for showing its big brother. I would have liked to have owned one of those. Regards Migue