Knife ID

[Andrewmtnman]

My dad pulled this out of his pocket today and said it was his father's knife. I'm curious if anyone has an idea of when and where it may have been made.

 

[necchi]

It is a well designed fantasy blade that took your grandfathers fancy and is something he kept.
The heirloom value is priceless.

 

[tallpine]

It's a Spanish navaha. Probably made in Seville Spain. Can't tell from the pictures, does it have a lock on it?

 

[Red Owl]

Ditto- Navaja. Check them on the web- still being sold. Many have a "dorsal" spring- or a flat, leaf spring atop the handle. Most blades lock. These knives were often made in huge sizes because Spain outlawed sword carrying unless you were a noble.

 

[Robby]

What era would these knives with a lock back come from. Appears to be a very nice and well made piece. Cool too!!!
Robby

 

[Andrewmtnman]

It's a Spanish navaha. Probably made in Seville Spain. Can't tell from the pictures, does it have a lock on it?

Yes on the top close to where it folds. Thanks tallpine! I'll try to get more pics

 

[Red Owl]

I'm just working from memory but I think back to perhaps 1600 but they were not really a trade item although they are mentioned in Russell's Book. Finding period folding knives is extremely difficult and there are many museum knives mistakenly identified as being from say the 1700's when in fact they date to about 1920 and were used in vineyards, etc.
There are even fruit knives- made of silver and used in southern Europe to cut fruit. These guys in southern Europe met together at side walk cafes, had a cup of coffee and cut up fruit. The silver blade was sort of thought of as being non lethal- so you could carry one around without any trouble. The French made similar knives that had these dorsal springs on top. Once again, very little evidence they were a trade item. All these, because they are friction folders or have dorsal springs- get id'd as "antique".
The penny knife was likely a common (or maybe even most common) folding knife among English speaking North Americans. Wick Ellerbe (on this forum) makes one. Maybe he will jump into this discussion. In French speaking areas, the friction folder was common.
AND... sort of a fantasy thing but I thought a tour group to Europe to visit all the knife making areas- that would be pretty interesting to me. Spain, France, England.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Strikes me as a fantasy knife made for tourists. Spain, India, etc.

 

[Mtman725]

That is unique. I great gift from your dad.

 

[Andrewmtnman]

There is an S in the middle of the handle. Would this be representing the maker or the last name of who it was made for?

 

[andy52]

I'd be thrilled to carry that in my shooting bag! As already stated some of the Spanish Navara knives were massive almost swordlike. Check out this drawing of a guy about to into combat with a huge Navara.

 

[Andrewmtnman]

A few more pics of the knife

 

[Mtman725]

The craftmanship is just over the top.

 

[Red Owl]

I didn't realize that knife was so well made. You ought to have a skilled appraiser look at the photos, etc. The NRA has a 3rd magazine called "Men at Arms" which is for gun and knife collectors and there are countless ads of the top brokers. They deal only in antique items. See if you can get an issue of that magazine. No way to tell but the knife may be worth some money.

 

[Andrewmtnman]

I didn't realize that knife was so well made. You ought to have a skilled appraiser look at the photos, etc. The NRA has a 3rd magazine called "Men at Arms" which is for gun and knife collectors and there are countless ads of the top brokers. They deal only in antique items. See if you can get an issue of that magazine. No way to tell but the knife may be worth some money.

Thanks for the advice, and it may be nice to know the value, but we would never sell it anyway. I’m curious of it’s history origin etc. I’ll check out the magazine