Obscure Weapons: Spanish Navaja Knife

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  • čas přidán 1. 04. 2021
  • Obscure weapon, but not a forgotten weapon. Here we look at the Spanish 'Navaja' fighting knife, with a bit of its history and use.
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Komentáře • 489

  • @asotpan
    @asotpan Před 3 lety +78

    I am South African and live in SA. Many years ago I traveled to Spain and bought a navaja in Toledo. I am also a bladesmith and recognizing that the locking mechanism is certainly the best out of all knife locking mechanisms, I have made quite a few of these knives, the largest having and 18cm blade. My daily carry is my own handmade navaja with a 12cm blade both for protection as well as general use. I believe I am the only knifesmith making these knives in South Africa.

    • @fidelgonzalezlopez9342
      @fidelgonzalezlopez9342 Před 3 lety +7

      Nice job mate, would love to see some of your navajas.

    • @LEARSIKCIGAM
      @LEARSIKCIGAM Před rokem +3

      I bet you sailors loved them, part of why the market was so strong in Spain

    • @Somerandomguy2998
      @Somerandomguy2998 Před rokem +1

      Okapi knives

    • @MrRugercat45
      @MrRugercat45 Před 7 měsíci +2

      Do you have a website or price list of your products? I love navajas, beautiful knives

    • @stefthorman8548
      @stefthorman8548 Před 20 dny

      Get yourself an expada xl

  • @caphikoki
    @caphikoki Před 3 lety +138

    The stress is in the second-last syllable, naVAja.

    • @javierbenabalgarcia1793
      @javierbenabalgarcia1793 Před 3 lety +10

      True, I'm Spanish, from Sevilla and it's true that's the correct way to pronounce the word Navaja.

    • @virginiahansen320
      @virginiahansen320 Před 3 lety +9

      I believe it's actually pronounced naRAnja.

    • @fidelgonzalezlopez9342
      @fidelgonzalezlopez9342 Před 3 lety +1

      @@virginiahansen320 xD

    • @Tareltonlives
      @Tareltonlives Před 3 lety +5

      @@virginiahansen320 Well, if the rind's hard you will need a navaja for a naranja

    • @catocall7323
      @catocall7323 Před 3 lety +2

      OM thank you. It was driving me crazy.

  • @leighrate
    @leighrate Před 3 lety +22

    During the Napoleonic occupation of Spain, their possession was proscribed under penalty of Death.
    Specifically death by garrotting. Which gives you a pretty fair idea how effective they were as a concealable ambush weapon.

    • @iryisa
      @iryisa Před 3 lety +6

      Appears in the famous Goya drawing "por una nabaja" - for a folding knife.
      fundaciongoyaenaragon.es/obra/por-una-nabaja/776

  • @HoJu1989
    @HoJu1989 Před 3 lety +106

    The most reputed Spanish knife makers were in Albacete (in La Mancha, the region north-east of Andalusia), to the point that these weapons were often called "navaja albaceteña" or just "albaceteña", similarly to how swords were named "toledana" after Toledo. Other name for the navaja is "siete muelas" ("seven teeth"), a reference to the ratchet locking system you mentioned.

    • @casiseguro2760
      @casiseguro2760 Před 3 lety +5

      Déjalo amigo. No merece la pena explicar nada a los ingleses. Primero le llama obscure segundo dice que es de Andalucía y tercero que ese modelo es francés.Ademas he estado viendo los títulos de sus videos y no hace referencia a ningún otro tipo de arma española,ni a a la verdadera destreza. Ningún respeto , qué se puede esperar de los herejes. Mierda pa él.

    • @HoJu1989
      @HoJu1989 Před 3 lety +14

      @@casiseguro2760 Cada uno es especialista en lo que es y para él puede ser un arma que considere oscura o poco conocida porque no es su campo, independientemente de las alusiones nacionales de cada uno. Y bien puede ser que ese ejemplar sea de fabricación francesa, los diseños viajan y se copian y desarrollan estilos diferentes. Si ha investigado que ese estilo de cachas es propio de manufacturas francesas, no veo razón para dudarlo. Respecto a la destreza, alguna vez la ha mencionado de pasada, pero como no la ha estudiado en profundidad, no quiere sentar cátedra, lo que es perfectamente razonable. Más respetuoso me parece eso que hablar sin saber.

    • @alvaro701
      @alvaro701 Před 3 lety +3

      @@casiseguro2760 Cualquiera diría que no has visto el video.

    • @LUDOVIKO8413
      @LUDOVIKO8413 Před 2 lety +2

      la mancha? region noreste de ANDALUCIA?, .... CASTILLA, castilla la mancha, never never never is andalucia, is other region, Albacete es Castilla, never andalucia. Siete muelles, no siete muelas.

    • @HoJu1989
      @HoJu1989 Před 2 lety +2

      @@LUDOVIKO8413 al norte de Andalucía, no EN el norte de Andalucía. El nombre de la región histórica es La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha es la comunidad autónoma moderna. Y se utiliza tanto siete muelles como siete muelas, pero sospecho que siete muelas es la forma original, que luego pasó a muelles por similitud de pronunciación, no porque la navaja tenga siete muelles, que no los tiene.

  • @carlosgarciamendez8157
    @carlosgarciamendez8157 Před 3 lety +93

    As an Spaniard myself i love this video.I am from Seville,Capital of Andalusia so navajas are part of our history.During the 2nd of May many french soldiers were killed with them.Best navajas are from Albacete.The sound they make when being opened gives the goose bumps to anyone haha

    • @nnmmnmmnmnnm
      @nnmmnmmnmnnm Před 3 lety +10

      My mother was from Jerez. I had a smaller version of this knife as a gift but didn't even know what it was. It has a very distinct look. I need to try and find it, somewhere in my house now.

    • @oz_jones
      @oz_jones Před 2 lety +1

      Yeah, I wouldn't want to get stabbed with a regular knife, let alone one of those.

    • @ricardoaraoz717
      @ricardoaraoz717 Před rokem +2

      Here in Argentina, navajas similar to the one shown but much smaller (15-20cm blade) are called sevillanas. They probably come from Sevilla?

    • @VFella
      @VFella Před rokem +4

      There are 3 things only we Spaniards can do
      * Clap our hands (producing actual noise and even making music)
      * Open a can with the Spanish can openers
      * Open a navaja with a single snap
      You forgot to mention how lethal they are in the fight against the bollos de Alcalá de Guadaíra (with a good shot of olive oil)!

    • @gabrielwolf7534
      @gabrielwolf7534 Před rokem

      ​@@elcuencodelafelicidadyou are a bit of an ignorant I guess

  • @HoJu1989
    @HoJu1989 Před 3 lety +43

    By the way, the treatise Matt mentions is called "Manual del Baratero", from 1849. I think there is an English version

    • @Kloashut
      @Kloashut Před 3 lety

      Yes, there is an english version. Although, from what I can remember, it is slightly limited compared to the original Baratero.

  • @SamuraiAkechi
    @SamuraiAkechi Před 3 lety +90

    Finally, someone of major HEMA vloggers have finally decided to pay attention to navajas and navaja fighting.
    4:31 This is totally a french made knife.
    9:19 There are some HEMA and martial groups practicing navaja fighting, and there are some italian families on the south (South Italy is sometimes considered to be a part of spanish hemisphere) are teaching knife fighting, though it's quite easy to find different sorts of bullshido.

    • @lalli8152
      @lalli8152 Před 3 lety +4

      Im curious how it can be seen its french made?

    • @SamuraiAkechi
      @SamuraiAkechi Před 3 lety +25

      @@lalli8152 The style and construction. As far as I know, most of the spanish and italian-made navajas (until late 20th century) were made with solid horn handles and had no metal liners. French navajas, as the one we see here were assembled with metal (brass) liners and grip pieces made of bone or horn. Second, the crossguard - spanish and italian-made navaja variations have simple bolsters (if they have any), french ones have this S- or Fleur-de-lis shaped crossguard, similar to italian Maniago stilettos.

    • @kyomademon453
      @kyomademon453 Před 3 lety +9

      Southern France it's also in the Spanish sphere of influence, mainly occitania

    • @lalli8152
      @lalli8152 Před 3 lety +5

      @@SamuraiAkechi Thank you for the detailed answer. This is really interesting knife design so i was genuinly curious

    • @SamuraiAkechi
      @SamuraiAkechi Před 3 lety +4

      @@andrewk.5575 I've read Denis Cherevichnik, a latvian martial arts researcher, and he criticises Loriega's writings as full of errors, especially his "Sevillian steel".

  • @BallisticPlate
    @BallisticPlate Před 3 lety +43

    I see Navaja. I click. I give thumb. I share.
    Full interaction for Matt.
    Good things.

  • @gerrero4504
    @gerrero4504 Před 3 lety +39

    Finally a weapon from my country!!

    • @Mister_Tac0
      @Mister_Tac0 Před 3 lety +3

      Navajita xD

    • @ArkadiBolschek
      @ArkadiBolschek Před 3 lety +3

      @@Mister_Tac0 Navajita plateá XD

    • @azazelreficulmefistofelicu7158
      @azazelreficulmefistofelicu7158 Před 3 lety +4

      It would be nice an episode about the pre roman falcata.

    • @manfredconnor3194
      @manfredconnor3194 Před 3 lety +1

      And an interesting one!

    • @arx3516
      @arx3516 Před 3 lety +4

      Rapiers, side swords, arming swords and great swords are also from Spain, they were not unique to Spain obviously, but they were widespread there. But it seems that knives have much more regional variation in Europe than swords, probably because peasants were much less cosmopolitans than nobles.

  • @joaoteixeira6443
    @joaoteixeira6443 Před 3 lety +76

    Fun fact: in portuguese, a navalha is also the name for either most small bladed weapons, or a shaving razor.

    • @tl8211
      @tl8211 Před 3 lety +16

      In Brazil, a navalha is the stereotypical weapon for an old-school street smart type.

    • @HoJu1989
      @HoJu1989 Před 3 lety +15

      It's the same in Spanish.

    • @eliasbram3710
      @eliasbram3710 Před 3 lety +6

      @@tl8211 Or the famous "Peixeira", the umbrella term for any knife that is not a table knife

    • @tl8211
      @tl8211 Před 3 lety +6

      ​@@eliasbram3710 I talked once with an old farmer from Espírito Santo who said that a lot of the people who came to work there from Bahia in the old days were nasty with a "peixeira" (and that some even had left Bahia due to "misunderstandings" with one), I always associated it to that (seems like the music wasn't wrong!).

    • @eliasbram3710
      @eliasbram3710 Před 3 lety +3

      @@tl8211indeed. I actually met a guy from bahia that had one of his friends stabbed in the kidney in a fight. He didn't died, But wtf...those guys sure know how to strike damage with a blade lol

  • @Entiox
    @Entiox Před 3 lety +39

    Some of us still use straight razors. I've been using one for about 25 years now. I grew a beard about 10 years ago so now I just use mine to shave my neck and cheek lines, but it leaves them nice and straight.

    • @butwhataboutdragons7768
      @butwhataboutdragons7768 Před 3 lety +3

      Maybe 10 years ago, there was a brief attempt here in the US to bring back the straight razor. I saw kits in Wal-Mart with the whole works, razor, shaving brush, cup for foam, and a manual to show how to use it all. Was wondering where the sudden interest came from, maybe some TV show or movie. That fad went away quickly though.
      My dad used one when I was kid in the late 70s to 80s. He went to a safety razor about the time I got to shaving age, probably not a coincidence, but also it was getting harder to find the straight razor and accessories too.

    • @Entiox
      @Entiox Před 3 lety +2

      @@butwhataboutdragons7768 there's still a pretty good interest in them online. I was a manager at a chain of cutlery shops when I started using a straight razor, and we sold them there so it made getting started really easy, and a lot less expensive with my managers discount. When the chain went under in 2006 I bought up as much shave soap as I could since there weren't many other places to buy it at the time. But starting, like you said, about 10 years ago it suddenly became much easier to get when interest in old school shaving exploded and bunches of new companies started selling razors, brushes and soaps online. I chalk it up to one of the good things to come out of "hipster" culture.

    • @Trollvolk
      @Trollvolk Před 3 lety

      Me too. Got my razor knive for 10 years now. It is way cheaper in the long term compared to buying always New blades for the "normal" T shaped razors. I only habe to sharpen it 1 time a year or so and use my leatherbelt from time to time. But i habe very thin hair. Straight razors feel better and the results are better too inmyopinion.

    • @beardedbjorn5520
      @beardedbjorn5520 Před 3 lety

      They have started to make a come back again as old school barbering as come back in style. Much like anything blade related though, you get what you pay for lol

    • @Entiox
      @Entiox Před 3 lety +2

      @@beardedbjorn5520 man is that true. The cutlery shopa I managed offered professional sharpening services and so many times in had someone come in with a cheap knife that looked like a razor wanting to get it sharpened to shave with. Then I'd have to explain that no amount of sharpening would ever get it able to shave cleanly because the low quality of the steel and heat treatment just wouldn't allow it.

  • @wilowhisp
    @wilowhisp Před 3 lety +7

    In the US I carry a modern version of that every day. The Cold Steel Espada XL.

  • @Hissatsu5
    @Hissatsu5 Před 3 lety +16

    I love the Navaja I studied the Manual Of The Baratero . The Navaja is the first tactical folder in my opinion!

    • @larrymccoy5394
      @larrymccoy5394 Před 3 lety +3

      During Peninsular war against Napoleon French soldiers suffered the navajas fear. Because wounds never healed in a slowly and pain death.

  • @kahn04
    @kahn04 Před 3 lety +41

    There’s a knife that was (maybe still is) popular in Jamaica that is commonly called a “ratchet” has the same locking mechanism, but much smaller. I believe the manufacturer was in South Africa called Okapi

    • @SamuraiAkechi
      @SamuraiAkechi Před 3 lety +8

      Yes. At first, Okapi were manufactured in Germany, now they're made in South Africa. Similar were also made in USSR (in Belarus) and Cold Steel has their own version named Kudu.

    • @dansharpe2364
      @dansharpe2364 Před 3 lety +4

      Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones carried one that he was given by a Reggae musician in Jamaica, whose name escape me.

    • @dansharpe2364
      @dansharpe2364 Před 3 lety +2

      And the Cold Steel Kudu which has both locking and non locking versions is incredibly cheap for a very good large knife.

    • @kahn04
      @kahn04 Před 3 lety +1

      @@dansharpe2364 interesting, I’ve never heard that story, and my dad is Jamaican. I’m really curious to know who it is and google is no help 😛

    • @kahn04
      @kahn04 Před 3 lety +1

      @@SamuraiAkechi nice, my dad had one growing up in Jamaica, and I’ve been looking all over to get one

  • @hector_2999
    @hector_2999 Před 3 lety +2

    There might not be any HEMA manuals around, but those styles are very much alive in parts of my country.

  • @eschaton7276
    @eschaton7276 Před 3 lety +2

    Here in Spain we tipically call the "navajas" with the clickly sounds "navajas de carraca" (the "carraca" is a musical instrument that produces a similary sound). Its an intimidating sound when you hear it, something you could compare to a pump-action shotgun in our context.

  • @BigBackInk
    @BigBackInk Před 3 lety +20

    Now I see where the Cold Steel Espada came from... Seen videos when Lynn Thompson talked about the Navaja knives being the inspiration for his knife, but I don't think I've seen one. Cool video Matt, thanks

  • @jamesdolan5236
    @jamesdolan5236 Před 3 lety +3

    The Navajo of North America most likely were called such for some sort if cutting weapon.
    There's another Spanish fighting style I have heard of that was practiced among the tailoring guilds that used large cutting shears (scissors) as a weapon. The scissors were opened and the cutting edges were held along the forearm.

  • @gre8
    @gre8 Před 3 lety +14

    The cloak around the arm technique is still seen in the Gaucho knife-fighting style in Argentina and Uruguay called Esgrima Criolla

    • @alundavies8402
      @alundavies8402 Před 3 lety +4

      People use their jacket to wrap around your left arm and use it to catch your opponents blade here in Britain still

    • @genghiskhan6809
      @genghiskhan6809 Před 3 lety +4

      That style still exists in the Philippines too.

    • @taylor_green_9
      @taylor_green_9 Před 3 lety +2

      Facón y Poncho is a hella cool fighting style

    • @notannie4798
      @notannie4798 Před 2 lety +1

      The one used by Latin gangsters you see in videos?

    • @pedroviriato9356
      @pedroviriato9356 Před 7 měsíci +1

      Los Gauchos y el cuchillo Gaucho es de origen español canario y su esgrima también llevada por los españoles .

  • @afinoxi
    @afinoxi Před 3 lety +60

    "What's with that dagger ?"
    "Sir this isn't a dagger."
    "What's that then ?"
    "It's just a switchblade I carry for utility uses , cutting boxes and all."

    • @Sk0lzky
      @Sk0lzky Před 3 lety +7

      Sir, it's an element of my traditional national costume so I'm allowed to carry it on board.

    • @roentgen571
      @roentgen571 Před 3 lety +5

      @@Sk0lzky There are a shitload of Scots who still carry daggers in their socks in spite of UK knife laws... lol

    • @oz_jones
      @oz_jones Před 2 lety +1

      Sir, this isnt a sword, it's literally a knife. I swear.

  • @nievesshiratama3964
    @nievesshiratama3964 Před 3 lety +14

    Yay, a weapon from my homeland!!

  • @fricki1997
    @fricki1997 Před 3 lety +13

    Many know the folding knife.
    Few are aware of the folding shortsword.

  • @adroy4169
    @adroy4169 Před 3 lety +6

    As a lot of this were made by french cutlers in Thiers, they also were used by the parisian «apaches » of 1900 and a simplified version (nicknamed cra-cra) was sometimes used in the trenches of WW1 as a utility knife.

  • @andreweden9405
    @andreweden9405 Před 3 lety +8

    These were very popular and commonly used in late 18th/early 19th century New Orleans as well, due to the Spanish influence there.

  • @chrisosh9574
    @chrisosh9574 Před 3 lety +2

    You can find and download the 'Manual de Baratera' online, it's a 66 page pdf.
    I know of a few Andalusian Gitanos who still practice the Baratera' fighting style with sticks and jackets.
    On a couple of occasions I have had a chance to handle one of these Navajas and the balance is pretty good.

  • @fuferito
    @fuferito Před 3 lety +7

    A knife so great they not only named a guy named Pedro after it, they dedicated an actual song to him and the knife.

  • @ramonvelasquez8431
    @ramonvelasquez8431 Před 3 lety +19

    Could this be where the Cold Steel folks got the inspiration for their huge "Espada" folder? That'd be quite interesting, from a historical point of view and as a novelty factor. Nice vid, mate!

    • @januszstrzelecki4440
      @januszstrzelecki4440 Před 3 lety +5

      Yes, and Vaquero model was even earier example of such inspiration

    • @matthewconner5545
      @matthewconner5545 Před 3 lety +4

      Yes, they say that in the advertising/product description. I have one of the XLs, and it is stupidly large. I do have a few pairs of pants with front pockets deep enough that with the clip over the edge of the pocket, are just deep enough for the handle to rest at the bottom. Only ever carried it in such a way for the lulz, though, and rarely.

    • @mallardtheduck406
      @mallardtheduck406 Před 3 lety +2

      Too expensive for Cold Steel, sorry.

    • @IvanEqu
      @IvanEqu Před 3 lety +1

      @@matthewconner5545 Large navajas or folding knives are much better carried under the waistline of trouser, (front or back) than in the pocket. :-)

    • @ricardosoto5770
      @ricardosoto5770 Před 2 lety

      @@IvanEqu Yep IWB carry.

  • @alantheinquirer7658
    @alantheinquirer7658 Před 3 lety +2

    First time I saw a Navaja was in my childhood, while watching the feature film "The Pride and The Passion", as used by the Spanish rebels. :-)

  • @IlBaroneRozzo
    @IlBaroneRozzo Před 3 lety +14

    Italy has (well, had...) a similar knife culture. Every region has its own traditional style of knife, and there were knife fighting schools until the 1960s, because it was a form of traditional martial art. The cloaked arm for parrying was a thing in Italy as well, and some knife styles are similar to the spanish navaja. Also, some styles had 3 clicks when opening the blade: the first was used as a warning to the rival in a potential fight, the second was a challenge and the third used to mean "I'm going to stab you".

    • @oz_jones
      @oz_jones Před 2 lety +1

      Yeah, using a cloak as a shield seems natural, especially if carrying a buckler is restricted in some way (either by law or social status).

    • @lornbaker1083
      @lornbaker1083 Před 11 měsíci +4

      I've heard of knives that had multiple up 7 notches. The idea was the sound of releasing it was going to be similar to a violent hissing crackling sound as if you're a cat or a snake ready to just outright murder Most folks would run away. According to folk lore, at the sound of one being released, the ratcheting being a signal that anybody who is not involved in the fight needs to leave now or die, which is pretty cool. It basically had its own early warning system. In addition to basically being the best Close combat collapsible weapon that's ever been designed

    • @joejones9520
      @joejones9520 Před 11 měsíci +1

      @@lornbaker1083 some people say the ratcheting navajas were so it could be locked open halfway and easily used for shaving. I know that the first notch is a good way keep it from swinging open when closed and the last notch of course it keeps it locked open but the ones in between are the puzzling ones..carraca is what the cool sound they make is called.

    • @pedroviriato9356
      @pedroviriato9356 Před 7 měsíci +1

      Sicilia y todo sur de Italia perteneció a España 200 años,algunas tradiciones españolas llegaron a Italia ,en el tema cuchillería puede que también .

  • @bewarethegreyghost
    @bewarethegreyghost Před 3 lety +6

    The Navaja was also probably an inspiration for the American bowie and why bowies were so popular with in Mexican culture as well.

    • @leofedorov1030
      @leofedorov1030 Před 3 lety +1

      Absolutely. Spanish design hunting blades specifically were all the rage in the States around the time of Bowie knife development.

    • @derrickguffey4775
      @derrickguffey4775 Před 3 lety +1

      @@leofedorov1030 remember also there are a great many similarities between the Bowie and the Anglo saxon seax. Compare the two side by side and it is apparent. There was more than one influence in the design of the Bowie knife. Both blades were very versatile and used similarly as well

    • @pedroviriato9356
      @pedroviriato9356 Před 7 měsíci

      ​@@derrickguffey4775Busque cuchillo Macho Riojano español y vera el primer modelo Bowie.

  • @timothycampbell495
    @timothycampbell495 Před 3 lety +2

    An astoundingly good, and fully functional, modern interpretation is the Cold Steel Espada XL.

  • @winkleried
    @winkleried Před 3 lety +3

    I actually own two ratcheting Spanish Navajas. One was made by Vicente Haya, it has a blade length of 3 & 3/8ths inches and an overall length opened of 7 & 5/16 inches. I purchased it at a Spanish “Truckstop” in one of the industrial towns in the North of Barcelona. The other is a J.J. Martinez with a 5 and 9/16ths blade and overall length of 11 & 3/4 inches. I ordered it online. I tend to like the looks of the thinner narrower blades. Great knives though.

  • @cameronflint1378
    @cameronflint1378 Před 3 lety +40

    Love Spanish duelling culture. Have you seen Captain Alatriste and if so what did you think of the fight scenes?

    • @facundobinelli7564
      @facundobinelli7564 Před 3 lety +9

      I have seen it, i love the fighting scenes. And i love Diego Alatriste. Didn't read the books yet though.

    • @mallardtheduck406
      @mallardtheduck406 Před 3 lety +3

      That was an Awesome Movie, I Loved the calmness before the storm with Inigo's Revenge scene, very realistically brutal.

    • @beardedbjorn5520
      @beardedbjorn5520 Před 3 lety +6

      Matt’s seen it. I’ve literally been asking him to do a review on it for 3 years haha

    • @SuperOtter13
      @SuperOtter13 Před 3 lety

      @@beardedbjorn5520 as have I🙂

    • @Aivahr1
      @Aivahr1 Před 3 lety +1

      The best of Spanish duelling culture was with swords

  • @VFella
    @VFella Před rokem +1

    @Matt : Navajas are still easy to find. They are used as working all-purpose knifes by hunters or even gardeners, just like a normal switch blade.
    You can find them in many cutlery stores of specialized "cuchillerias" (knife stores) sold also as decoration.
    Until the 1980s many people carried one for personal defense. And the smaller ones are still widely used for everyday stuff: You can open a bottle with the bottom side of the edge or open cans with it.
    And it is the standard knife for cutting Jamón Serrano.
    If you are interested, just search for a local cutlery in any city or larger town in Spain, they will surely have the bigger models too. Or if you happen to go to Albacete, you will certainly find excellent exemplars.

  • @abaddonpaladin
    @abaddonpaladin Před 3 lety +6

    A nice Navaja de baratero, as we call it in spanish. In some cases, it was used with a hat in the other hand, just like the illustrarion given. I belive it was a really popular way to fight in Chile, in the colonial era. In Argentina, we used a cape (a poncho) as a offensive and defensive tool.

  • @anderbarongonzalez3356
    @anderbarongonzalez3356 Před 3 lety +24

    Another idea for obscure Spanish weapons, Matt, since you seem to like 18th-19th century style blades so much: Check the traditional knives from Sastago (in Aragon) out.

    • @mallardtheduck406
      @mallardtheduck406 Před 3 lety +2

      Spanish tranistional dueling rapier's, beautifully odd. Phasing out the cup-hilt.

    • @anderbarongonzalez3356
      @anderbarongonzalez3356 Před 3 lety +4

      @@mallardtheduck406 Let's go even further into obscurity, how about covering the Almarada? Basically a medieval fighting icepick.

    • @Aivahr1
      @Aivahr1 Před 3 lety +1

      Very good proposition.

  • @BattleBro77
    @BattleBro77 Před 3 lety +3

    What a gorgeous weapon

  • @robmdq
    @robmdq Před 3 lety +9

    You should take a look at the Argentinean Facón, the Gaucho's knife, still used nowadays

    • @pedroviriato9356
      @pedroviriato9356 Před 7 měsíci

      El Facón argentino fue llevado por españoles a ese país ,es el cuchillo canario.

  • @junichiroyamashita
    @junichiroyamashita Před 3 lety +3

    Many italian dueling knives looks or somewhat resemble the navaja. Like the Santa Smacola Roman Knife, the Balestra Avellinese,neapolitan and sicilian dueling knives and so on. After all,those parts were under spanish rule.

  • @gallardoguitar
    @gallardoguitar Před 3 lety +2

    The mentioned 19th century navaja fighting treatise is called "Manual del baratero", if someone is interested in.

  • @Deeznutz002
    @Deeznutz002 Před 3 lety +2

    The Spanish Navalha reminds me of Italian folding knifes. Love Opinel knives an they are a fantastic example of folding locking knifes.

  • @sarchlalaith8836
    @sarchlalaith8836 Před 3 lety +3

    Lovely to see things other than swords, a lovely knife!

  • @ArkadiBolschek
    @ArkadiBolschek Před 3 lety +9

    0:00 Pffft, what's so "obscure" about a navaja, that's one of the most common weapons arou-
    0:03 _NEVER MIND_
    7:57 OMG that's the _Manual del baratero!_ I've got that in pdf! :D

  • @Primalintent
    @Primalintent Před 3 lety +5

    I found out about these about 7 years ago and grabbed one for myself not long after. The small ones are as cheap as any folding knife really.
    Love them tho. In some regions they're called Carracas because of the clicking noise their locking bar makes when you open them

  • @slingshotwarrrior8105
    @slingshotwarrrior8105 Před 3 lety +6

    A very nice fighting folder, with a rich history!

  • @complementarychaos
    @complementarychaos Před 2 lety +1

    My favorite aspect about these old Spanish folders is the legend that followed. I know Im four months late to the game pn this post, bare with me.
    The rough crowd at the time would call them "Carracas!", referring to the ratcheting sound the blade makes opening up. They used to say, "If you see the blade you lived. If you heard the blade...", well y'know.

  • @markstockford9109
    @markstockford9109 Před 3 lety +2

    Cold Steel Espada XL was modeled on these traditional knives, according to Lynn Thompson

  • @TheMrcassina
    @TheMrcassina Před 3 lety +5

    This weapon is used by one of the characters of a late XIX-early XX century italian novel "il Corsaro Nero" from "italian jules verne" Emilio Salgari

    • @fuferito
      @fuferito Před 3 lety +3

      Indian actor, Kabir Bedi played Salgari heroes, _Sandokan_ and _Corsaro Nero_ perfectly.
      Childhood hero to many 70s kids.

    • @TheMrcassina
      @TheMrcassina Před 3 lety +1

      @@fuferito kabir bedi worked in italy...they movies were italian

    • @fuferito
      @fuferito Před 3 lety +1

      @@TheMrcassina,
      Yes, I know, but he was an international star.

    • @SamuraiAkechi
      @SamuraiAkechi Před 3 lety +4

      @@fuferito And spanish children were very fond of Curro Jimenez tv series back then

    • @TheMrcassina
      @TheMrcassina Před 3 lety +2

      @@fuferito absolutely

  • @ricardocastillo5485
    @ricardocastillo5485 Před 3 lety +21

    This is an absolutely outstanding and well researched and accurate video, thumbs up, the only minor issue I take is calling them "obscure", since they're moderately well known among people I know.

    • @GYMJAX
      @GYMJAX Před 3 lety +4

      I think the average person has never seen one in there life

    • @meaninglessname123
      @meaninglessname123 Před rokem +2

      Obscure is relative, isn't it?

  • @mattfick5502
    @mattfick5502 Před 3 lety +7

    Here In South Africa, smaller knives similar to that are called Okapi. They also have the ratchet mechanism and ring-pull. Here, because they're dirt cheap and disposable, they have quite a reputation for being used in crime
    Cold Steel make better versions

    • @Sk0lzky
      @Sk0lzky Před 3 lety +1

      Funny name, okapi is also a congolese animal which looks like a weird cross between a zebra and a dog

    • @mattfick5502
      @mattfick5502 Před 3 lety

      @@Sk0lzky Yep, that's a real Okapi :) I don't remember if you get them in South Africa. That animal is the logo for the knife company

    • @EmilReiko
      @EmilReiko Před 3 lety

      I have one pulled at me in a somalian small store in a coloured neighbourhood, by a dude plastered in bob marley merch... the store owner pulled a panga on him and he left quickly.

  • @inregionecaecorum
    @inregionecaecorum Před 3 lety +5

    I think the influence of that on the Bowie is quite clear.

    • @sebastianiglesiasperez8472
      @sebastianiglesiasperez8472 Před 3 lety +1

      Actually, these are earlier than the bowie and quite probably influenced the bowie!😁

    • @ricardosoto5770
      @ricardosoto5770 Před 2 lety +1

      Jospeh "Pepe" Llure is said by some sources to had a spanish fencing school in Lousiana in the early 1800s, He taught the sword and the navaja. a couple of brothers last named Bowie might has been their alumni. The bowie is raelly a short sword with a navaja style blade.

  • @Willy_Tepes
    @Willy_Tepes Před 3 lety +5

    Was the ratcheting meant as intimidation? I know that some places in Norway they put small steel balls inside a hollow tube in the knife handle to warn their opponent that a weapon had been drawn.

    • @jairogarcia3901
      @jairogarcia3901 Před 3 lety +4

      Yeah, that's basically it. Just as a sword sound when you take it out or a gun clicks when loading it, the ratchet is there for intimidation.
      In fact that's its only purpose, since it is very bad for the locking mechanism.

    • @RCZM64
      @RCZM64 Před 3 lety +2

      Number of clicks varied, but the most "iconic" was/is seven. That gave them their most common nickname here of "siete muelles" ("seven springs"), despite having only one.

  • @ptonpc
    @ptonpc Před 3 lety +1

    I first read about using a coat on the left arm from a novel in then 1980s. Good to know there was a historical basis to it.

  • @39MercFlathead
    @39MercFlathead Před 3 lety +14

    In Spanish, a navaja is a blade, not a specific type of blade. In Mexico an "arma punzocortante" (sharp pointed weapon) is illegal to carry. However, a sharp pointed tool is not. Whether the object is a weapon or tool depends on how it is used, or what the policeman who stops you thinks your intentions are. As one policeman explained to me, if you attack someone with a pencil, you were carrying an illegal arma punzocortante, and if you convince him that you are carrying a machete to do work, it is a tool.

    • @dgd666
      @dgd666 Před 3 lety +2

      In Spain you can legaly carry a knife only if it's a foldable blade and no longer than "cuatro dedos" (4 fingers) that is about 10cm (4 inches).
      Longer blades or fixed ones requires a deeper explanation to justify its presence in public places.

    • @lrdkuzco
      @lrdkuzco Před 3 lety +1

      @@dgd666
      Not exactly so.
      You can carry non-automatic knives less of 11 cm in length and a single edge.
      Knives can be carried regardless of their length as long as they are not double-edged.
      In any case, a police officer can search them and even punish the bearer if he considers it appropriate.

  • @gfhjkfghj4208
    @gfhjkfghj4208 Před 3 lety +4

    Everybody who read comics by Francisco Ibáñez, like Mortadelo y Filemón (aka Mort & Phil and Clever & Smart), probably recognises that style of knife. But I always thought the size was a cartoonish exaggeration.

    • @brunojesusguilperez8407
      @brunojesusguilperez8407 Před 3 lety +1

      Usually they are not that big. At least the ones from nowadays. But as you have seen in the video, they used to be huge when carried for fighting

  • @andypanda4927
    @andypanda4927 Před 3 lety +4

    Fascinating item - your inventory of blades and histories informative, almost consuming. Hope your inspiration continues. Thanks, again, Matt.

  • @astonemason9222
    @astonemason9222 Před 2 měsíci

    I have my fathers antique collection of navajas. The knife shown here with the rattlesnake tail has a blade fabricated in Toledo, the knife however was assembled in France. Good video, great knives.

  • @outyonder33
    @outyonder33 Před 3 lety +1

    That's really curious that looks so much like the cold steel espada I can see where Glenn Thompson got his inspiration

  • @12clr12
    @12clr12 Před 3 lety

    Beautiful Navaja, Thank You for sharing.

  • @Josh-rs6bj
    @Josh-rs6bj Před 2 lety

    That is one incredibly beautiful piece!

  • @joesierolon5171
    @joesierolon5171 Před 3 lety +1

    finally somebody talked about the navaja they are BEAUTIFUL

  • @gillesmeura3416
    @gillesmeura3416 Před 3 lety +2

    Mentioned in Carmen, the opera by Bizet, based on Posper Mérimée's livret, indeed in dueling context.

  • @corrugatedcavalier5266

    Great video! I've always been interested in these.

  • @smolknife
    @smolknife Před 3 lety +1

    2:22
    I will mention that a slipjoint (non-locking knife) can be used fairly safely with a point down edge in grip, with a plunging and plucking motion.
    The forces generated by the motion of your stab and rip would be working to force the knife open, rather than closed.

  • @ryansandwich1086
    @ryansandwich1086 Před 3 lety

    Really cool to see this unusual knife... Great video, and awesome work as always!

  • @andrejmucic5003
    @andrejmucic5003 Před 3 lety

    Very nice vid. I learned stuff. Thanks Matt!

  • @BCSchmerker
    @BCSchmerker Před 3 lety +1

    +scholagladiatoria *The **_navája_** is a large folding utility knife that meets some (but not all) of the requirements that James Bowie wrote up for a fixed blade* in the wake of the 19 September 1827 rumble at Vidalia, LA, USA. The clip should be at keenest an ax edge at the back to mitigate damage to pocket liners; the main edge can be close to a razor in angles.

    • @ricardosoto5770
      @ricardosoto5770 Před 2 lety

      Bowie might has been exposed to spanish knife fighting in while in LA. it was a former french and before that spanish territory.

  • @colinmcgrath2392
    @colinmcgrath2392 Před 3 lety +2

    They always make me think of Asterix in Corsica!

  • @CeltKnight
    @CeltKnight Před 3 lety

    Thank you for this one! The Navaja is one of my favorite old-world fighting knives. I do not *yet* have one in my collection but it's on my bucket list. I do have several overly large folders (a folding Kukri from Boker, for instance) and I can see the attraction to what is essentially a folding short sword. Anyway, excellent video, as always.

  • @jdzencelowcz
    @jdzencelowcz Před 2 lety

    I have a timber rattler extra large folder. It's more of a novelty, but it is pretty functional, the catch is on the end of the handle. Nice to see something familiar.

  • @robertschlesinger1342
    @robertschlesinger1342 Před 3 lety +1

    Interesting and worthwhile video.

  • @rhinolife13
    @rhinolife13 Před 3 lety

    That is awesome. Now I have to find one. Great video

  • @odinlordofasgard9748
    @odinlordofasgard9748 Před 3 lety +1

    Great video as always. We need more content about spanish weapons.

  • @1Thunderfire
    @1Thunderfire Před 3 lety

    I love the artistry of knives like these.

  • @powerplay4real174
    @powerplay4real174 Před 3 lety

    Really classy looking piece , true work of art for the blade series of the martial arts.

  • @artawhirler
    @artawhirler Před rokem

    Fascinating video, Matt! Thanks! You said that the navaja was so popular that it was also made in places outside Spain. I once heard that one of these places was the French city of Thiers which had been a knife-making center since Medieval times, and that the navajas they made there later became the inspiration for the famous "Laguiole" knives, named for a nearby French village, although many "Laguioles" were, and still are, made in Thiers.

  • @deniskozlowski9370
    @deniskozlowski9370 Před 3 lety +1

    Awesome, I've been waiting for a good video detailing the navaja for a long time! Some people believe that the Bowie knife was an evolution of this design.

    • @fidelgonzalezlopez9342
      @fidelgonzalezlopez9342 Před 3 lety

      The shape the modern Bowie Blade has, is registered to exist in northern Spain since the 13 century.

  • @flapjakhatstak
    @flapjakhatstak Před 2 lety +1

    If you want a quality ratchet Navaja, JJ Martinez makes wonderful ones from four inches to ginormous ones the size of the one in this video. I have the standard bone handle one about 4-5 inches long and its been my primary pocket knife for about a decade.

  • @barnettmcgowan8978
    @barnettmcgowan8978 Před 3 lety

    Excellent review of a rather intersting knife.

  • @Sophocles13
    @Sophocles13 Před 3 lety +3

    The Government is going to show up at Lynn Thompson's house to confiscate his Time Machine...

  • @andrewnawarycz3026
    @andrewnawarycz3026 Před 3 lety

    Absolutely wonderful to see a navaja of decent size, I love the one I have it being a wonderful multi purpose knife

  • @ziggydog5091
    @ziggydog5091 Před 3 lety

    Beautiful knife!

  • @neonbebop
    @neonbebop Před 3 lety +1

    You can buy this kind of navaja at every spanish road gas station. Any size you want, from smaller "legal to carry around" to the larger ones.

  • @dansharpe2364
    @dansharpe2364 Před 3 lety

    Great video!

  • @joesierolon5171
    @joesierolon5171 Před 3 lety

    great video 👍🏻

  • @rix3333
    @rix3333 Před 3 lety +3

    Opinel! My childhood's knife.

    • @shuvoaps7271
      @shuvoaps7271 Před 2 lety

      I want buy this knife,,,,place send me se sms buy & callecd address & way to collect this knife,,, how much price this knife

  • @LuxisAlukard
    @LuxisAlukard Před 3 lety

    That looks wicked!

  • @LedjoSolbjor
    @LedjoSolbjor Před 3 lety +1

    My favorite!!!

  • @junichiroyamashita
    @junichiroyamashita Před 3 lety +1

    The ratchet system looks like the Cold Steel Kudu one,or Eland. Must be the same used for the Okapi.

  • @marclacey2263
    @marclacey2263 Před 3 lety +2

    The film 'The Pride and the Passion' features a fight with these knives between Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant. I believe they are competing for Sophia Loren, which is a very good reason I'm sure you'd agree, but it's a long time since I saw it. As well as trying to impress Sophia, they are dragging an enormous cannon across the Spanish countryside. A ripping yarn, and worth the watch, if you're interested.

    • @mpetersen6
      @mpetersen6 Před 3 lety

      Grant uses Frank's knife against a different character. The mountain scenery was spectacular was it not.

  • @josesanchez-zf5sz
    @josesanchez-zf5sz Před 3 lety

    i'm from granada in andalusia and i'm aswell a very big fan of navajas
    i will love to see more videos about how they were used because i allways have discussions about it but i think its pretty difficult to find reliable sources on this topic

  • @Scarlet_Soul
    @Scarlet_Soul Před 3 lety +2

    Classic intro there

  • @trapperscout2046
    @trapperscout2046 Před 3 lety +1

    It reminds me of the Cold Steel Espada XL knife

  • @123edwardzpad
    @123edwardzpad Před 3 lety

    Thank you Matt, I really enjoyed this. You are a pro sir. Also I am hopeful for a Lk Chen sword review of the- Shield Guard Han Jian. Did they send one of those Sir? I thoroughly enjoy all your content. Cheers!

  • @kendallkruse355
    @kendallkruse355 Před 2 lety

    Matt another great video thank you so much and I love those knives can you go over some other Spanish weapons or stuffs particular to Spain?!

  • @cemetery895
    @cemetery895 Před rokem

    This is cool, I have the Espada XL, but if I wanted to go even larger than that, or an opinel 13, or a timber rattler scarab the only option I know of would be a old school navaja.

  • @M.M.83-U
    @M.M.83-U Před 3 lety +1

    Such an iconic weapon! Can I suggest the Italian duelling knives for the next episode? They are extra stabby.

  • @Eviligniter
    @Eviligniter Před 3 lety +1

    I didnd't find anything lacking with this vid, great job, its a very dear kind of knife to us spaniards,as you said, it was made famous during the napoleonic wars.

  • @user-vq6jc8uh6p
    @user-vq6jc8uh6p Před 3 lety +1

    Just want to note that, at least nowadays, a navaja is any type of folder, big or small, and even a balisong or an out the front knife are called navajas.

  • @phillipnunya6793
    @phillipnunya6793 Před 3 lety +1

    Looks like an antique Cold Steel Espada.