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Post by troy2000 on Jun 4, 2021 20:53:10 GMT
My favorite desk ornament, and the one I tend to fiddle with during boring phone calls, is a navaja - a traditional style of fighting knife from Spain. It's about 12" overall when opened, with close to a 6" blade. The scales look like mother of pearl, the blade is stainless steel, and the rest of it seems to be German silver. The blade is marked INOX and Albacete, with the capital A embellished and extended. It also says RC-something-something I can't quite make out; probably a couple of numerals. The previous owner said it was about 90 years old. I assume that was an educated guess, rather than a proven fact. I'm aware that INOX means stainless steel, and Albacete is a center of knife-making in Spain. This is probably the only knife I own that I have no practical use for, aside from occasionally using it as a letter opener. But I like it and won't be turning loose of it, and would appreciate any info I can gather. It would be nice if someone could identify a maker, although I know that's a long shot - and I can't help wondering what its market value range might be. I'm pretty sure I don't have a $2,000.00 collectible, but I'm also pretty sure it's more than just a $20.00 eBay item.
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Post by troy2000 on Jun 4, 2021 20:58:35 GMT
A close-up of the blade markings. Attachments:
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Jun 4, 2021 22:13:59 GMT
Just from a quick ebay search I'm going to guess it's worth at least a few hundred if you're willing to wait a while for a buyer. Interested to see a more educated take.
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Post by troy2000 on Jun 5, 2021 0:38:40 GMT
Just from a quick ebay search I'm going to guess it's worth at least a few hundred if you're willing to wait a while for a buyer. Interested to see a more educated take. Thanks for the input. It's probably the most impractical thing I've ever owned; I'll never be knife fighting in the streets or alleyways of Seville at midnight. But it's fun to just handle. It feels like something substantial in your hand, if you know what I mean. It's well-balanced with plenty of grip, and the taper keeps you from sliding forward onto the blade; what looks like a flat spot in the middle of the blade is actually a scallop that makes it easier to grip when you're pulling it out; the flick of a finger or thumb raises the lever on the back to disengage the blade so you can fold it; there's a nice texture and temperature contrast between the mother of pearl and the German silver; etc.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2021 20:04:31 GMT
I'm surprised random hasn't chimed in. He knows a lot about these kinds of knives I think. Unless the ones he likes are different, then it shows how little I know lol
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Post by randomnobody on Jun 6, 2021 2:03:03 GMT
I own a few modern Spanish navaja, but I'm not very good at old ones. I've tried searching several iterations of what the ricasso might say, but I've had no luck finding any matches. I remember, when I bought mine, ages ago, there were specialized forums dedicated to Spanish knives and their collecting. Trying to find those again took me here: www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/antique-pearl-handled-genuine-spanish-navaja-locking-clasp-knife.127338/...which led me to believe you already have more information on this piece than we can give you.
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Post by troy2000 on Jun 6, 2021 2:55:54 GMT
I own a few modern Spanish navaja, but I'm not very good at old ones. I've tried searching several iterations of what the ricasso might say, but I've had no luck finding any matches. I remember, when I bought mine, ages ago, there were specialized forums dedicated to Spanish knives and their collecting. Trying to find those again took me here: www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/antique-pearl-handled-genuine-spanish-navaja-locking-clasp-knife.127338/...which led me to believe you already have more information on this piece than we can give you. Yep, that's where I got it. Not the sort of thing you'd normally pick up in a muzzle loading forum... but I'm already inordinately fond of it anyway, and my son is going to be stuck with it someday when I'm gone. I guess he can deal with it after he figures out what to do with all my WW1/WW2 bolt action rifles, flintlock pistols, side-by-side shotguns, flintlock long rifles, and other miscellanea.
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