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**VERY LARGE**QUALITY**19th Century French Riberon Spanish Import Navaja Folding Fighting / Utility Knife With Maker Marked Sharp Scimitar Form Blade, Decorated Polished Horn & Brass Section Scales. Sn 22193 - 22193 The Navaja is a traditional Spanish folding-blade fighting and utility knife. One of the oldest folding knife patterns still in production, the first true Navajas originated in the Andalusian region of southern Spain. In Spain, the term navaja is often used to generally describe all folding-blade knives. The etymology of the word navaja is derived from the Latin novacula, meaning razor, and the Andalusian knife known as the navaja is thought to have derived from the navaja de afeitar, or straight razor used for shaving. Like the straight razor, the navaja's blade folds into the handle when not in use. In Spain the navaja epitomized the concept of a defensive knife to be carried at all times on the person. The design is thought to have been first adopted by the working classes - mule drivers, teamsters, artisans, and sailors as well as by the majos, the "gentlemen of the lower class" of Andalusia. Its association with barateros, pícaros, jácaros and rufos (gamblers, rogues, ruffians, and thugs) comes from its frequent use as a weapon of the underworld, where it was often used to enforce the collection of gambling debts or to rob innocent victims. Towards the end of the 19th century, French cutlers started mass-producing millions of navajas, and eventually drove the Spanish artisanal production out of business. This quality made example is one of the French export Navajas made for the Spanish market. The steel blade in scimitar form is just over 8” in length, 1 ½” broad at its widest and the spine is 3mm thick. The blade has dark age related staining consistent with age and one side has the faint French makers name ‘Riberon’, a known maker of Navaja's. The knife measures 17 ¾” overall length when open. The knife has Polished Horn scales set on a brass frame & secured by dome head brass pins. The lower polished horn sections have attractive typical naïve foliate hand applied decoration. The upper scales have been polished until translucent and coloured with a Tortoise Shell appearance. One of the upper scales is inlaid with a white metal escutcheon engraved with flower device. The upper scalloped bolsters are brass. The lower bolsters have typical brass roundels. The price for this attractive fighting / utility knife worthy of further research regarding the maker includes UK delivery. Sn 22193 (folding knives drawer office)
£375.00
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