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**QUALITY**19th Century Spanish Toledo Steel Navaja Folding Fighting / Utility Knife With Sharp Scimitar Form Blade Marked ‘Toledo’, Hand Decorated Polished Horn & Brass Section Scales. Sn 21966:3 - 21966:3 The Spanish swordsmiths of Toledo garnered fame worldwide because they used a special technique for tempering the steel blades, and it was said that the waters of the Tagus River had special properties that facilitated the perfect tempering of the steel of Toledo. 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. This quality made example has the form and characteristics of those made in the 19th Century. The razor sharp, Spanish Toledo steel blade in scimitar form is 5 ¼” in length, 1” broad at its widest and the spine is 2mm thick. The blade has light staining consistent with age and one side is signed ‘Toledo’ within oval. The knife measures 11 ½” overall length when open. The knife has Polished Horn & brass section scales. The upper horn bolsters have been polished to resemble Tortoise shell & the lower horn bolsters has foliate hand applied decoration. The horn bolsters are secured by dome head brass pins. One of the horn sections have an inlaid white metal shield device. The bolsters are brass. The spine of the blade is holed for lanyard ring and has a later lanyard ring fitted. The price for this attractive fighting / utility knife includes UK delivery. Sn 21966:3 (drawers office)
£295.00
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