Navaja: what kind of knife is it, features of the Spanish bladed weapon navaja, are there folding ones, how to make it yourself

Navaja is a Spanish combat knife with a curved pistol grip and a blade in the shape of a plant leaf, suitable for household needs. There are many types of it: shepherd, “faithful”, albacete, de anila, sevillana, bandoliere, estillete, etc.

The most famous knives of this type are produced by Expocito, Joker, Martinez, Muela, Nieto. In Russia you can buy them for 3000 rubles. or a little more expensive, in Spain there are also more modest prices for souvenir navajas. You can actually make a knife with your own hands if you understand the principle of fixing the blade in the open position.

Navaja: what are the features of navaja

The Navaja is a folding knife of Spanish origin, distinguished by a curved handle reminiscent of an animal horn, with a short blade, a beveled spine, and a thin, sometimes raised, tip. Three large groups of guns are known:

Malaga with a blade in the form of a tree leaf;
Seville, also with a thin blade and a beveled butt;
Albacete, with a wider cutting part.

Navaja knife tool groups

1 of 3

Malaga variety

Albacete variety

Seville variety

For modern Navajas, blued steel is the usual type of blade material, including when it comes to modern weapons. The handle was made of wood, horn or animal bone. The size of the opened weapon is on average 45 cm, but these knives come in both shorter and longer lengths.

Description of the knife

The Navaja knife is considered one of the largest folding knifes. Today this product can compete with modern models. But before the navaja was 45 cm when opened. You must agree that this is quite a lot for a folding knife.

And some products could reach 1 meter. Such knives were called Novahon. With such a product one could safely defend against an enemy with a sword or sword.

Blade

The classic item was only handmade. The blade is located in a curved handle. The knife had one feature: all parts were fastened with rivets, which made it unsuitable for repair if it broke.

Product blades come in a wide variety of shapes. In different areas of Spain they differed from each other. The most common types are stiletto blades and bowies. The sharpening angle of the blade is very small.

Which makes the knife look like a straight razor. The most common grades of steel for blade manufacturing are alloys 440A and 440C. But you can find models made of Damascus steel.

Examples of Navaja knives.

Handle

The handle of the Navaja knife is generally thin and curved in shape. The length is always longer than the blade itself. At the end it makes a bend, which resembles the tail of a scorpion. This is a historical feature of the handles, as they were previously made from animal horn.

Modern models use materials such as brass, steel and various aluminum alloys.

But the base of these materials is made of wood or animal bone. This method gives the product beauty and overall charm.

Blade lock

Modern models of the Navaja knife use almost the same principles of opening and fixing the blade as their long-standing predecessors. A lock in a modern way sounds like a back lock. The mechanism contains a spring, and it is activated using a special lever.

To open the product, pull it up, and thus the spring will be removed from the tooth on which it is attached. Some models have a ring in place of the lever; the principle of operation of the product is the same.

Spanish Navaja knives.

Types and design

In addition to the Malaga, Seville and Albacete varieties, there are many more types of Navaja, united by the following three groups:

Name	External features
De Fieles	Quite a wide blade, the convergence of the butt and the blade is symmetrical, the handle is not very curved at the bottom
Pastora	The blade is wider than the previous type, the handle is lowered more strongly at the bottom, there is a bevel of the butt
De anila	The blade is similar to the classic one, without a bevel of the spine, the handle is long, the folding mechanism with a ring
Machete	Straight blade, similar to the first type, but longer and narrower, the spine has a soft bevel, the handle is smooth, without bending
Punto de espada	The blade is not wide, the blade has one “step”, the handle is bent down
Tranchete	Reminiscent of a boomerang, as the tip is curved down and the heel of the handle is raised
Estilete	With a thin straight blade, a narrow handle, the lower part of which is lowered
Albacetena	It has a pronounced protrusion on the butt, a thin point, the handle is long and bends down from the middle
Punta cortada	Smoothed edge, making the blade look almost rectangular, straight handle
Lengua de vaca	A short blade with a curve on the spine and an upturned tip, a small handle with a protrusion for the fingers and a strongly lowered tip
Bandolero	Similar to Albacetena, but the spine bevel and blade line are smoother and the blade is wider
Seviliana	The butt has a protrusion, the tip is straight, the handle is large with the tip pointed downwards
Salvavirge	A thin and small instrument, 15-20 cm long when open, with a protrusion on the butt, a handle that goes down smoothly and shallowly from about the middle

Blade

The classic Navaja blade has the appearance of a tree leaf, that is, a narrow tip. But the abundance of types of tools is associated with an equally large number of forms of this part of the knife. More often the Navaja blade is similar to the Bowie or stiletto type, but only wider. There are also completely original forms of this component of the knife, for example, like Tranchete or Punta Cortada.

Blade lock

The blade lock consists of a spring and a lever. The latter rises by pressing your finger upward, and the butt serves as an obstacle to it. As a result, the spring jumps off its holder, and the knife remains open, firmly fixed in this position. Instead of a lever, there may be a ring, which is larger in size but performs the same function.

1 of 4

Handle

It’s not for nothing that the Navaja grip is called a pistol grip. It is a thin curved extension of the blade (in an open knife), longer than it. More often, only the tip of this component is curved downward. But there are types of knives where the change in position of the handle begins from its center. There is also a Tranchete knife, in which it is not lowered, but raised. And Machete and Punta Cortada have straight cuttings.

The material of the hidden part of the Navaja handles is aluminum, brass or steel. But they are covered with overlays made of wood or animal horn, and decorated with metal decor.

We recommend reading about the coolest knives known throughout the world. From the article you will learn about the sharpest, most dangerous and beautiful knives, the ranking of the best knives in the world, the highest quality and most popular in Russia. And here you can read more about the benefits of the Nepalese kukri knife.

Blade shape navaja

There are blades of various shapes, but most of them are either “Bowie” or a stiletto-type blade. If the Bowie was used everywhere, the long and thin ones were used in criminal circles and were mostly used in duels. In combat techniques, the cloak deserves special attention; it was wrapped around the free hand and used as a shield or to perform diversionary maneuvers. Aerobatics in such a battle was considered not the banal killing of the enemy, but the drawing of a “pattern” of two crosswise cuts on the enemy’s face.

1 of 6

History of the origin of the Navaja knife

The Navaja knife was created in Spain, but its name is given from the Latin word novacula, meaning “razor.” This indicates an earlier origin of the weapon - from Ancient Rome. Just like the appearance of the Navaja itself - the handle looks like an animal horn, and the blade resembles the claw or fang of a predator.

Spain is considered the birthplace of the weapon because there it became part of the general culture, and not just part of military traditions. And it was in this country that the Navajas were made foldable. Nobles had them for protection and confirmation of their status, but also peasants and artisans who used tools in everyday life and for defense.

Since about the 16th century, Navaja has been distinguished by its small size (before they were large), it can be folded and easily hidden in clothes. Therefore, Spaniards of all classes carried such knives even after the introduction of a ban on the ownership of weapons for those who were not related to the aristocracy.

Swordsmanship

The art of fencing in Europe was most developed in Mediterranean countries. In Spain, both adults and children practiced this sport. In 1474, the masters of this particular country - fencers Panso de Perpignan and Pedro de Torres - published the first printed work describing this hand-to-hand combat. In general, the Spanish school significantly influenced the creation of the fencing system in Europe.

It should be noted that the gunsmithing craft in Spain is also famous for its centuries-old history. The swords and armor of this state were popular throughout Europe. Along with long bladed weapons, equipment with a short blade was popular - stilettos, Spanish knives, daggers.

The Spanish cuchillo knife, for example, is a simple product with a one-sided sharpening. By the way, this is the name given to all edged weapons with a fixed blade (hunting, kitchen, shoemaking, etc.), so the shape and size of the kuchiyo are often not the same.

Daga, unlike kuchiyo, was intended for combat and self-defense. It had a heavy dagger with a developed guard and a blade reaching a length of 40 cm. Externally, the daga looks like a small sword. The Spanish style of fencing "Espada and Daga" differed from others in that the masters who owned it held a dagger in one hand and a sword in the other.

Is a Spanish knife considered a bladed weapon or a combat weapon?

The Spanish knife was originally a combat knife, which did not prevent it from being used for household needs. But now this weapon can be called a cold weapon only if a particular specimen has the following characteristics:

the blade is more than 9 cm long, and the handle is from 70 mm;
a tip located 5 mm below the spine line for a blade up to 180 mm and 10 mm if it is from 180 mm;
tip angle less than 70 degrees;
butt thickness 2.7-6 mm;
blade steel hardness from 25 HRC.

But the majority of Navaja knives legally sold in Russia do not meet these criteria, so they can be purchased without special permission. They will be classified as souvenirs or household items, which are not forbidden to keep at home or carry with you.

It is possible to purchase real Spanish edged weapons in the Navajo homeland, where they are made by hand or in small factories. But it will not be possible to import such an item into Russia without permission. And there may also be problems with export from Spain.

Arcos Company

And now we have reached a very interesting company! The Spanish company Arcos dates back to 1875: then, in the small town of Albacete, craftsmen opened a small workshop that produced scissors, pocket knives and daggers. Over time, people stopped using daggers, but professional chefs around the world immediately appreciated the advantages of kitchen samples sold under the Arcos brand.

Today Arcos is a company of European scale. It has a couple of factories in the province of Albacete with a total area of about 30,000 square meters. In terms of production volume, Arcos takes second place in the world! Knives from this company took a 60% share of the Spanish market.

The company produces not only universal models like the famous “chef’s troika”, but also special ones – knives for oysters, cheese, smoked fish, salmon, boning knives, bread knives, vegetable knives, “Japanese chef’s knives” and even edged weapons for slaughtering livestock.

The Arcos company makes great knives! In addition, this company offers all kinds of hatchets and spatulas for meat, scissors for cutting poultry and compact “qualification suitcases”, which contain everything necessary for the work of a cook.

Pros and cons of using

Navaja has a number of advantages:

can be used as a self-defense weapon and a household knife;
reliable, lightweight, has a comfortable handle;
safe for constant wearing, traveling, hiking, as it folds;
no need to spend money on buying a sheath;
has an attractive and recognizable appearance.

It also has disadvantages:

the blade is securely fastened only to a fully open knife, and if the blade is not retracted enough, it tries to hide back into the groove;
it is difficult to put the tool into working condition with one hand, since it is not automatic;
The knife also closes with effort due to the presence of a stopper in the mechanism, which must be lifted.

Buying knives online

The first thing that comes to mind when you enter a Moscow store selling beautiful and high-quality knives is: “Shouldn’t I order a knife from a foreign website?” However, buying a serious knife online is not an easy task. Firstly, many stores simply do not cooperate with Russia. Secondly, even if the model is classified as household, is actively sold in the Russian Federation and is certified accordingly, the parcel may be delayed. There is a possibility that customs, citing Article 17 of the Weapons Law, will require approval of the import of a knife from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, since the purchase may turn out to be “an item structurally similar to a bladed weapon.” Another option is that the parcel is simply “wrapped”.

If you still decide to try your luck, find a certificate for this model in Russian. Before you buy a product, send it to the seller, ask to print it and include it in the package. Then all you have to do is relax and wait: if customs returns the goods to the seller, and he turns out to be decent, you will be reimbursed.

On thematic forums, knowledgeable people write that “storage items” pass through customs more easily, and there is no need to worry at all about an army “Swiss” or a modest penknife from WR Case.

Types of Spanish folding knives

Spanish folding knives, united by the name “Navaja”, are divided into several types:

De fiele (faithful) . The name of the gun was given due to its design features. It consists of a handle, a blade and an element connecting them. There is no lock here, that is, there is nothing to break, so the knife is trouble-free to use.
De anila (with ring) . This element is present on the retainer spring. If you pull the ring, the blade will hide in a recess on the handle.
Pastora (shepherd) . It has a flat and wide blade, held in working condition by a spring. At the same time, it was not fastened firmly enough, but this did not prevent the instrument from being used in everyday life.
Albacete (named after the city) . This type is distinguished by a beveled spine, a wide blade and the presence of a spring-shaped locking element on the handle. The handle was also decorated with metal ornaments, while the shank protruding from it was made of brass, and sometimes even of precious metals.
Bandolero (bandit) . On the contrary, this weapon has a narrow blade. And the bevel of the butt is so long and sharp that it looks like another blade.

Sevillana . The outline of the blade and handle resembles the previous type of weapon. But in Sevilla there is no expensive and pretentious decor.
Punta de espada (edge of the sword) . It is distinguished by a characteristic straight blade resembling a sword. And due to this feature, the handle of the weapon is less curved than that of other types. The blade has a bevel only at its end.
Machete (bayonet, sword) . Almost fully lives up to its name. This type of weapon is characterized by a straight handle, and therefore resembles a sword.
Punta cortada (cut point) . This weapon appeared in response to the ban on commoners having bladed weapons. Its beveled point appears less dangerous than that of the traditional Navaja.
Tranchete . This is more of a peasant tool, as it is distinguished by a rounded sickle-shaped blade. It is easy for them to do agricultural work.
Kapaora . Another household tool of peasant livestock breeders. It is distinguished by a wider than usual blade, similar to a cow's tongue.
Estilete (stiletto) . The main feature of this knife is its narrow and elongated blade. The handle is just as thin and long, and the weapon itself has a predatory and dangerous look.
Jerezana . The knife is intended more for attack or defense; it is distinguished by a particularly thin tip and a fairly wide base of the blade.
Carraca . This modification had a special device on the heel of the blade, which produced a characteristic sound when the blade was removed from the groove in the handle. With it, the noble Spaniard warned the enemy that he and his weapons were ready for battle.
Cortaplumas . This is a small office tool of the most primitive design. Cortaplumas are the smallest knives of the Navaja type. In addition to a blade for opening envelopes and cutting paper, they could also have had scales.
Salvavirgo . These knives are smaller in comparison with other sizes, as they were intended for women. Spanish women wore them to protect themselves from annoying gentlemen.

Watch this video for a review of the Navaja knife series:

Varieties of Navaja

In some versions of the Navaja, the folded blade was retracted into the handle only half its length. Outwardly, such a product did not differ from a simple knife with a short blade, which was usually used for small household work. But as soon as the blade opened, its length doubled. In the 18th century, this device was further developed in the Destin scabbard/dagger created by French Admiral Charles D'Estaing.

So, we found out that the Navaja is the largest of the folding knives. As a rule, the usual length of this sample when opened was 45 cm. Thanks to the curved handle of the Navaja, the fighter could always use a pistol grip, which, combined with the impressive length of the handle, increased the distance from which it was possible to neutralize the enemy.

It is interesting that some Navaja models in the open position reached a meter in length (even samples with a length of 185 cm are known). Such products were called “novajon” (navajon). With the help of novahon it was possible to successfully resist an opponent armed with a long bladed knife. If the blade was shorter than the sword, this deficiency was compensated for by the vigorous use of a hat or cloak, held in the warrior's left hand.

Subspecies depending on the area

In many regions of the country, Navajas had characteristic features unique to this area. The knives have their own characteristics, corresponding to their names:

korte (blade),
mayosa (thorn),
abaniko (fan),
herramenienta (fang),
pincho (point).

And all of these are navajas, with curved handles and leaf-shaped blades. A type of weapon called Navajon is also known. It is distinguished by its large size - up to 1.5 meters long. This knife was intended for combat and fencing.

A - classic Navaja; B - albacete; c - bandolero; G - Navajon

Sometimes, when you see different varieties of navaja side by side, it is difficult to believe that the tools belong to the same species. Their blades come in a variety of shapes. The only thing they have in common is a curved handle. But even among them there is a completely straight line - the “fish tail”, as well as one that deviates minimally from a straight line - the “flower”.

Ten classic pocket knives

Italian stilettos, which eject the blade with a beautiful snap, flooded the United States in the 1950s. This knife became a symbol of the Italian mafia.

The gentleman's knife from Le Thiers with a corkscrew comes from the region of France, where the best blades have been made since ancient times.

A Higonokami is a type of Japanese pocket knife without a locking mechanism, made for centuries in the same traditional manner.

Hunting knife from the Italian brand Fox, which has been producing knives since 1977. Many models are made using natural deer antlers.

The balisong (butterfly knife) is considered a traditional Filipino knife. According to one theory, it was invented by local fishermen; according to another, the knife was brought from Europe to the islands during the period of Spanish rule.

The Duk-Duk is a classic French folding knife that became popular in the African colonies. Its handle is made of a steel plate bent in a “P” shape. Inside there is a flat spring that holds the blade open or closed.

Remington Bullet is an elegant knife with two blades from the famous American weapons giant for those who for some reason cannot afford a rifle of this brand.

The scout knife from Böker was dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the German company.

The Kershaw 12GAD knife is shaped like a shotgun cartridge and fits perfectly into a hunting bandolier.

Pennsylvania cutlers WR Case cherish their traditions. All their products are marked “Made in USA” and “Handmade”.

Differences between modern models

Modern Navaja knives differ from ancient tools in several ways:

they are usually made smaller in size (both blades and handles), since the item is perceived as household or collectible, souvenir;
the handle can be decorated brighter than traditional knives;
wood, animal horns, mother-of-pearl, and artificial materials are also used for handle linings;
the blade is made of high strength stainless steel;
on it you can see the valleys, which play more of a decoration role;
The locking mechanism most often does not include an inconvenient ring, but a locking spring with a lever at the tip.

How to care for a knife?

The knife must be sharp. You can check its sharpness using a sheet of newspaper: a sharp blade cuts, but does not tear, a newspaper held by one end while suspended. The sharper the sharpening angle, the better the blade will cut, but the more careful you will have to handle it. Beginners are advised to sharpen the blade by hand rather than on a machine. Ideally, you should have a set of three sharpening stones of different grits. Details and subtleties of technology here:

If the knife becomes clogged with dirt, sand or dust from your pocket, blow out the mechanisms with compressed air or rinse with water and a brush. The design of some knife models allows it to be disassembled. Do not soak the implement in water, especially if the handle contains wood or bone. When dried, it may change shape or crack.

Lubricate your knife, especially after cleaning it with soap or solvent. Treat the folding knife joint with any gun or watch oil. Additionally, all blades, especially Damascus blades, are susceptible to corrosion and should also be lubricated.

Handles made from natural materials also need to be periodically treated with mineral oil or wax.

Knife fight with a long folding knife in Spain

A long folding knife in Spain was called Navajon and was intended only for combat purposes; it is inconvenient to use it in everyday life. The weapon was distinguished by its serious dimensions - the total length reached 1.8 m, and the minimum was 96.5 cm. The Navajon blade was narrow, stiletto-shaped. This weapon could:

reflect enemy blows inflicted with a sword or dagger;
stab and chop the enemy;
inflict damage on him with the handle.

That is why Navajons were used by the Spanish army and partisans, in particular in the Peninsular War of 1808-1814. against the French.

There were also rules for duels using navaja, which were as follows:

During the fight, the opponents held on to one short rope. It was impossible to throw your part to one of them, and the battle often ended with the death of both duelists.
During the fight, the opponents moved in a circle until one of them delivered a sudden blow. The second tried to evade him, which was very difficult, given the first condition of the battle.
Both used cloaks for protection. With hollow clothing one could not only try to hide from blows, but also make deceptive swings, knock the enemy down, and throw the cloth over his head.
Different grips were used to hold the weapon. You could take it with the blade down or up, and also put your fingers on any part of the handle. The latter was possible due to the fact that the blade of this type of weapon is shorter than the handle.

LiveInternetLiveInternet

The Spanish Navaja is the most famous of the folding combat knives. It is from the Navaja that all modern tactical folding knives trace their ancestry, and the Spanish system of knife fighting was the basis on which almost all combat systems with short bladed weapons were built.

Nowhere in Europe was the art of fencing as developed as in the Mediterranean countries, and none of these countries had such a rich fencing culture as Spain. It was in Spain in 1474 that the first printed work on the art of fencing was published by professional fencing teachers Pedro de Torres and Panso de Perpignan. The Spanish school had a significant influence on the formation of the European fencing system as a whole.

Weapons production in Spain also has a long history. Spanish blades and armor enjoyed well-deserved fame throughout Europe. Along with long bladed weapons, weapons with short blades were also widespread in Spain - knives, daggers, stilettos.

The Spanish cuchillo knife is a regular knife with a single-sided sharpening. Since this name refers to all knives with a fixed blade (hunting, kitchen, shoemaking, etc.), its shape and size could be very different.

Unlike kuchiyo, daga was intended for combat and self-defense. It was a heavy dagger with a blade up to 40 cm and a developed guard. Externally, the daga resembles a small sword. In the Spanish style of fencing, "espada y daga" (sword and dagger), traditionally the sword was held in one hand and the dagger in the other.

Another type of Spanish combat knife is the punal, designed for stabbing and throwing.

But the most colorful and best known of the Spanish knives is the Navaja, which was actually the progenitor of all European locking folding knives.

The first folding knives in Spain were no different from primitive European ones. When open, the knife was held by a long lever, which was an extension of the knife's shank. Subsequently, this design became a classic for straight razors, which are still produced by individual manufacturers, although they have been replaced by safer designs everywhere. Such razors were used not only by barbers, but also by doctors for surgical operations.

The name “Navaja” comes from the Latin name for the razor – “novacula”.

Subsequently, the awkward long lever on the tang was replaced by a flat spring on the top side of the knife handle. This design has significantly increased the ease of use of the knife for performing a wide variety of household work.

The design of the classical Navaja was finally formed by the 16th century. The main centers where the production of these knives was concentrated were Albacete, Bonilla, Valencia, Granada, Guarda, Mora, Santa Cruz de Mudela, Ciudad Real, Seville, Toledo and Jaén.

There were many varieties of navaja, depending on the place where it was made. Since the name “navaja” was the collective name for a folding knife with a fixed blade, its varieties in various regions of Spain were known under a variety of names: “moyosa” (thorn), “corte” (blade), “pincho” (point), “abanico” (fan), “herramenienta” (horn, tooth), etc.

In the classic version, it was a knife with a narrow leaf-shaped blade and a curved handle that tapered towards the end. In addition to the classical form, two blade forms were most often used. Navajas with a wide, powerful blade are called “albacete” in the place of their original production.

The second most commonly used type of blade was the bandolera.

The long bandolero blade had a concave false blade at the tip and a pronounced “belly” on the blade. In modern knife literature, this shape of the blade is given the name “blade with a beveled butt” (in English-language literature, clip point).

Spanish women were very scrupulous about protecting their honor and virtue. An indispensable ally against male tyranny was a small female Navaja, who was called “Salva Virgo” (“Salvavirgo” - guardian of honor). They differed from men's knives in their small size (when open, their length was no more than 15–20 cm) and the elegance of their finishing. Women wore this knife either under their dress on their chest or on their leg under the garter of a stocking. The latter method was more common. The knife was hidden under the skirt. But if the skirt, contrary to the will of the hostess, rose above a certain limit, a knife ended up in the woman’s hands, which was immediately put into use.

In addition to the listed types, there were also exotic samples with a serpentine blade, a folding handle, inertial ones with frontal ejection of the blade, etc. To work in the vineyards, peasants used navajas with a sickle-shaped blade.

In some varieties of Navaja, the folded blade was retracted into the handle only half its length. Outwardly, such a knife did not differ from an ordinary knife with a small blade that could be used for small household work. But as soon as the blade was opened, its length almost doubled. In the 18th century, this design was further developed in the "destin knives/daggers" developed by the French admiral Charles D'Estaing.

The Navaja is the largest of the folding knives - the usual length of the knife when open was 45 cm. The curved handle of the Navaja allowed the fighter to use a pistol grip, which, combined with the long length of the handle, further increased the distance from which it was possible to hit the enemy. Moreover, some specimens of Navaja in the open position reached a meter in length (even specimens with a length of 185 cm are known). Such knives are called navajón. The size of the Navajon made it possible to successfully resist an enemy armed with a long-bladed weapon. The somewhat shorter length of the blade compared to the sword was compensated by the active use of a cloak or hat in the fighter’s left hand.

The Navaja has transformed from a folding household knife into a formidable knife fighting weapon thanks to the secure fastening of the blade when open. The blade retainer (lock) was a metal strip - a spring in the form of a rocker arm, which was attached to the handle from the butt side.

When open, the protrusion on the blade's shank fit into the hole in the spring and prevented involuntary folding of the blade. The quality of workmanship and reliability of the knife blade were checked by simple tests. The most common way to check the quality of a knife was as follows. Two copper coins were placed on the table, one on top of the other. If, after being struck with a knife, the coins were pierced and the blade remained unharmed and did not fold, then it was considered that the knife had passed the test and its quality was not satisfactory. Sometimes the quality of the navaja was assessed using a wooden block 5 cm thick. A well-made knife had to pierce through it with one blow

Disadvantage of the ring design

was the great effort required to use it to lift the rigid spring of the stopper when folding the knife. Later, a more convenient system was developed, in which a special small lever (basque lock) was used instead of a ring.

The design of the Navaja lock was the prototype of one of the most reliable and popular types of lock for modern folding knives - the “blade spine lock”.

One of the interesting and mysterious varieties of Navaja are ratchet knives, which appeared in the mid-17th century, presumably in Seville. In these knives, the blade shank has several teeth, and sometimes it was even made in the shape of a gear wheel. Opening the blade of such a knife was accompanied by a characteristic sound “krrrakk”, from which, in fact, the name of this type of Navaja came. The functional purpose of this design of the shank is unknown. Some experts believe that this sound served as a warning to the enemy - a kind of “I’m coming at you!” Others believe that this design allows you to fix the blade in a half-opened state. However, in all navajas - carracks - that have survived from that time, reliable fixation of the blade is ensured only when it is completely open.

Sometimes navajas were found not only with an unconventional blade shape, but also with a rather intricate lock, ensuring convenient removal of the navaja from the lock. A similar system has already been used by the French in the development of a new model of the original folding tactical knife “WX”. It differed from its Spanish prototype by an additional safety device that prevented accidental folding of the knife.

Navaja handles were originally made from a whole piece of horn. This is what determines the curved shape of the handle of the classic navaja. Subsequently, the design of the handle became more complex. Package handles with metal inserts appeared, to which linings made of bone and durable wood were attached. The tapering handle ended in a conical metal pommel with a ball (or several balls) at the end. In addition to handles with a smooth bend, handles with a pronounced “kink” closer to the end of the handle with a specific pommel—a “scorpion tail”—have become widespread. Small knives could also have straight handles.

Depending on the condition of the owner, the navaja could have an ascetic appearance, the only decoration of which could be a simple ornament applied to the blade and handle. Frequently, frightening inscriptions were applied to the blade such as “As soon as my knife touches you, no doctor will save you”, “Seville will remember me and my master for a long time”, “Widow maker”.

Wealthier Spaniards could afford to purchase more expensive knives, some of which were wonderful examples of weaponry. Ivory, silver and even gold were used to make them.

The reliability of Navaja and its widespread distribution throughout Spain contributed to the fact that in the 17th century they began to be produced outside Spain - not only in Europe, but also in America. In a number of cases, they served as the basis for the creation of other national knives. An example is the French “lagiole” knives, created in 1829 in the city of Thiers by the French gunsmith Pierre-Jean Calmel and which are very popular not only in France, but also in other countries of the world. And at first glance at the national Corsican knife “Vendetta” its Spanish roots are visible. Simple and reliable okapi knives are widely used in South Africa. These knives were created in 1902 in Germany, where they were produced until 1987, after which their production was transferred to the African continent.

Many experts believe that it was the Navaja bandolera blade that inspired the American James Bowie to create his famous knife, which has become a classic of combat knives with a fixed blade.

Knife fighting using the Navaja - Navajero has become a truly folk form of fencing throughout Spain and is widely reflected in literature (novels and stories by Leon Feuchtwanger, Prospero Merime, Jorge Luis Borges, Emilio Salgari and Ernest Hemingway) and fine arts (paintings by Francisco José de Goya , Romero de Torriza

The Mahos, residents of large cities who traded in smuggling, gambling, trade, blacksmithing, and ran taverns, were especially famous for their Navajo fighting skills.

A feature of knife fighting using Navaja was the active use of the end of the handle and items such as a cloak or wide-brimmed hat.

The considerable length of the handle and its curved shape with a metal ball at the end made it possible to use it for striking with the end of the handle, retracting and hooking the enemy’s armed hand.

The cloak, made of leather or thick fabric, was either wrapped around the hand, which made it possible to block the blows of the enemy’s blade without fear of damaging the hand, or it was held by the middle, hanging freely from the hand. In the latter case, they could perform a variety of manipulations - deliver sharp blows to the head or armed hand of the enemy; throw it on the head to blind the enemy; knock down an opponent if he carelessly steps on the cloak during a fight; expose the cloak to the blow of the knife, and then wrap it around the opponent’s hand.

In the absence of a raincoat, it was often replaced by a wide-brimmed felt hat.

There were no special rules in the fight - everything was aimed at winning at any cost. If fighters of different levels of training and experience came together in a fight, the battle ended quite quickly. An experienced fighter could mock and humiliate his opponent by inflicting a quick horizontal cut on his forehead (a "walker" blow) or a cut on his lip or nose (a "Spanish kiss"). If the level of skill was approximately the same, then the fight did not end so quickly. The opponents began to circle in a circle, delivering lightning strikes or parrying them, either speeding up or slowing down the pace of the battle. From the outside, the fight was somewhat reminiscent of a Spanish dance. The battle ended either with the death of one of the opponents or with his serious injury.

There were no knife fighting schools as such in their modern sense in Spain. This, in particular, explains the absence of any serious written sources, in contrast to fencing with long-bladed weapons. Different areas of Spain practiced their own Navajero manner and style. Nevertheless, by the 19th century, three main fighting styles had emerged - baratero, chitan (or gitano) and sevillano.

Baratero, or rustic style, was characterized by straightforwardness and powerful sweeping movements. The main attention in this style was paid to quick and strong blows, leaving the enemy’s line of attack by leaning the body, and changing hands holding the knife. Baratero fighters could resist an armed enemy with their bare hands. In this case, the fighter actively worked with two hands - he used one hand to block and grab the enemy’s armed hand, and the second struck his opponent’s head.

Hitano (Andalusian gypsy style) was characterized by dynamic, fast, short cutting strokes. A variety of deceptive movements, feints and tricks were actively used in battle. It was considered not shameful to throw a handful of earth, sand or a mixture of tobacco and pepper into the enemy’s face, or even spit at him. Because of this, the hitano style is sometimes called the "dirty style". Nevertheless, in hitano the ultimate goal of the fight was often not to destroy the enemy, but to incapacitate him by inflicting serious but non-fatal wounds with a knife (cutting the biceps, calf muscles, tendons on the leg, damaging the shoulder joint, etc.), striking in the groin and shin.

Sevillano was considered the most technical and advanced style. It combined the technical elements of baratero and hitano combined with the striking, blocking and movement techniques of classical fencing. Leaving the line of attack was carried out simultaneously with a counterattack with a piercing blow. The battle was conducted with active maneuvering to select the moment for an instant attack, and at the slightest opportunity a chopping blow to the enemy’s armed hand followed.

Unfortunately, in modern Spain the traditional art of knife fighting has practically disappeared. This was greatly facilitated by the years of General Franco's rule. Like any totalitarian state, the Franco regime was not interested in the development of martial arts among the civilian population of the country. If there are a few carriers of the traditions of Spanish knife fighting left, they do not advertise their knowledge and pass it on only to relatives or close friends.

However, the Navajero traditions received a second life and development in the former colonies of Spain in America and Southeast Asia.

The Spanish style of fencing was extremely popular in the southern United States in New Orleans. At the beginning of the 19th century, there were more than 50 fencing schools in the city. Here, on the famous Oak Alley, two dozen knife duels took place every week. It was in New Orleans that the legendary knife fighting master Jose, nicknamed Pepe, lived. He was an excellent swordsman and duelist who won thirty duels. Another equally famous figure was James Bowie, the inventor of the famous American knife.

In Mexico, the combination of traditional Spanish techniques with the fighting style of the Aboriginal Indians gave rise to many original schools of knife fighting.

In European countries in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. Much work to recreate and popularize Spanish knife fighting was carried out by the “Association of Knife Fighting and Defense” created in the Czech Republic - ABNO. The origins of the association were knife fighting enthusiasts Martin Cibulka and Ivo Schovanec. ABNO united schools of traditional martial arts from Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as the countries of the East. After some time, the association opened its representative office in Russia and the Baltic countries (headed by Denis Cherevichkin). At the end of the 1990s. The founders of ABNO published two books - “Knife fighting in Europe in the past and present” and “Knife fighting, part 2. Reverse grip in history and today. The magic of the knife." Members of the association regularly conducted seminars and master classes on the art of blade combat, including for such famous knife fighters (Masters of Defense) and “Katz”. In the early 2000s. At the request of the Czech Association, members of the association took an active part in the development of a tactical knife, stylized as a Navaja. Interestingly, the shape of this knife follows the rather rare shape of the Navaja “ox tongue” blade, which provides increased cutting and chopping capabilities.

A knife designed for

Some experts believe that thanks to the repressed Spaniards - members of the Comintern, elements of the Spanish school of knife fighting served as the basis for criminal knife fighting in the USSR.

As already noted, written sources that sufficiently fully describe the systems of Spanish knife fighting are absent or have not reached our time. The most famous manual on knife fighting with the Navaja, published in Madrid in 1849, is “Manual of Baratero: the Gypsy Art of Using the Navaja, Knife and Scissors” (Manual del Baratero, o Arte de Manejr la Navaja, el Cuchillo, y la Tijera de los Jitano ). Behind the initials “M. dR”, the name of Mariano de Rementeria y Fica, an enterprising Spaniard, author of popular brochures on good manners and etiquette, books on cooking, etc., was hidden.

The manual by Mariano de Rementeria, written in the style of “master knife fighting in 30 lessons,” covers 54 pages of basic stances, movements, attacking blows, methods of defense and deceptive and distracting movements, the use of a cloak in a fight, movements and stances. The book has been reprinted several times. In later editions of this brochure you can see several illustrations by the famous artist Gustave Doré, who, together with his friend Baron Charles D'Aviller, traveled for several years in Spain. The result of this journey was the voluminous (over 500 pages) richly illustrated work “Viaje por Espana”, published in Madrid in 1862. Not a single publication about famous Spanish knives is complete without these illustrations.

Books on knife fighting with Navajo

Already today, the Spanish manual has been translated into English by James Loriego. The preface to this edition was written by Ramòn Martinez, keeper of the traditions of one of the oldest schools of Spanish fencing, “La Verdadera Destreza”. In the late 1990s, James Lauriego published the book “Seville Steel. Traditional martial art of knife wielding in Spain" (Sevillian Steel Traditional Knife - Figting Arts of Spain). In the preface to this book, James writes that it was written on the basis of his studies under the direction of Don Santiago Rivero, the keeper of the traditions of the Seville school of blade fighting (Escuela Sevilliana de Armas Blancas), which was located in the back room of Rivero's shop in the center of Seville, near the square Spain. However, experts doubt the reliability of this information, since after the publication of this publication many enthusiasts made special trips to Spain, but they were unable to find traces of the mythical maestro Rivera. Moreover, Loriego himself, according to D. Cherevichkin (head of the ABNO branch in Russia and the Baltic countries), under any pretext, refused to conduct master classes or seminars under any conditions.

Most likely, Lauriego simply reworked the manual of Mariano de Rementeria and added techniques from the arsenal of oriental martial arts. Before the publication of this book, Lauriego himself had experience as an instructor in martial arts, including ninjutsu.

"Heirs" of the Navajo

Unlike the traditions of knife fighting, Navaja itself has not become a thing of the past. Navaja has become the same symbol of Spain as bullfights, Spanish wine, castanets, and Spanish flamenco dance. And one of the classic Spanish souvenirs brought from this sunny country by tourists from all over the world is the famous Navaja. Although these national knives are produced throughout Spain, the center of their mass production is concentrated in the city of Albacete. This is where the companies whose products are known to knife lovers all over the world are located - Celaya, Crossnar, Cudeman, Esparcia, Expocito, Joker, Martinez, Muela, Nieto and Pastor "

Modern Navajos are generally much smaller in size than their martial predecessors. Their classic shape is combined with modern materials. The blades of modern knives and the internal frame are made of stainless steel; in addition to traditional bone and wood, various types of plastic are widely used as handles.

On the market you can find knives of a very different price range - from cheap mass-produced models with an ascetic design, to expensive, elegant hand-made knives with inlaid handles and an engraved blade.

How to make a Navaja knife with your own hands

Making a Navaja knife with your own hands is a completely accessible task, for which you need to:

Prepare a sketch of the blade, handle and internal fastenings on paper or cardboard. When drawing a Navaja knife, you need to take into account that the product is always folding. Therefore, the blade must fit in the groove of the handle, that is, be shorter than the second component. From there you can only see the butt.
The shank is a narrow metal strip, which, when the knife is open, will be a continuation of the butt line. Or they make it wide, but cut out a notch for the blade.
You also need to think about the fastening mechanism. “Native” for this type of weapon is a spring driven by a lever or ring. But this method of fastening is also the most difficult. To see how to create a mechanism, it is worth disassembling a ready-made folding knife with a back-lock type lock and repeating all the details. If you don’t want to mess around, you can connect the blade and shank with a bolt and nut, making a pin that will hold the knife in the open position.
Paper or cardboard templates are used to create parts of a metal product. As a last resort, take an old file, a shovel, or you can buy a piece of steel at a hardware store. The parts are cut out along the marked lines with a hacksaw or on a machine.
The blade and the metal part of the handle are ground to a smooth surface. This is also done using a machine and sandpaper.
Holes are drilled on the head of the blade to place fasteners there when connecting to the handle. The working part of the weapon must also have descents, that is, a narrowing from the butt to the blade. Holes are also made on the handle shank, because linings are fixed on top of the metal part.
The metal of a real weapon must be hardened in a forge. But if the knife is decorative, this is not necessary. Only the blade should be hardened; the handle tang does not need this. After the procedure, the metal part is released.
The overlays are also cut out using templates from wood, brass or soft metal. In the first case, oak and birch are chosen, the finished parts are sanded and impregnated with oil. The pads should be wider than the handle shank. They should completely hide the blade (but not the entire blade) when the weapon is closed.
Assembly begins with connecting the blade head and the base of the handle, as well as the folding mechanism. Then the overlays are glued to the epoxy resin, and after drying they are fixed with fasteners.

Watch this video on how to make a Navaja knife with your own hands:

About the “letter of the law”:

The operational duty officer from the Arbat police department A.P. Krasnopyatov told FURFUR that folding knives are difficult to classify as edged weapons, but still did not recommend carrying them around the city:

“Many people carry knives, but now it is not forbidden to carry them. It’s difficult to get a criminal conviction for carrying a bladed weapon: everyone says they have a knife to cut sausage. Previously, a blade longer than 15 centimeters was classified as a bladed weapon, but now only an examination can establish this. And we have no reason to take away such knives. I myself love knives. But I only take the knife for hunting and fishing, and then on a belt and in a case. And so they are kept in my safe at home. But carrying a knife in the city, especially for self-defense, is inappropriate.”

A. P. Krasnopyatov, duty officer of the Arbat police department

By law, any bladed weapon can be stored at home, in the garage or in the country. It is a crime if you carry it on you or carry it in your car. If all the factors described below fit the description of your knife, then it can be considered a bladed weapon:

after opening, the blade snaps into place;

blade length more than 90 millimeters;

blade butt thickness (back side of the blade) more than 2.6 millimeters:

steel hardness is above 42 Rockwell units. Hardness units are designated by the letters HRC and are contained in the passport of any decent knife;

the blade is ejected automatically when a button is pressed or removed from a movable handle made of two halves hinged to the blade (balisong or “butterfly”);

the blade is sharpened on both sides to a length of more than 50 mm.

Unpleasant situations with law enforcement officers can also be avoided by having a certificate that any self-respecting store issues when purchasing a knife. It contains the characteristics and expert opinion that this knife is not a bladed weapon.

Weapon price

The minimum cost of navaja from famous Spanish manufacturers Joker, Martinez, Muela in Russia is 3000-3500 rubles. There are also more expensive copies - for 4-10 thousand rubles, even 18-20 thousand rubles. The price depends on the size of the product, the quality of the steel, and the material of the handle.

We recommend reading about the best switchblades. From the article you will learn about the main characteristics of switchblades, their types and handmade switchblades. And here is more information about all types of knives and their characteristics.

Navajas are considered aristocrats among combat knives, and the variety of types and shapes gives every fan a chance to choose the one that suits him. Most often, products are purchased for a collection. Navajas are pleasant to hold in your hands, they are pleasing to the eye, and if you need to use the tool at work, it is also quite convenient for this.

Handles and ascetic appearance

Initially, the handles of the Navaja were made from a whole piece of horn: in the classical Navaja they had a curved shape. A little later, the design of the handle of this type of knife acquired new shades. Package types appeared, equipped with metal inserts, to which linings made of durable wood and bone were attached. Tapered examples ended in a conical pommel made of metal, with one or a pair of balls at the end. In addition to handles with a smooth bend, models with a pronounced “break” located near the end have become very popular. They had a specific pommel - a “scorpion tail”. Small knives were sometimes made with straight handles.

Poor people allowed themselves to have only an ascetic-looking navaja, the only decoration of which was a simple ornament applied to the blade or handle. Often, threatening inscriptions were applied to the blade such as “As soon as my knife touches you, not a single doctor will help you,” “Seville will forever remember me and my owner,” “Widow Maker,” and so on.

Wealthy Spaniards allowed themselves to own more expensive examples, some of which were amazing examples of weapons art. These were usually handcrafted items, using ivory, gold and silver.

Birth of rodelleros and origin of the term

Initially, the Italians returned to the idea of mass arming infantrymen with swords, trying to turn to the traditions of Roman legionnaires. This process began towards the end of the 15th century, and the idea was quickly picked up by Spanish commanders.

First of all, one of the greatest military leaders of the era - Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba (1453-1515), who bore the self-explanatory nickname El Gran Capitan.

At the beginning of de Cordoba's activity, the famous Spanish tercios did not yet exist.

At first, El Gran Capitan used less advanced tactics: it united into a single formation only pikemen and riflemen (such a battle bore the Italian name colunella), who were covered and supported on the battlefield by separate detachments of fighters with shields and swords. Those same rodeleros.

Translating this term as “shield bearers” is still not entirely correct. “Shield” in general in Spanish is escudo, and the word rodela referred to a very specific type of weapon: a large round shield made of metal and having an elbow grip.

Here is the time to move on to the issue of equipment for the rodelleros.

Spanish swordsman armor

Armor, of course, also differed from time to time and region.

Most often, rodelleros were, due to close contact with the enemy, better armored than other infantrymen.

Cuirasses were used, sometimes even supplemented by plate legguards and shoulders, and typical open infantry helmets of the era - most often cabassets, a little less often morions, even less often - burgonets, which were not very typical for the Spaniards.

Now let's return to the history of practical application.

What role did rodelleros play in the European and New World (as well as Southeast Asia) theaters of war, and why was it different? Let's start, of course, with thirds.