Navajas are traditional Spanish folding knives. The one shown below is 16 1/4 inches long when open and weighs almost 10 ounces. It has a 7 1/2 inch steel blade and a 8 3/4 inch handle decorated with bone and brass. A spring under the blade locks it into place when open. The blade is marked Valero Jun and Zaragoza. Valero Jun was an important Spanish knife maker in the city of Zaragoza. The style of the makers mark indicates the knife was made at the beginning of the 19th century. According to some sources Valero Jun imported fine Navaja style knives like this one from Thiers France and resold them with their mark. This style of Navaja is sometimes called a "tail rattler" (cola de crotalo), because the tip of the handle resembles a rattlesnake's tail.
This dagger was unearthed near Tampa Bay in the early 1960s. The 7 7/8 inch needle-point blade has a shallow diamond cross-section. The crossguard has short down-turned quillons and is decorated with three deep accent grooves at its center. The pommel is round and decorated with grooves in an oblong curved pattern.
Fine matchlocks like this one from the late 16th or early 17th century are almost nonexistent. Its length suggests that it is a carbine (designed for use by cavalry). The barrel is two-stage octagonal and round with a cannon turned muzzle. Near the breach the barrel has decorative inlays in brass and an obscured maker`s cartouche. The flash pan is attached to the lock, rather than the barrel, as on most early matchlocks. The walnut stock`s butt is of a style that was popular in Brescia and influenced the style in Catalonia. Most of the nail heads on the butt are covered with brass. The butt, trigger plate, and barrel bands are all decorated with Moorish-style inlays. The ramrod has been replaced.
This excavated Left-Hand Spanish Parrying Dagger was found near Cape Canaveral Florida. The 4 1/2 inch hilt has a large scent-stopper shaped pommel, a cross-guard (quillon) with turned down finials and a ring guard (anneau). The 9 1/2 inch needle-point blade has two grooves (fullers) on each side or a hollow ground cross-section.
This excavated Left-Hand Parrying Dagger was found at an undisclosed location. The 5 1/2 inch hilt has turned down finials on the cross-guard (quillon) and a side ring guard (anneau) fitted with an openwork metal plate the pommel is missing. The 14 3/4 inch spear point blade has a diamond shaped cross section.
This excavated Left-Hand Spanish Parrying Dagger was reportedly found near the Rio Grande river in New Mexico. It may date from exploration of the area by Coronado 1540-1542. The 5 inch hilt has a large scent-stopper shaped pommel, a curved cross-guard (quillon) and a side ring guard (anneau) fitted with an openwork metal plate. The previous owner stabilized the side ring plate using solder. The 13 3/4 inch needle-point blade has two grooves (fullers) on each side.
This excavated Left-Hand Parrying Dagger or Short Sword, was reportedly found near the Rio Grande river in New Mexico. It may date from exploration of the area by Coronado 1540-1542. The 5 3/8 inch hilt has a large scent-stopper shaped pommel, a curved cross-guard (quillon) and a ring guard (anneau) with a turned down finial. The 14 inch spear point blade has three grooves (fullers) on each side.
This excavated Left-Hand Parrying Dagger was found at an undisclosed location. The 5 1/2 inch hilt has a large plum shaped pommel, turned down finials on the cross-guard (quillon) and a side ring guard (anneau) fitted with an pierced metal plate. The 13 inch needle-point blade has diamond shaped cross section.
This excavated Left-Hand Parrying Dagger was found at an undisclosed location on the west coast of Florida. The 4 inch hilt has a large flat oval pommel, an S-shaped cross-guard (quillon) and a side ring guard (anneau). The blade is 13 3/4 inches long and has a diamond shape cross section.
Navajas are traditional Spanish folding knives. They were popular with sailors of the Spanish Main who regularly carried them in their waistbands. Sixteen Navaja-style knives were recovered from the wrecks of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha and Santa Margarita. Both galleons sank in 1622. Though best known for fighting and personal defense, Navajas were used for everything from cutting lines, peeling fruit to shaving. They were even used to preform surgery. Over time a locking style blade with a backspring evolved. These knives were called Navaja de Muelles (Spring Knifes). A metal pull ring to release the lock was added in the late 18th century. The ring was eventually discarded in favor of a lever.
The Navaja shown is 17 inches long when open and weighs 10 ounces. The 7 7/8 inch steel blade is nicked near where it folds into the Stag Horn handle. A spring under the blade locks it into place when open and a metal pull ring releases the lock. This style of Navaja is sometimes called a "tail rattler" (cola de crotalo), because the tip of the handle resembles a rattlesnake's tail.
