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#1
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Spanish notch
I am building a large bowie and put a Spanish notch on it. A client was over and saw the blade and asked what the notch was for. Well.....I had no answer. Does anybody know what it is for? I just think they are pretty.
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#2
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One theory I heard was in a knife fight you could block your opponets blade, catch it in the notch, and twist and break the blade. O maybe break yours ????.
Anyway it sounds good and adds a little color to the explanation. Take care TJ __________________ TJ Smith Knifemaker |
#3
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Dan- I think TJ is right. I've also heard spanish notches called "blade catchers".
-Dave |
#4
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a lot of theories and no specific proof of what the notches purpose was. link to a previous discussion.
http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/ar...p/t-11549.html |
#5
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Another curious aspect I read was the notch would allow any liguid to drip off a raised knife before drooling onto the hand.
Yuck. I support the blade-catcher aspect. A Spanish notch can be decorative or it can be an area that shows little forethought. It will be a centerpoint of focus, so make SURE it is not simply adequate. Dan, I am certain you will do it well. I have lots of examples of GOOD notches, too. I should make a collage..... Coop |
#6
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Quote:
Please do so if you have the time. Thanks, Robert |
#7
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I read somewhere that the notch had a religious significance originally but is now just decoration.
Personally, I am convinced that it was one of the first bottle openers .... |
#8
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I personally feel the spanish notch is way too weak to be for the purpose of a "blade catcher." I did read one theory on th net that it was origianally used for stripping sinew. I do however feel they developed into purely decorative.
Chuck __________________ http://www.woodchuckforge.com Avatar, Scott Taylor Memorial Scholarship Knife Photo by Bob Glassman Chuck Richards ABS J.S. |
#9
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I don't think in the heat of a knife fight a small notch would do much to tangle up someone's blade if he had any adrenalin going. If it wasn't designed to just keep ones finger off a sharp edge or open cans then I vote for decoration.
Coop I can't wait to see the collage. |
#10
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perhaps it was originally invented in the 15th Century to distract the customer from the fact that that the smith had left some hairline scratches in the finish or had been chasing his plunge grinds a bit
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#11
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Maybe a place to start and/or stop the sharpening process so that the blade isn't sharp all the way to the guard? Then again, maybe not.
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#12
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Notches? You want notches?! We don't need no stinkin' notches...!
OK, so I HAD to suggest I'd compile a collage. Two hours later.......
Anyway this was fun. Lots of good examples. Not specific to Spanish Notches, although they dominate. Click on this websized image for a 2700-pixel-wide image at 850kb small.... Let me know what you think. Coop |
#13
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Ahh, most excellent Jim... I love it. That took some time, and I'm sure I won't be the last to say thanks.. Superb Post... Best, Rich
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#14
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Beautiful display. Although some are prettier than others, I like them all (even the one you put in twice). Thanks for sharing Jim.
Like Charlie said, in the heat of battle I think it would be insignificant. My favorite notch for such a situation would make a click just before ignition. I put them on some of my knives because they just look right on the knife. They do provide a good transition between non-sharp to sharp along the edge. __________________ Carl Rechsteiner, Bladesmith Georgia Custom Knifemakers Guild, Charter Member Knifemakers Guild, voting member Registered Master Artist - GA Council for the Arts C Rex Custom Knives Blade Show Table 6-H |
#15
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Thank-you SharpByCoop
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blade, knife, knives |
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