MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions

Knife Making Discussions A place to discuss issues related to all aspects of the custom knifemaking community.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-19-2006, 09:52 AM
Dan Graves Dan Graves is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: shreveport, La. 71105
Posts: 991
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.


__________________
Dan Graves
www.theknifemaker.com
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-19-2006, 10:52 AM
TJ Smith TJ Smith is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Naches WA.
Posts: 224
Send a message via AIM to TJ Smith
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
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-19-2006, 11:46 AM
DaveRuhlig's Avatar
DaveRuhlig DaveRuhlig is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 840
Dan- I think TJ is right. I've also heard spanish notches called "blade catchers".
-Dave
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-19-2006, 12:04 PM
Shakudo's Avatar
Shakudo Shakudo is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 672
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
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-19-2006, 12:06 PM
SharpByCoop's Avatar
SharpByCoop SharpByCoop is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 3,785
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


__________________
Jim Cooper - Capturing the Artistry and Significance of Handmade Knives

?? New website improvement for 2010 - Over 5000 images searchable by maker's name! ??
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-19-2006, 12:11 PM
Robert Dark's Avatar
Robert Dark Robert Dark is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Oxford, Alabama
Posts: 725
Quote:
Originally Posted by SharpByCoop
I have lots of examples of GOOD notches, too. I should make a collage.....Coop
Jim:

Please do so if you have the time.

Thanks,

Robert
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-19-2006, 01:27 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
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 ....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-19-2006, 08:35 PM
Woodchuck Forge's Avatar
Woodchuck Forge Woodchuck Forge is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Salem Oregon
Posts: 634
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.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-19-2006, 09:01 PM
first twin's Avatar
first twin first twin is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
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.


__________________
Charlie
First Twin
Twin Blades
www.twinxblades.com
Director Knifemakers Guild

Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-19-2006, 09:07 PM
jdm61 jdm61 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 599
Send a message via Yahoo to jdm61
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
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-19-2006, 09:45 PM
rhrocker's Avatar
rhrocker rhrocker is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Uvalde, Texas
Posts: 3,117
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.


__________________
Robert Hensarling
Uvalde, Texas




Hensarling Custom Knives

Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-20-2006, 08:46 PM
SharpByCoop's Avatar
SharpByCoop SharpByCoop is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 3,785
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


__________________
Jim Cooper - Capturing the Artistry and Significance of Handmade Knives

?? New website improvement for 2010 - Over 5000 images searchable by maker's name! ??
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-20-2006, 09:46 PM
RBSlaughter's Avatar
RBSlaughter RBSlaughter is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Santa Cruz, Calif.
Posts: 529
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
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-20-2006, 10:37 PM
Crex's Avatar
Crex Crex is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Acworth, GA and/or Hanging Dog, NC
Posts: 3,583
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
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-21-2006, 03:32 AM
Phantom23 Phantom23 is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burpengary, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 149
Thank-you SharpByCoop
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
blade, knife, knives


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:43 PM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved