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WABUKAN Arsenal · Knives and blades · Europe

Navaja

The traditional Spanish folding knife, both tool and fighting knife; the first true navajas appeared in Andalusia around the late 1600s.

Navaja
Navaja WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

navaja; navaja bandolera; herramienta (19th-c. slang); santólio

Origin and history

Folding knives existed in Spain even before the Romans, but the earliest knives recognisable as navajas date from around the late 1600s, in Andalusia. The first were simple peasant knives with no spring; then a tempered steel backspring was added, and in the first part of the 18th century the heel of the blade was shaped to lock it open. The spring-back navaja became popular across Spain and was made in France and Corsica too; around 1850 a pull ring was added to release the lock.

Martial arts that use it

Seen in traditional practice, historical reenactment and demonstrations; no art page on WABUKAN yet.

Construction

A forged carbon-steel blade, traditionally from cutlery towns such as Albacete, Santa Cruz de Mudela and Toledo, that folds into the handle like a straight razor. The lock uses teeth (piñones) cut into the blade heel, engaged by a spring as it opens. Handles were of wood, horn, bone, or pierced copper or brass over a steel or brass liner; the classic Andalusian style is the navaja bandolera.

Basic techniques

Training

Short-blade training starts with trainers made of wood, aluminium or rubber. Students drill angles of attack, grips (forward and reverse), checking the opponent’s arm and footwork, then flow drills with a partner. Live blades are kept for solo forms by experienced practitioners, if at all.

Safety

Use training knives for all partner work and eye protection for fast drills. Never mix live and training blades in the same session, store blades sheathed and out of reach of children.

Legality (general information)

Swords, knives and other edged weapons are regulated very differently from country to country (and sometimes from region to region): owning one at home is often allowed, while carrying it in public, buying it under a certain age or importing it may be restricted or banned. Practitioners usually transport them cased, out of reach and straight between home and dojo. This is general information, not legal advice: check the law where you live.

Did you know?

Large 19th-century fighting navajas were nicknamed santólios, from "holy oil": anyone who met one in a fight was expected to need the last rites. Some historians think the navaja inspired the Bowie knife.

More weapons

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Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Navaja