from Navalhas.pt three knives are listed for sale.
The description for knife #1 says:
Large size grafting knife.
Elaborated by the artisan Anselmo Torrão in Sendim, this grafting knife has a carbon steel blade 9.50 cm long.
Of high robustness, excellent handling and effective and decisive cutting.
Handlebar wood handle
This also shows a photograph of the knife.
Then knife #2 without a photo description says:
Handcrafted handcrafted transmontana made by artisan M. Gamboa, in Palaçoulo (Miranda do Douro).
Effective and precise cutting, precisely what is wanted in the agricultural activity, in the exercise of the grafting of trees.
Characteristics:
9.5 cm long carbon steel blade
Cable in hangman or ash wood.
Of which would you choose? I do not understand what “Cable in hangman” is? Could you explain since no photo. Also what is hangman wood species?
Both knives has same blade length, but I do not know if same shape or same large (must be folding knife) handle. So if knife #2 is not folding please let me know.
Knife one looks very good. But, maybe you have an opinion of both for me, please?
Both knives are folding and very similar to one another (the blade has the same size - 3,7 inches - and shape, in both). They both are good options. The one i’m using has a blade of 8,5 cm - about 3,4 inches - but, appart from that, these are almost identical.
The first one by Anselmo Torrão has an handle of Ash wood.
The second one is by M. Gamboa and the handle can be in Oak (carrasco) or Ash (freixo)
In the website i can see the photo of the second knife (nor sure why you can’t):
They also sell this one, made by Pires of Palaçoulo. It’s inexpensive, with a slightly smaller handle and blade (Ash handle). I have it and it’s also razor sharp.
I sometimes use it for more delicate work. I prefer to use the bigger one for most grafts, though. I find that the wider handle gives me a bit more control.
And, for grafting, there is also this one (a bit expensive), used for the patch grafting technique. I have it, but i wish the handle was a little bit thinner. It makes a good flawless parallel cut, though. It’s only made by the craftsman Pires from Palaçoulo when there’s an order, so i had to wait a couple of months for the delivery.
and since I never heard anything about (all the many knives I bought) I emailed several days ago and they replied promptly stating that Anselmo is hoping to finish those two knives tomorrow.
I didn’t realize most of the knives I ordered had to be crafted. So I spent all my extra money at the beginning of the month only to learn I had to wait three or more weeks for the knives to me crafted and not to forget 2-3 weeks for them to ship! ha, lol. I’ve been broke all month rationing food and everything else! haha
I forgot to mention more clearly that all those knives are handcrafted and depending on the craftsman schedule, they can take a few weeks to be delivered - the store can’t do nothing to speed the process (i had to wait a couple of months for the double knife, i mentioned in a previous message - i hope you don’t have to wait that long).
In that village of Trás-os-Montes, named Palaçoulo, in the North of Portugal, most of the local business is building knives. The village is known for that and most of the inhabitants are employed in that industry. There are some large stores, with great tradition, that implemented some automation, like the one’s on the following videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkYX5tNE4sg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84UIcK4wcbQ
I like the videos very much. The last three in particular. That’s an amazing amount of work for the price of the knives I will be receiving.
I will be the proud owner of handcrafted knives. When I spoke with Anselmo via email, I asked that he only sharpen one side of the knife. Hopefully this happens. If not, I may be fine still.
As I ordered all the knives from both companies I requested if at all possible that the knives be sharpened on the front edge only of the blade for a right handed person. We will see. I said I understood if the knives were already crafted with the front and back bevels sharpened.
I did understand that these were handcrafted. I just didn’t know they didn’t have any ready for immediate shipment.
I’m still extremely happy and very excited for when they show up.
Thanks Jsacadura. It’s very helpful and I’m glad to know that the knives I’m buying probably all had to be handcrafted. The Spain website I believe I also ordered all handcrafted knives.
The knives of Don Benito from Aceros de Hispania arrived. I really like them. They are not close to sharp but I will get them to a razors edge.
A third knife I bought from Aceros I have asked a refund for. It does not lock in place at the top making it very dangerous. It was not a handcrafted knife like the other (3) Don Benito made.
I won’t buy them again because after they sat for a long time with the exception of one, the blades didn’t stay locked when unfolded. However… if you take a hammer and bang on the handle up there it will resolve the problem.
It was all about the sheepsfoot blade when I ordered those. I couldn’t find a big sheepfoot blade until I came across Schatt & Morgan Cotton Sampler knives. Of course the Schatt & Morgan knives will put you back 100$.
