Italian knives

[Tee Sok]

This may be interesting to some of you, so here's an explanatory video with some sparring at the end:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQin3ps_TdY&feature=related

And here knife and rope from Puglia:

YouTube - Coltello e spago

Sicilian knives on display:

YouTube - Collezione coltelli siciliani

And knives from Sardegna being made:

YouTube - L'ARTE DEL COLTELLO SARDO

[george stando]

Interestings links, thanks for those. spanish and italian knife was something i heard about but rarely seen.

[Tee Sok]

Hi George, there have been influences with the two systems, Naples was Spanish for a while and the systems were constantly tested against each other and eventually mixed, but I know only about knife from Naples, not the Spanish one. I only read a book about it (Sevillan Steel) and some things were quite similar.

Also, you can see the sililarities among the Neapolitan knives here (sfarziglia)

http://utenti.lycos.it/coltellerie_mariani/imieicoltelli.htm

http://www.omegawingchun.it/c_origini.php

and the Spanish navaja

Cuchillos, espadas, sables y armas de caza, Aceros de Hispania

The ones from Naples were made thinner in order to be concealed more easily in the clothes. And as people wore trousers with a light cloth at the time they didn't even have to pull the knife out they tore directly through the pocket.

I agree, it's difficult to see the old systems!

[Tee Sok]

Nice videos here, not only did he research the old Italian systems but he kept them alive and working.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP-V7sd2RMw

Calix Australia " Lajolo System World Tour" - YouTube