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Need a little help on origin and translation of the etch

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:00 am
by Paladin
I have a recent acquisition that I need a little help with. It is a strange looking jack that I believe was made in either Spain or Italy. I am going to put some info from the etch and hopefully someone out there can translate and also let me know the country of origin.
Here is the best I can do with it:
On the front side is VEN CIELLA CORSA, and then something I cannot make out. On the back side is MORIE (or MORLE) AL NEMECO.

Photos below.

Re: Need a little help on origin and translation of the etch

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:50 am
by smiling-knife
It is in the style of a Corsican 'Vendetta' knife. Sauvagnat is also the name of a French town and garanti, for what it is worth, is guranteed. I think the knife was made in Thiers France by a company called Dragon-Reynard & Fils. I don't know what the etch means. I hope this helps. :D s-k

see link for Thiers cutlery marks

http://www.couteaux-jfl.com/marques.htm#thiers

Re: Need a little help on origin and translation of the etch

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:27 am
by Froggyedge
I believe this is a "Corsican Vendetta knife" and that it says “Vendetta Corsa” and “morte al nemico” (Death to the enemy)

“Corsica” popped up in my head as I saw the knife, but I know very little about these knives so I consulted our friend Mr. Google and suddenly I stumbled across an article from the New York Times archives from January 1. 1899. Corsica and the Vendetta.

”Here and there the vendetta may still linger in the island, but it has now become a means of attracting the tourist, who is invited to buy bloodthirsty looking knives and daggers, bearing such choice inscriptions as: Vendetta Corsa; morte al nemico, (”death to the enemy”) or, even still more gruesome: Va diritto al cuore del nemico. (“Go straight to the heart of the enemy”)

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-fr ... 94689ED7CF

Re: Need a little help on origin and translation of the etch

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:03 am
by smiling-knife
Very interesting information Froggyedge. Thanks for the link :D s-k

Re: Need a little help on origin and translation of the etch

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:18 am
by Paladin
Thanks to both Froggyedge and SmilingKnife for the great info on this one. :D 8)

Re: Need a little help on origin and translation of the etch

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:08 am
by Froggyedge
Also provided by Mr. Google:

"The legends surrounding the origin of the Vendetta knife begins around 1750 when Napoleon’s father, a freedom fighter in Corsica, pioneered the Corsican Vendetta knife used to defend Corsica in the 1700"s.
Because of the unusual shape the knife became popular with all the inhabitants and was produced with many variations and sizes. The government had to declare the longer knives illegal in order to suppress use of these for bloody vendettas!
Still produced in Corsica and France, these beautiful knives are created with many different handle materials and sizes."

http://frenchknives.com/corsicanvendettas.html

Re: Need a little help on origin and translation of the etch

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:09 am
by justold52
Sure is nice to have friends off shore... :lol:

Thanks smiling-knife and Froggyedge .... ::tu::