Antique Gaucho Knife

Early to mid 20th century gaucho knife from the lowland Pampas regions of Argentina. Akin to America's cowboy or Mexico's 'vaquero', the much celebrated Gaucho were nomadic horsemen, hunters, gatherers, a solitary people who subsisted off the fertile lowland soil for centuries. The Gaucho were known for their colorful costume which included a poncho, rebenque, spurs, and a Gaucho belt or 'rastra' to sheath their sharp knives. The ubiquitous Gaucho knife was the Gaucho's most important tool. Some knives were made for fighting and others, like the one offered here, were utilitarian survival tools which were used to hunt, skin and butcher animals. This example features a horn grip and a single edged flat blade with file marks along the top edge. The blade is marked JU-CA Tandil, Argentina'. Tandil is the Argentine city where many quality knives were manufactured. 

Dimensions: 10.5 inches long.

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