Integral Damascus Gaucho

Product Description for Integral Damascus Gaucho

Maker: Ricardo Vilar (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 84522
Blade length: 9.25 in.
Total length: 14.25 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.70 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.26 in.
Item weight: 12.32 oz.
Shipment weight: 16.88 oz.
Blade: Wolves tooth pattern Damascus forged to shape from 15N20 and 1095 carbon steels
Bolster: Integral Damascus
Handle: Sculpted guajuvira wood
Sheath: Tooled leather sheath
Description: Ricardo Vilar is one of the makers that has brought the Brazilian knife market to the forefront of American collectors' minds. His integral designs and attention to detail clearly set him apart as a leader.
Cuchillo gaucho is a generic term for a style of knife characteristic of the gauchos, horsemen of the plains of South America -- principally Argentina, of mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) heritage. Analogous to the cowboy of the American West and the Mexican vaquero, the gauchos were mounted cattlemen initially living and working in vast undeveloped areas at the fringes of "civilization". Aside from its obvious potential as a weapon in duels, which were to mark rather than kill an adversary the cuchillo gaucho has a reputation as a truly multi-purpose tool and was used for tasks as diverse as slaughtering and skinning cattle, working leather, cutting wood, and making adobe bricks. In the wilderness, the gaucho could listen for distant approaches by sticking his knife into the ground and pressing an ear against its hilt. The knife was the gaucho's primary eating utensil: a large chunk of meat would be placed in the mouth and the excess cut off with an upward stroke of the knife, stopping short of amputation of the nose. Afterwards, it would serve as a toothpick. And, of course, in the gaucho's twilight in the 20th century, its use as a can opener was inevitable.
This cuchillo gaucho was forged from Wolves Tooth pattern Damascus steel using carbon steels. This modification of the ladder pattern creates a random pattern at the spine and a tight ladder toward the edge. Ricardo has created this knife with an appleseed grind -- the edge preferred by many ABS members for high performance edge retention.
The blade has a slightly dropped point with a swedge. The guajuvira wood handle melds perfectly into the Damascus ferrule, nearly without a seam. The round, sculpted shape feels very comfortable in the hand and is extremely dramatic. Exceptional fit and finish throughout.


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