Forged Cuchillo Gaucho with Ironwood

Product Description for Forged Cuchillo Gaucho with Ironwood

Maker: William Porto, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Price: $850.00
Item num: 112863
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 8.50 in.
Cutting edge length: 8.50 in.
Total length: 13.90 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.68 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.12 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.03 in.
Item weight: 8.60 oz.
Shipment weight: 20.6 oz.
Blade: Hand forged 52100 carbon steel with a hand rubbed satin finish
Bolster: Polished stainless steel
Handle: Arizona desert ironwood
Sheath: Hand stitched leather sheath and branded zipper storage case
Description: Brazilian bladesmith William Porto, born in March of 1989, began as a part-time blacksmith, forging tools on the side while working at his family’s grocery store and providing food for his community through hunting. During this period (from 2008 - 2015), he was a corporal with the Brazilian Army. It was a humble beginning, but a chance encounter with a well-designed skinning knife sparked a desire to create blades that were both functional and beautiful. What began as a practical project - making his first knife in 2012 - soon evolved into a passion. After leaving the Army barracks in 2015, William decided to commit himself to creating high end cutlery exclusively. Just one year later, he won an award for Best Damascus at the Sorocaba Knife Show. By 2017, after diving fully into bladesmithing and honing his skills through hands-on work and more formal training, William crafted his first chef’s knife — and promptly earned recognition with an award for Best Damascus Knife from a local blacksmith association. Just six months later, his second culinary blade won Best Kitchen Knife. Today, his world-class kitchen knives are used daily by chefs and home cooks alike. He has won numerous awards including 6 awards just for Best Damascus. His high level of work speaks for itself!
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.
The 8-1/2 inch clip point blade is hand forged 52100 carbon steel. 52100 is considered by many knifemakers and knife users to be among the best steels (if not the best!) used in modern knifemaking. It combines exceptional edge holding with durability and ease of sharpening. A hand rubbed satin finish adds an heirloom quality to the blade. Porto's touchmark is on the left side of the blade.
The handle is presentation grade Arizona desert ironwood. Desert ironwood (Olneya tesota) is a rare wood that is only found in the valleys of the Sonoran Desert below 2,500 foot elevation. It is extremely dense and durable. In fact, it is so dense, that if a piece is dropped in water it will sink! The front of the handle is sealed with a fluted stainless steel bolster. The polished stainless end cap features a custom take-down pin. This allows the knife to be disassembled by the maker if cleaning and maintenance are needed. Take-down construction requires tighter tolerances and shows William's focus on the small details. A custom take-down tool made from matching ironwood is included.
To keep the knife close at hand, a hand stitched leather custom sheath is included.
Excellent work throughout!


Availability: In stock. Usually ships in 1-2 business days