The Corsican Vendetta Knife

I take a look at the history of the Vendetta knife, a knife that has its origins on the small island of Corsica. The video was inspired by a beautiful, if low quality version of the knife made in Pakistan.
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[@TheBadger74]

I have a small one that my Dad brought back for me as a present from Corsica in the eighties. Handle has long brass bolsters, rounded end, "tortoiseshell" scales with the "Moors Head" symbol embossed and painted on one side. The blade is just over 3 inches, stiletto shaped, and has hand written acid etched "Vendetta Corsa" on one side and "Morte al nemico" on the other. It's very much a tourist piece, not solidly made or practical, but I love it for what it is, and it's a good letter opener!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

That's sounds like a true beauty.

[@gizmocarr3093]

Interesting history about folding knife.👍

[@ericstarr9399]

Thank you for sharing the history behind this knfie pattern! Your video timed out perfectly as I was just reading about these knives!

[@АндрейБойко-в7ц]

Super knife !❤

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thanks, and thanks for dropping by!

[@bunsonhoneydew9099]

Oh great. I thought I had everything I needed for the collection. Now I need one of those.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Glad I could be of help!

[@deanP.]

Definitely an interesting pattern. Thanks for showing it.

[@bdh3949]

I didn't know about the Vendetta knives before this Tobias, thanks for more history. I picked up those 3 mini ones hunter, fireman, & cowboy to use as pocket steak knives. Never knew about their vendetta background. Your new one is really a beauty and good for the budget. I'll have to keep an eye out for ones that will catch mt eye now.

[@charlesphillips6421]

Excellent video providing important context to a knife I wasn’t really aware of!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thanks. The knife became much more appealing to me once I knew about the history/legend of the pattern. Thanks for dropping by!

[@mikeadams2538]

Interesting knife. I’ve acquired several Pakistani knives over the years, and it was the the handle design/decoration that usually attracted me to them. I’m not a big fan of Damascus blades, but some of them will actually sharpen up pretty well.

[@elvinamillaneam]

Greetings Mr. Tobias , I do enjoy your videos and your history lessons... keep up the good work...

[@ZEBULON181]

Thanks

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thanks for dropping by. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Stans_Cutlery_Universe]

Great info, I always wondered where the pattern came from. I still don't know why they call them toothpicks. Thanks for sharing and God bless.

[@missourimongoose8858]

I have a 1800s french knife with this same shape that my grandpa passed down to me along with a few others he got in ww2

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

WOW! Those are some true pieces of History! Not to mention a family connection! Treasure them!

[@Semitotal]

Always come across these trawling through SMKW's site. Would love an upgraded version from Rough Ryder or something, it's got a great look.

[@rasputinscastle]

Thanks for the history reference about the knife 😊

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@propblast82nd]

That knife would look awesome in the Stoneworx line

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Oh yeah! That would be fantastic!

[@Andyboy992]

I picked up a Corsican knife in Tunisia back in the day. Made by an old brand going by the name Cumia. Looked over the top. Like something a pimp might own.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Cool. That sounds like my kind of knife. Over the top!

[@mangojack1]

Very neat looking knife especially for the price! Thanks Tobias 👍

[@PensandPenBlades]

Great video and a neat knife! Thanks for sharing some of the history behind the pattern!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thanks. It's a fun knife. Yeah the blade steel is less than desirable but I still like the knife. It's just cool looking.

[@propblast82nd]

That’s a really cool folding knife, great video ❤

[@jamesallnight1291]

Thanks for the video, beautiful knife, would pick this up too, if available.

[@dougwatkins5441]

Cool looking pattern.its one i got to be honest i haven't paid attention to im glad you showed it. It has a very interesting history. Thanks for sharing

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Same here. When I first saw it I thought it was interesting but not really a toothpick so I just passed on it. But when I found out more about it- well when the knife has a centuries old story behind it it suddenly looks a lot more interesting!.

[@paulhanley5811]

T G me 'ol mucker , I'm with you 100% would love a Corsican Vendetta , mind you I lean ever so slightly towards the smaller blades , UK laws being what they are , thanks for the history lesson , have learned so much from you over the years , keep up the good work , p

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for dropping by! I can see how a 75 mm blade would be ideal even in many places in a America. The three inch blade is a pesky thing.

[@patricegarnierlobo25111967]

you also have a Corsican vendetta knife which is like the okapi knife with a ring on the back to lock the blade but longer, generally the vendettas are long blades a bit like the Corsican bowie lol!!

[@tomtucker83]

I've got exactly the same fishing knife in ruler as the one in the video. it's been in my fishing bag for more than 50 years!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

I'm always using this knife or one like it for my ruler. I figured its a knife channel. Why not use a knife that's a ruler when you need to measure something. LOL.

[@beaurex4756]

Pretty cool for $12. Thanks for another excellent video.

[@kathleensmith370]

beautiful handle on that one

[@davidkurle5418]

Nice looking covers, and I dig that mosaic pin! Cool piece, buddy!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

The handle made this one a no brainer for me to try and win.

[@jeffjackson5331]

Neat looking knives

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeffjackson5331]

@@KnifeChatswithTobias you're welcome.

[@CrimsonCrux]

I always remember the Asterix books when they visit Corsica and the Corsicans having multi generational vendettas and they'd always flick open knives like this at one another when airing their grievances.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Cool. I'm also like it when I run across blade reference in literature and there's a historical context to the mention.

[@RandysWSG]

Very awesome info and a sweet knife Tobias. I have one of those tiny ones.

[@johnelder4273]

I'm with you on the 5 to 5 1/2 inch frame hopefully with a bison horn or some black bone handles and one with white bone handles so I can pair them with some of my favorite revolvers.

[@johnflais3776]

I would argue the Vendetta as we know it has both Italian and French influences. The basic shape with the curved-out bolster and the handle tapering towards it is identical to the coltello piemontese (the region around Genova). The coltelli piemontesi exist in various sizes, including huge ones with 30 cm blades, which may have been used for fighting or duelling. However, the primary fighting knife of the region was the coltello genovese, a fixed blade similar to the Corsican stylus (most likely what the Corsicans preferred for actual fighting as well) or the Argentinian "gaucho knife". On the other hand, the notched spring is of the French style: you find it in Laguioles and other French patterns, but never on Italian non-locking blades including the coltello piemontese, which may have thicker springs (resulting in a sometimes ridiculously strong lock-up) and a half-stop instead. I don't know much about the documented history of the Vendetta. I read somewhere they became popular as tourist knives in the early 20th century, although I have seen some practical examples as well. It could be it was one of the regional styles or commonly imported patterns which was easier to mass-produce compared to the more classic Corsican shepherd knife or corniculu, a friction folder with a handle carved from one piece of horn and a wider, usually clip-point blade.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

I think you are spot on with your observations. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate it.

[@williammunny2295]

I have to say that I really enjoy your channel but you sir are a knifeaholic enabler 😂.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

LOL! Just trying to spread the joy!

[@paulhanley5811]

Mate , the music , banging , love it , vendetta music , lol

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Glad you enjoyed it. I did take some time picking just the right music!

[@Dglenn2185]

I agree Tobias, knives out of Pakistan (in my experience anyway) are usually quality materials but poor craftsmanship. I usually buy them anyway and try to repair the small quirks, and if I can’t I use them as beater knives. Really cool history lesson though, and this is a good example to use.

[@mugsofmirth8101]

These are really quite beautiful. I especially like the first one with the greenish handle you showed in the beginning of this video. What's the brand and model of that one and where can I get one like it?

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Are you referring to the Tiger Eye Toothpick. That was by Raging Bull. A short lived company. I'll have an upcoming video about that handle material

[@williamkuhns2387]

The three S's of Corsica are Shopeta, Stiletto and Strada!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

I'll need to keep that in mind for future videos

[@williamkuhns2387]

I leaned that from a vacation I took to the island of Huahine in French Polynesia. I met a French gentleman who had grew up in the African nation of Chad. He was homeless living on the beach with other homeless Tahitian locals alcoholic/addicts. Jean Charles is his name. I hope he is doing well! ​@@KnifeChatswithTobias A gun, a knife then run away!

[@terrillschneider3778]

Interesting

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thanks!

[@deniskozlowski9370]

They probably called it a bikers toothpick because most people think Corsica is a suburb 0f San Francisco .

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

LOL! You might have something there! Americans and geography is pretty bad these days.

[@mugsofmirth8101]

You're probably thinking of Coronado Island which is just off the coast of San Diego.

[@patricegarnierlobo25111967]

you want a good folder corsican vendetta by one designed by F.Perrin and made by ets Cognet this the enterprise of the douk douk

[@patricegarnierlobo25111967]

the corsican dagger it s an fixed blade originaly at double edge , and also an genovese dagger and the genovese dagger his the design of the corsican folders , the corsican folders they re generally a tourists knives .....not really for vendetta !!

[@nicolaalberti7736]

Bingo!! "Vendetta corsa" folders were a fake from the beginning 😂!! BTW, there was an Italian folder, similar to the vendetta, the "piemontese".

[@patricegarnierlobo25111967]

@@nicolaalberti7736 piemontese italian them way

[@billbedworth4713]

The length of a k life usuly refers to the blade length OT the total length tip to pommel