1493 The knife and other subjects
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 09:31:56 -0400
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: The knife and other subjects
I will answer Tanturi's questions.
-"First, why do you carry your knife on your left side?
Are you left-handed, or do you prefer a cross-body
draw? Is it OK to carry your knife openly? "
The knife was traditionally carried by the gauchos placed under his wide and
elaborate belt at his back. It was an adornment and a part of his attire.
Such knife was large and also very elaborated.It has a metallic handle and
sheath with carvings and gold and silver inlays.
It was used to cut the barbequed meat that he ate daily and also to fight.
The same way as cow-boys carried revolvers.
These knives can nowadays be bought in Buenos Aires as souvenirs.
When the gaucho moved to the city suburbs, the knife became smaller and was
carried in an occult manner.
It was usually placed (by a right handed man) hidden under the left front
part of his waistcoat. This allowed a rapid draw with his right hand.
I use mine on my left side for a cross-body draw. When I fight is as if I
was dancing tango. As I draw the knife I step back with my right foot,
then I step side left, facing my challenger while wrapping my poncho around
my left arm to stop his knife, then I step right forward as I stub the poor
devil who gets to the cross before he falls on his knees. Here the music
stops and I run away before the police arrives.
-"Also, I'm wondering about the correct actions to
enforce the codes in cases like someone dancing weird steps,
not respecting the line of
dance, chattering to their partners, etc.? "
Somebody (the offender's friends, the milonga organizer or one of his
assistants) will ask that person -"may I have a few words with you?"-
and explain him in a polite fashion what the correct way to behave on the
dancing floor is.
-"Of course, if anyone would deliberately bump ME on the
dance floor, that would call for knife-play...."
This is an indication that he dislikes you and is trying to tell you
something. Most of the time it is because unknowingly you stole the girl
that used to dance with him. You answer by giving him a serious look at the
time of the incident. This should end the problem.
Later on you might have a conversation with him, saying with an innocent
face " I apologize for bumping into you, if unknowlingly I did anything
incorrect please let me know".
-" I'm engaged in a conversation with a woman, and some rude
jerk butts into the conversation to ask her to dance.
Usually the asshole just says "Let's dance" or grabs
her"
This will never happen in Argentina, it would be considered extremely bad
manners. It would indicate a total disrespect for the man, who would need to
obtain satisfaction after the milonga, in the way of a nasty word
confrontation. This behavior would cause the offender to be ostracized by
the rest of the people at the milonga as well. If you are with a lady
(sitting at a table) and somebody comes to ask her to dance without asking
for your permission first the lady will never accept the request. It she
does then you leave the milonga and never talk to that woman again.
Most of the other men will not ask her to dance either. But that is
something that will never happen because men respect each other and do not
interfere with any on going relationship.
When I first came to the States, I went to a dance and met a girl with the
most beautiful blue eyes, we danced for a while, sat together, had a couple
of drinks, were having a great conversation, she gave me her telephone
number. An old friend of hers shows up at this time and asks her to dance,
to my amazement she got up and said - I will be right back - as she went to
dance with him. I left the place fuming #*&+!.
A week later I run into her in the street and she said smailing - you never
called -. No! you are right! - I answered -as I continued walking.
After all this years... I have not changed a bit. :))
Please visit https://www.soygaucho.com/espanol/vestimenta/cuchillo.html to
see the way a gaucho knife is used.
You can see all the interesting elements of the gaucho attire at
https://www.soygaucho.com/espanol/vestimenta/index.html
