| Corvo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Dagger |
| Place of origin | Chile |
| Service history | |
| Wars | Chilean War of Independence,War of the Pacific |
| Production history | |
| Variants | Corvo Comando or Pico de Cóndor (Condor's Beak) Corvo atacameño |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 29 or 30 cm (11 or 12 in) |
| Blade length | 16 to 19 cm (6.3 to 7.5 in) |
| Blade type | Dagger |
| Hilt type | Metal, hard leather or polymers |
| Scabbard/sheath | Metal, hard leather or polymers |
| Head type | Metal |
| Haft type | Wood, checkered plastics |
TheCorvo is a double-edged, curvedbladed weapon typically used in Chile.
There is no defined origin of the Corvo, but the tool is considered as the national knife of Chile, like Navaja in Spain and Bowie knife in the United States.
Corvos are approximately 12 in (300 mm).
When fighting with a corvo, the wielder will notfeint with the blade itself; traditionally it is used in conjunction with a rag, poncho or stick in the off-hand, which allows the bearer to parry an incoming attack.
The corvo is then used tocounterattack with a swiping, slashing or stabbing motion.
There are a few different models of corvo, the modern versions are:
Initially a tool similar to agrappling hook, Corvos were widely used in combat during theChilean War of Independence and theWar of the Pacific, which for the latter, particularly during theBattle of Arica.
It was not standard issue, but rather a personal weapon or tool that the soldiers brought with them from home.
Due to its popularity, theChilean Army refined the Corvo and added it to their arsenal in 1963.
In 1974, in preparation for a war againstArgentina, Army officials consulted Corvo users in prison for developing a combat system using the weapon.
During themilitary dictatorship underAugusto Pinochet, Corvos were commonly used to torture political prisoners before being executed, especially during theCaravan of Death[1] era.
TheFAMAE started producIng modernised Corvos[2] in 1978, which the Chilean Army brought it to the border with Argentina for the first time.
Today, it is the national and traditional symbol ofChilean commandos and it's used in military training, both in the infantry and special forces.
Per local legend, but now widely debunked by historians, Chilean soldiers would consumechupilca del diablo in order to drive themselves into a frenzy prior to close-combat, attacking the enemy with their corvos.[3]
  | This article about thehistory of Chile is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
