Help Identifying this switch blade

[Branded]

This was my grandfathers .. Not sure who made it ?

[djknife13]

Welcome to AAPK. Your knife appears to be a fairly typical German horn handled switchblade like the ones WW2 Vets brought back from Europe after the war. The word stamped on the tang just means that the blade is stainless and a number of different German companies made these. I don't know if a more experienced collector can tell which company made yours by it's construction but I doubt it. If they can . I'm sure they will answer this and we'll both learn something.___Dave

[Branded]

Thanks Dave .. Iv had it since the mid 1990s .. Not sure of the age .. But I do remember seeing it in the early 1970s ..

[jerryd6818]

The federal switchblade act was enacted August 12, 1958 so he could have legally purchased it before that date. I remember switchblades being on store shelves prior to that date.

[Branded]

I know he worked for the war dept during ww2 .. In Nys it's legal to own a switch blade if you hold a hunting or fishing license .. That I have .. but the question is it Italian or German made ??

[knife7knut]

I know he worked for the war dept during ww2 .. In Nys it's legal to own a switch blade if you hold a hunting or fishing license .. That I have .. but the question is it Italian or German made ??

I believe that all of the stiletto style switchblades were made in Italy regardless of whether they were sold there or not.Most German automatics are of the lever release type.
Although I am far from being an expert on them,I believe the bayonet style blade and the Rostfrei stamp would date it to at least the 1970's.Does the left front bolster/guard swing up to unlock the blade? That is a feature that seems peculiar to bayonet blades.
Most of the Italian knives are made by either Beltrame or Campolin but their knives are usually so marked.

[Branded]

Just got off the phone with my father .. My grandfather gave this knife to my uncle when he went to Vietnam in 67-68 . Yes it's a blade releases that way..

[wiseguy]

ITALIAN !

I know he worked for the war dept during ww2 .. In Nys it's legal to own a switch blade if you hold a hunting or fishing license .. That I have .. but the question is it Italian or German made ??

[Branded]

Thanks wise guy .. But can you Identify who made it and is it pre 1960 ?

[Bill DeShivs]

This type knife was NEVER made in Germany.
Your knife was made in Maniago, Italy. It appears to have been made for export to England or another country that required the "import" marking-as it was not required for importation into the US.
It is from the late 1950-early 1965 era.
The blade is not a bayonet blade, it is a flat-ground blade.
As bad as I hate to use the term, your knife is a classic "transitional" switchblade-nickel silver bolsters, slip-in spring, low button, swivel bolster, flat-ground & swedged blade.

[Branded]

Thanks Bill , would you know the value? is it worth having restored ? is the I on the tang a makers mark.

[Bill DeShivs]

I see nothing that needs restoring! Is there something wrong with it?
I don't sell a lot of knives, so I can't give you an accurate value.

[Branded]

It works fine .. so if I understood you right . The knife was made at the tail end of the golden era ?

[Bill DeShivs]

Correct.