Italian Switches

If you like Automatic knives, this is the forum to discuss and display them.
Post Reply
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Italian Switches

Post by galvanic1882 »

I have been buying some old Italian Switches lately and thought that I would share some pictures of them. I am a memeber of a few other sites that talk about them and I am learning more and more about them. To post pictures on the other sites you need to use a picture hosting site which to me is a pain, thanks Bryan for setting the site up in a way to post pictures this way.

I only have 6 of these types of knives but am really starting to like them alot.

These 2 are, Victory lockback that I am told is Rare and the other is marked International Cutlery Co Italy and has a red dot on the safty, whcih I am told is also Rare. The Victory is 11" open and the Red Dot is 8 3/4" open.

If anyone comes across old knives like this to sell I would be interested in buying them.

Hope all are having a great holiday this year, Mike

BTW, the hard part of going after these knives is that there is NO PRICE GUIDE to help you so cost and worth are all over the place!!!
Attachments
victory1.jpg
international1.jpg
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Italian Switches

Post by knifegirl888 »

Those are terrific, Mike. I can definitely see why you like them!! How old do you think they are?
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Italian Switches

Post by galvanic1882 »

I think the Red Dot is 1950's and the Victory later maybe 1960's?? Still not sure though. The bayo bladed knives are older most of the time? Again not sure just started with them.
gino
Posts: 8069
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:50 pm

Re: Italian Switches

Post by gino »

Great lookin knives Mike.
Love those old switch blades.
I do tend to like Italian things in general, who da thunk?
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
User avatar
johnnierotten
Posts: 9303
Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:29 am
Location: Tucson AZ.

Re: Italian Switches

Post by johnnierotten »

I got a few that I can post... 8)
First 2 are Frank Beltrame's......the last one is a A.G. Compalin. 8)
I bought the stag Compalin this very day from... DOBBINSVILLE ...Wayne is a very nice Fellow to do business with. ::tu::

galvanic1882.....very nice switch's!! ::tu::
Attachments
FB Tacticals closed.JPG
FB Tacticals.JPG
A.G. Compalin mark.jpg
A.G. Compalin pile.jpg
A.G. Compalin top.jpg
johnnierotten

So far,So good...So What!!
User avatar
jarvis
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:53 am
Location: Here at the dude ranch above the sea

Re: Italian Switches

Post by jarvis »

Couple of really nice vintage stilettos, galvanic. Does the humpback Victory have a coilspring instead of a leaf spring?
I got it bad and I got it good
User avatar
singin46
Posts: 8126
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 am
Location: MUSIC CITY

Re: Italian Switches

Post by singin46 »

I sure have enjoyed lookin at these Switches you guys own! :shock: ::tu::
Love all Jacks
knife7knut
Posts: 10061
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Italian Switches

Post by knife7knut »

I love ALL types of spring assisted knives;German;Italian;USA;wherever.Here are most of mine.The pic was taken several years ago so there are probably a few more.
I don't find them too often anymore and when I do they are usually drastically over-priced and/or in poor shape.I have a few in there that need to be worked on and maybe when I retire(again)I'll get around to fixing them.
Attachments
SwitchbladeDrawer1.JPG
SwitchbladeDrawer1.JPG (44.96 KiB) Viewed 8993 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
User avatar
singin46
Posts: 8126
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 am
Location: MUSIC CITY

Re: Italian Switches

Post by singin46 »

Wow K7K! You got a whole herd of them beauties. :shock:
Love all Jacks
User avatar
tjmurphy
Posts: 11129
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:41 pm
Location: South of Cincinnati

Re: Italian Switches

Post by tjmurphy »

K7K - You never cease to amaze me. No matter what's posted, you've got a slew of them. I just cannot imagine how large or how diverse your collection is. You da man. ::tu:: ::ds::
"There are none so blind as those that refuse to see"

God Bless America - Though I don't know why he would want to.
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Italian Switches

Post by galvanic1882 »

That is a nice group of Auto's!!!! I am not sure about the question on the Victory Knife. I just started collecting these and don't know much about them.

Here is another that I just picked up it's an unmarked Flatguard 1940's??
Attachments
unmarkedflat1.jpg
unmarkedflat2.jpg
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Italian Switches

Post by knifegirl888 »

Holy smokes! That is a nice one, Mike! I can see why you like it!

K7K,

Do I see a one armed man knife in that batch? I think those are really cool! 8)
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
knife7knut
Posts: 10061
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Italian Switches

Post by knife7knut »

knifegirl888 wrote:

K7K,

Do I see a one armed man knife in that batch? I think those are really cool! 8)
Yes you do.It is a Press Button Knife Co.model with the embossed aluminum scales and has a very full blade.I bought it many years ago from a collector in New Hampshire(Mike DeFeo).Hard to see but there is an etch on the blade that says,"Compliments of A.A.Marks Newark New Jersey Maker of artificial limbs."

Supposedly these were promotional knives that were given to veterans of the Spanish American War of 1898 who were amputees.Never could confirm the story but it sounds plausible.

Here's a better picture.
Attachments
knife 22.jpg
knife 22.jpg (9.74 KiB) Viewed 8963 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Italian Switches

Post by galvanic1882 »

Here are all of the 11" I have. I love that Press Button!!!!
Attachments
elevens.jpg
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Italian Switches

Post by knifegirl888 »

Simply stunning! Thanks so much for the bigger photo :D
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
knife7knut
Posts: 10061
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Italian Switches

Post by knife7knut »

Here is a closeup of the etch;sorry for the poor quality but it is very faint and hard to shoot.
Attachments
011411 005.jpg
011411 005.jpg (48.68 KiB) Viewed 4894 times
011411 006.jpg
011411 006.jpg (29.71 KiB) Viewed 4894 times
011411 007.jpg
011411 007.jpg (47.24 KiB) Viewed 4894 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
autoknife
Posts: 63
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:40 am
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Re: Italian Switches

Post by autoknife »

Great knives Mike!
User avatar
jerryd6818
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 39165
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
Location: The middle of the top of a bastion of Liberalism.

Re: Italian Switches

Post by jerryd6818 »

These are the only two Italian autos I have. I bought them direct from Italy and it took me six months to complete the order. The guy kept saying they must have been stolen out of the mail. I would tell him, if they were, it happened over there because that kind of thing doesn't happen here. Finally he sent the one with the olive wood handles. After a couple more go arounds, he sent the one with the stag handles. I was very relieved when it showed up in my mailbox and vowed never to buy like that again. I have no idea who made them, they just say Italy Stainless on the tang.

This is the place from which I bought them - http://www.switchblades.it/
Italian Olive Wood Auto 4.JPG
Italian Stag Auto 4.JPG
My other two are not Italian. The first is a Boker Top Lock II I'm very fond of. Very solid feeling knife. The second is a no name my ex-son-in-law gave me. It's not bad but it doesn't have the same feel as the Boker.
Attachments
Boker Top Lock II auto 3.JPG
Unknown Auto 3.JPG
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Italian Switches

Post by galvanic1882 »

Ok here is my latest one and it is a dandy. Most members that read and post to this forum know that I like old USA made folders in NM-Mint condition. I have always said that some of the older knives that I own are really well made like the Factory Utica's, Nagle's, New York Knife Co, Walden's etc. and since I have been searching for old Italian switches this knife is what I would call ELEGANT!!!! The workmanship is so fine on the old piece. Circa 1920-1930, Frosolone. Look the pictures over it is by FAR by best Italian!!! I still can't believe that I was able to buy it.
Attachments
frosolone1.jpg
frosolone2.jpg
frosolone3.jpg
frosolone5.jpg
User avatar
jerryd6818
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 39165
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
Location: The middle of the top of a bastion of Liberalism.

Re: Italian Switches

Post by jerryd6818 »

Horn handles?
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Italian Switches

Post by galvanic1882 »

Yes Horn!!
knife7knut
Posts: 10061
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Italian Switches

Post by knife7knut »

Beautiful Frosolone knife!I have only one knife that was made in Frosolone and it also has horn scales and is about 7" long closed.Can't read the name on it.Will try and get a picture as I don't have one for some reason.EDIT:Look in the lower left hand corner of this picture.Will get a single pic up shortly.
Attachments
Drawer5part2.jpg
Drawer5part2.jpg (33.1 KiB) Viewed 4846 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
gino
Posts: 8069
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:50 pm

Re: Italian Switches

Post by gino »

Well this isnt a switch but I thought I would post it because it looks just like one and its a GC Co. brand who makes switches but its only a lockback. I never saw one like this that wasnt a switch. Notice there isnt a button.
Attachments
z 007.jpg
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
User avatar
rwd57
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:12 pm
Location: NW Ohio

Re: Italian Switches

Post by rwd57 »

Mine aren't italian but i think they are pretty cool. Found the small Imperial at a flea market for a couple bucks.
Attachments
9 closed automatics
9 closed automatics
9 open automatics
9 open automatics
Imperial USA 2¼" closed, 3¼" open.
Imperial USA 2¼" closed, 3¼" open.
2 Taurus USA stainless, 5" closed, 9" open.
2 Taurus USA stainless, 5" closed, 9" open.
Unmarked blk handle auto, 5" closed, 8½" open. Classic comb auto, Hong Kong.
Unmarked blk handle auto, 5" closed, 8½" open. Classic comb auto, Hong Kong.
2 USA Super Knifes with led lites, 4½" closed, 8¼" open. 4½" closed, 7½" open.
2 USA Super Knifes with led lites, 4½" closed, 8¼" open. 4½" closed, 7½" open.
2 USA Super Knife with led lites. 4½" closed, .8¼" open. 4½" closed, 8" open.
2 USA Super Knife with led lites. 4½" closed, .8¼" open. 4½" closed, 8" open.
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Italian Switches

Post by galvanic1882 »

Yes they are all cool!!! Gino thats a nice one you have there ::tu::
Post Reply

Return to “Switchblade Knife Collector`s Forum”