Some of my autos!

[1967redrider]

Man, Mark, you're on a tear!


Benchmade S30V 4400.

[garddogg56]

RR that's quite like my 4300 CLA

[Madmarco]

Thanks, Smitty, !
I know you appreciate anything of beauty!

[Madmarco]

Thanks, John, I guess I kindda have been on a run lately. A few more to post too, so watch for them.
I dig your Benchmade, is that the "Bugout" model? Thx!

[QGofLake]

Those are outstanding Marco! Quite a family you have going there. I don't have any AGA Campolin knives but am at some point going to change that. The Zero is very intriguing. It looks like it has a great feel and fires well.

Here is a wicked cool knife from the past. The Mexican pick locks from the 50s and 60s are really something! Thick blade and fires very hard. The sound is incredible. The ones with the bigger locking tab last.

[jw517]

That is beautiful ! Where can I get one? Really rugged. Want to donate it to my museum?

[1967redrider]

Thanks, gard.

Thanks, John, I guess I kindda have been on a run lately. A few more to post too, so watch for them.
I dig your Benchmade, is that the "Bugout" model? Thx!

This is the Casbah, slightly bigger than a Bugout.

[Madmarco]

Thanks for your compliment, QGL, I know you appreciate fine pocket cutlery!

Regarding the Zero and Zero+ models, IMO, both are necessary pieces in the collections of all serious collectors/accumulators.
They have substantial weight and feel just great in your hand, and when you fire them you'll think, this is what an auto knife should feel/sound like when it's fired, followed by a solid precise lock-up that inspires confidence in your knife.

I currently own 4 or 5 Campolin models, and the only one's I think might perform even better are the 10" Frosolone and/or 11" Francese ring-pull, but they're not currently being made so I need to wait for them to be produced again. As of yet I haven't fired or even handled either knife, but if my instincts are in order I'm certain they are also necessities.

I had a copy of your Mexican picklock on my "Wishlist" at RSI for the longest time, but not knowing how it performs it kept getting bumped for something else, and then they closed before I could buy one, but I recall thinking that it looks like it's a solid knife that fires well, and now you've confirmed this.

If you go back 1 page to my post on Dec.13th at 9:20 P.M. and scroll down to the 6h picture, the "more traditional RPK", and examine it closely, I'll bet you think what I'm thinking, and that's that my knife possibly started out as your knife and was then converted to what it is now. I pretty much base my thinking on the similar bolsters and light colored wooden covers, as well as the fact you don't see many knives that are even similar to these.

[QGofLake]

Thanks for your compliment, QGL, I know you appreciate fine pocket cutlery!

Regarding the Zero and Zero+ models, IMO, both are necessary pieces in the collections of all serious collectors/accumulators.
They have substantial weight and feel just great in your hand, and when you fire them you'll think, this is what an auto knife should feel/sound like when it's fired, followed by a solid precise lock-up that inspires confidence in your knife.

I currently own 4 or 5 Campolin models, and the only one's I think might perform even better are the 10" Frosolone and/or 11" Francese ring-pull, but they're not currently being made so I need to wait for them to be produced again. As of yet I haven't fired or even handled either knife, but if my instincts are in order I'm certain they are also necessities.

I had a copy of your Mexican picklock on my "Wishlist" at RSI for the longest time, but not knowing how it performs it kept getting bumped for something else, and then they closed before I could buy one, but I recall thinking that it looks like it's a solid knife that fires well, and now you've confirmed this.

If you go back 1 page to my post on Dec.13th at 9:20 P.M. and scroll down to the 6h picture, the "more traditional RPK", and examine it closely, I'll bet you think what I'm thinking, and that's that my knife possibly started out as your knife and was then converted to what it is now. I pretty much base my thinking on the similar bolsters and light colored wooden covers, as well as the fact you don't see many knives that are even similar to these.

Thank you Marco for the recommendation about the Zero. Santa did not bring me one so Imma gonna have to do so myself If you come across a good example of a Mexican picklock, you will definitely enjoy it! They seem to have been done with two styles of locking tabs... large and small. No doubt the larger locking tab is more robust and those are the knives that last. I will certainly check out the 12/13 post.

In the meantime, here is a Christmas family of Rizzutos all decked out for the holiday! Hope all had a Merry Christmas.

[QGofLake]

Man, Mark, you're on a tear!


Benchmade S30V 4400.

That is a nice Casbah! Looks stylish in blue.

[1967redrider]

Man, Mark, you're on a tear!


Benchmade S30V 4400.

That is a nice Casbah! Looks stylish in blue.

Thanks and sweet trio of Ruzzutos.

[Madmarco]

Thank you too for your kind words, QGL, they're much appreciated.
I just knew those Mexican picklocks would be worthy knives, it's a shame I didn't grab one when I could.
That's a great "Goldie-locks" family of Rizzy's you posted, my choice would be the Papa Rizzy, the biggest model! lol!
And JFYI, there's a bunch of Zeros currently for sale in AAPK stores that are similarly priced to www.Knifeshop.com prices or slightly higher, mind you, after shipping charges and the concern regarding lost overseas mail from Austria, you might be just as well off ordering from an AAPK store. Neither location currently has any Zero+'s the longer model, but since my endorsement is really for the smaller knife it's all good!

[QGofLake]

Man, Mark, you're on a tear!


Benchmade S30V 4400.

That is a nice Casbah! Looks stylish in blue.

Thanks and sweet trio of Ruzzutos.

Tks RedRider. Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

[QGofLake]

Thank you too for your kind words, QGL, they're much appreciated.
I just knew those Mexican picklocks would be worthy knives, it's a shame I didn't grab one when I could.
That's a great "Goldie-locks" family of Rizzy's you posted, my choice would be the Papa Rizzy, the biggest model! lol!
And JFYI, there's a bunch of Zeros currently for sale in AAPK stores that are similarly priced to www.Knifeshop.com prices or slightly higher, mind you, after shipping charges and the concern regarding lost overseas mail from Austria, you might be just as well off ordering from an AAPK store. Neither location currently has any Zero+'s the longer model, but since my endorsement is really for the smaller knife it's all good!

Hello Marco, I sure do appreciate your recommendation and am going to get the smaller zero. I might grab at last one other AGA as I don't have any.

I found the December 13th post! For some reason, my brain was stuck on going back to page one of this thread instead of back one page. No doubt that RPK has striking similarities to the Mexican picklock. The bolsters sure are consistent as is the overall style and proportion of the knife. Maybe the maker did so in "homage." That sure is a nice knife you have. It looks like a beast.

[Madmarco]

Oh my goodness, man, I can't tell you the number of times I've done unnecessary searching for something that was right in front of me, it's called having a "seniors moment"! lol!

I am puzzled as to the origins of my RPK, since it looks and has the features of the Mexican picklock yet not nearly as refined.
It doesn't seem plausible that it went into prison as a finished M/picklock, had work done on it by the prisoners, and then returned into public as it is now, but stranger things have happened.
It makes more sense to me that a prisoner saw the knife prior to going into prison, liked the looks of it and made an attempt at cloning it, and that attempt is what's sitting in my collection right now as his finished product. I believe you called it "homage", duh!

Should you go for a Zero, there is one in the AAPK stores with black aluminum covers and mirror-polished hardware that looks great, and was made this year at a good price. The other copy I'd seen was with carbon fibre covers satin hardware and a much higher price, but it's been sold.
And should you go for 2 knives, their 9 1/2" "Dominus" leverlock, or, 12" "Sicilian" ring-pull are 2 I can highly recommend, and both can also be found in the stores.

Good luck and happy shopping!

[Clack]

Here is a wicked cool knife from the past. The Mexican pick locks from the 50s and 60s are really something! Thick blade and fires very hard. The sound is incredible. The ones with the bigger locking tab last.

I didn't know that Mexicans also made switchblades. This particular knife really looks beautiful!

[Madmarco]

I might be mistaken, Clack, but my understanding of that situation is, the autos are made in various counties and then sold to Mexican merchants for re-sale, cuz anything illegal can be accomplished in Mexico with little or no repercussions.

I'm also thinking that this practise is becoming less and less all the time, since the US is loosening up on automatic knife restrictions more and more all the time.

I mean, why drive to Mexico to buy an auto when you can walk to Walmart to buy an auto, especially since the quality of the 2 knives will be similar, unless of course you were goin' for Jumbo Fried Shrimp anyway!


,

[jw517]

Lots were made in Japan but they are usually marked are they not? That looks like Mexico to me.

[QGofLake]

Here is a wicked cool knife from the past. The Mexican pick locks from the 50s and 60s are really something! Thick blade and fires very hard. The sound is incredible. The ones with the bigger locking tab last.

I didn't know that Mexicans also made switchblades. This particular knife really looks beautiful!

Hello Clack, no doubt the Mexican picklock is a uniquely cool knife. People mostly think of the bullfighter knife and rizzutos in terms of Mexican knives. Those were made in Japan and Korea for import to Mexico where they were sold to tourists in places such as TiJuana. But the Mexican picklock is a true domestic made knife from back in the day. They are not common.

[QGofLake]

I might be mistaken, Clack, but my understanding of that situation is, the autos are made in various counties and then sold to Mexican merchants for re-sale, cuz anything illegal can be accomplished in Mexico with little or no repercussions.

I'm also thinking that this practise is becoming less and less all the time, since the US is loosening up on automatic knife restrictions more and more all the time.

I mean, why drive to Mexico to buy an auto when you can walk to Walmart to buy an auto, especially since the quality of the 2 knives will be similar, unless of course you were goin' for Jumbo Fried Shrimp anyway!


,

I suspect most autos are bought online these days. But you just can't get Jumbo Fried Shrimp that way. There is always Door Dash though.

[QGofLake]

Lots were made in Japan but they are usually marked are they not? That looks like Mexico to me.

Right you are JW. That is a true Made in Mexico picklock. The feel is not like anything else.

I haven't seen a Japanese rizzuto marked made in Japan. Its always Rizzuto Estileto Milano. The Korean version sometimes had Korea stamped on the finger guards.

[jw517]

What does a Mexican piklock go for these days?

[QGofLake]

What does a Mexican piklock go for these days?

In good condition, they easily fetch $400. They don't come around very often.

[Clack]

Here is a wicked cool knife from the past. The Mexican pick locks from the 50s and 60s are really something! Thick blade and fires very hard. The sound is incredible. The ones with the bigger locking tab last.

I didn't know that Mexicans also made switchblades. This particular knife really looks beautiful!

Hello Clack, no doubt the Mexican picklock is a uniquely cool knife. People mostly think of the bullfighter knife and rizzutos in terms of Mexican knives. Those were made in Japan and Korea for import to Mexico where they were sold to tourists in places such as TiJuana. But the Mexican picklock is a true domestic made knife from back in the day. They are not common.

There where probably good knifemakers in Mexico that copied the mechanics of an Japanese or Italian switch blade and made their own touches on it. I love the thickness and more rectangular shapes on it. Similar to a slant model switch blade.

Indeed, very unique.

[QGofLake]

I didn't know that Mexicans also made switchblades. This particular knife really looks beautiful!

Hello Clack, no doubt the Mexican picklock is a uniquely cool knife. People mostly think of the bullfighter knife and rizzutos in terms of Mexican knives. Those were made in Japan and Korea for import to Mexico where they were sold to tourists in places such as TiJuana. But the Mexican picklock is a true domestic made knife from back in the day. They are not common.

There where probably good knifemakers in Mexico that copied the mechanics of an Japanese or Italian switch blade and made their own touches on it. I love the thickness and more rectangular shapes on it. Similar to a slant model switch blade.

Indeed, very unique.

Since the Japanese makers where inspired by the Italians, probably Italy styles were the root. Marco also has an RPK which has a lot of similarities. That could also be an influence too, or the RPK was inspired by the Mexican picklock. Hard to know exactly. If you get your hands on one, you will really enjoy it.