Help identifying a knife

[Resophonatic]

I need some help identifying this knife please. Thanks

[Madmarco]

Hey Reso! Your knife appears to be a fairly modern swinguard model with stag covers likely built after 1962 because it's a swivel-release design. Without a makers stamp it will be tough determining exactly who built it, although there are members here who have that sort of knowledge so keep checking this thread and someone might eventually provide you some answers. You have one nice knife there! FYI, Rostfrei simply means rust-free in German! BTW, to AAPK!

[Gunsil]

That is not a swing guard. Yes it is a rocker release.

[Resophonatic]

Thank you. A widow lady found this among her husbands things. He had a large collection of knives. Most all of them had some value or at least a unique quality. I am trying to help her sort them out so she can decide what to do with them. I read a lot of the posts on this forum but could not figure this knife out. It may have had some sentimental value for him. Does the Rostfrei make it a German knife? I think I read in the forum that Rostfrei is a German word but these knives were mostly made in Italy. Does the 8 have reference to the size? Does the lack of a manufacturer’s stamp mean it was something that was mass produced?

[Bill DeShivs]

The knife is a modern Italian-made knife. It may have been sold in Germany. Knives of this type were never made in Germany.

[Madmarco]

That is not a swing guard. Yes it is a rocker release.

Thanks for the correction Gunsil. I've been so involved with autos lately they seem to be blurring into each other. I feel really dumb cuz I DEFINITELY know the difference between a swivel-bolster, picklock, and swinguard model!

[Madmarco]

Thank you. A widow lady found this among her husbands things. He had a large collection of knives. Most all of them had some value or at least a unique quality. I am trying to help her sort them out so she can decide what to do with them. I read a lot of the posts on this forum but could not figure this knife out. It may have had some sentimental value for him. Does the Rostfrei make it a German knife? I think I read in the forum that Rostfrei is a German word but these knives were mostly made in Italy. Does the 8 have reference to the size? Does the lack of a manufacturer’s stamp mean it was something that was mass produced?

There ya go Reso, I told ya someone would be along with the CORRECT answers! I personally don't know if the "8" is in reference to the size, but that's a good thought and it very well may be. I've read in posts by Bill D. that sometimes when a knife is unmarked it's because it was never meant for export, but I don't know if it refers to being mass produced also. My apologies for providing prior inaccurate answers for you!

[Resophonatic]

Thank you for the help! She will probably just hang on to this one or give it to one of the older grand children.

[Gunsil]

That is not a swing guard. Yes it is a rocker release.

Thanks for the correction Gunsil. I've been so involved with autos lately they seem to be blurring into each other. I feel really dumb cuz I DEFINITELY know the difference between a swivel-bolster, picklock, and swinguard model!

I am sure you do sir! I only made the correction for those who aren't so familiar with these knives. Like an old friend told me,"everybody makes mistakes, that's why they put erasers on pencils"! Maybe you could post up a nice Schrade swing guard for educational purposes?

[Madmarco]

That is not a swing guard. Yes it is a rocker release.

Thanks for the correction Gunsil. I've been so involved with autos lately they seem to be blurring into each other. I feel really dumb cuz I DEFINITELY know the difference between a swivel-bolster, picklock, and swinguard model!

I am sure you do sir! I only made the correction for those who aren't so familiar with these knives. Like an old friend told me,"everybody makes mistakes, that's why they put erasers on pencils"! Maybe you could post up a nice Schrade swing guard for educational purposes?

Thanks for that man, I didn't think your correction was directed specifically at me! Well, I don't own a nice Schrade or even a Case Cheetah, but I do have this nice Antonio Contini custom made swinguard picklock! To anyone uninformed, note how the guards fold up against the blade in the top picture when it's closed. These are called "floating swinguards"! I just recently saw a model with fixed guards, so when the blade is closed the guards are still sticking out from the bolsters! I'd never seen that before!

I wish I could get better picture, this knife is gorgeous in person!

[Gunsil]

That is one fine looking swing guard switch!! Yup, swing or floating, both valid descriptions. Damn that's a pretty knife!!

[Madmarco]

That is one fine looking swing guard switch!! Yup, swing or floating, both valid descriptions. Damn that's a pretty knife!!

Thanks for that compliment man! After reading your post it dawned on me that swinguard and floating guards means exactly he same thing! Duh! You obviously appreciate a good automatic knife Gunsil, so you might want to take a look at www.tradizionisarde.com , and, www.stiletto-italiano.com , both safe sites, cuz you'll be treated to some beautiful handmade knives!

[Gunsil]

Thanks for the links Marco, I am really more into the antique knives including switches but I have sold many of my switches off in the last few years. I do appreciate the beauty of the modern custom ones for sure, just have no desire to own one anymore. I think I have one custom switch left, it is a "Huck".

[Madmarco]

You're very welcome Gene! Since I consider you to be a connoisseur of most models of knives I can just bet that some of the autos you sold or gave away were gorgeous, I'd love to have seen pictures of them. It sounds like you had the auto bug for awhile, and I certainly understand your desire to explore other knives, there are sooooo many models out in circulation or in people's safes that we'd never be able to view, handle, or own an awful lot of them, so one might as well see as many as possible while we still can. This may change over the years, although I seriously doubt it, but I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing and owning more automatic knives. Something about how they feel in my hand, and of course that satisfying "crack" I hear and feel every time I fire one will never get old to me. If your interests lie more with antiques you'll find the www.tradizionisarde.com site more to your liking, cuz that's what their models are designed upon, antiques. I was just about to request that you post a picture of a "Huck" since I don't think I've seen one, but then I remembered that you don't post pictures, at least none that I've seen, so Mr. Google will have to suffice! EDIT: I just Googled Huck's and I was wrong, I have seen them. The AAPK store "Knives Worth Using" had 3 at one time, but the last time I looked 1 was sold. I want one sooooo bad there's a part of my anatomy getting hard!

[Gunsil]

I would say I have posted many photos here, just not in your realm of interest, mostly antique hunting knives. So just for you I dug out my Huck and here are some photos. Coil spring fired, genuine stag handles, beautiful blade grinds. it is signed Huck on the back of the knife as you can see, model number engraved on blade. I can't remember Huck's full name but he was a popular maker here in the US 25 years back, don't know if he is still active or not. I used to be a Hubertus dealer, had many of them as well as Bokers, still have a few left, all from 25-30 years ago. Probably a few old Italian picklocks hanging around here too. Most of my Schrades and flylocks sold. I'm getting old and need to downsize as no relatives have any interest in my knives so I do a few knife shows a year and some private sales. I hope I live a long time since I have easily over a thousand knives to sell and it seems to go slowly.

[Gunsil]

I do understand the "crack" business. We used to have a knife club in NYC that for a long time was largely an automatic club. I used to call meetings "click and flick" because as soon as one walked in the hall when a meeting was going on all you heard other than voices were the clicking and flicking of multiple autos opening amongst fifty members. Club membership dwindled over the years and sadly covid closed down meetings and the club is now defunct. But in the glory days there were 30-50 guys showing off and/or selling everything from cheap chinese knock-offs to fine customs, antique Italians and Americans, pretty much every type of auto known. I was into the autos forty years ago, sort of lost my interest in owning a lot of them for some reason. Other than my KA-BAR mid size Grizzly which I love.

[Madmarco]

I would say I have posted many photos here, just not in your realm of interest, mostly antique hunting knives. So just for you I dug out my Huck and here are some photos. Coil spring fired, genuine stag handles, beautiful blade grinds. it is signed Huck on the back of the knife as you can see, model number engraved on blade. I can't remember Huck's full name but he was a popular maker here in the US 25 years back, don't know if he is still active or not. I used to be a Hubertus dealer, had many of them as well as Bokers, still have a few left, all from 25-30 years ago. Probably a few old Italian picklocks hanging around here too. Most of my Schrades and flylocks sold. I'm getting old and need to downsize as no relatives have any interest in my knives so I do a few knife shows a year and some private sales. I hope I live a long time since I have easily over a thousand knives to sell and it seems to go slowly.

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Gene! I sure hope you didn't feel I was criticizing your amount of picture posting, it's like you said, we don't frequent the same threads so I just haven't seen your pictures. JFYI, Huck's full name is James Huckeba but I don't know if he's still active or not. If you were a Hubertus dealer you must have come across some of their 10" oal Slimlines "For export only", and if that's so, do you still have any with straight blades, not kris blades you'd be willing to sell? I was almost able to get one from Henning Ritter at their plant overseas, but then they went through some changes and that fell through. I'd would like one with black micarta or stag covers, but anything would do just as long as it has a straight blade and is 10" oal. I have a 7 3/4" oal Slimline from the 80's, but being a lover of BIG knives I'd like the larger model too. BTW, your Huck is spectacular!

[Madmarco]

I do understand the "crack" business. We used to have a knife club in NYC that for a long time was largely an automatic club. I used to call meetings "click and flick" because as soon as one walked in the hall when a meeting was going on all you heard other than voices were the clicking and flicking of multiple autos opening amongst fifty members. Club membership dwindled over the years and sadly covid closed down meetings and the club is now defunct. But in the glory days there were 30-50 guys showing off and/or selling everything from cheap chinese knock-offs to fine customs, antique Italians and Americans, pretty much every type of auto known. I was into the autos forty years ago, sort of lost my interest in owning a lot of them for some reason. Other than my KA-BAR mid size Grizzly which I love.

"other than my KA-BAR mid size Grizzly, and my Huck, and some Hubertus's, and...! LOL!
I know the sentiment! Boy, I'd have loved to belong to a club like that, you're a lucky guy!

[Madmarco]

At this point I would like to formally apologize to Resophonatic for high-jacking his thread so badly! My sincere apologies sir!

[Gunsil]

Me too!!

[Resophonatic]

No worries. I enjoyed reading the responses.

[Resophonatic]

BTW, The handles on this knife look like stag, but they do not have a stag feel. Is there a way I can tell if they are real stag? In past days I have used what I call the “tooth test”. If it drags against my teeth it is bone and if it slides easy it is synthetic. Is there something to look for when dealing with stag?

[Madmarco]

I was going to suggest the "tooth test" Res, cuz it's the only way I'm aware of!

[Resophonatic]

I like the tooth test but my wife refuses to kiss me after she sees me do it.

[Madmarco]

I like the tooth test but my wife refuses to kiss me after she sees me do it.

! Good one Res!