All About Pocket Knives

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!!!

Those are terrific, Mike. I can definitely see why you like them!! How old do you think they are?

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.

Great lookin knives Mike.
Love those old switch blades.
I do tend to like Italian things in general, who da thunk?

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

galvanic1882.....very nice switch's!!

Couple of really nice vintage stilettos, galvanic. Does the humpback Victory have a coilspring instead of a leaf spring?

I sure have enjoyed lookin at these Switches you guys own!

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.

Wow K7K! You got a whole herd of them beauties.

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.

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??

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!

knifegirl888 wrote:

K7K,

Do I see a one armed man knife in that batch? I think those are really cool!

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.

Here are all of the 11" I have. I love that Press Button!!!!

Simply stunning! Thanks so much for the bigger photo

Here is a closeup of the etch;sorry for the poor quality but it is very faint and hard to shoot.

Great knives Mike!

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/
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.

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.

Horn handles?

Yes Horn!!

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.

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.

Mine aren't italian but i think they are pretty cool. Found the small Imperial at a flea market for a couple bucks.

Yes they are all cool!!! Gino thats a nice one you have there