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Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 1:55 am
by AswiftTortoise

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 8:05 am
by No youre wrong
Made in the 1990s based on a traditional Italian folding knife. A leverlatto is a like a Massaro slim line with guards added and is different than these and sometimes made in China.

This model you have is based after a traditional Italian model. Yours, sometimes has a blade etch too.

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 4:12 am
by Madmarco
::welcome:: to AAPK, AST! ::handshake::
All 4 pictures were the same, but it looks like an Armondo Beltrame "Bird's-Head" leverlock.
Leverletto is a brand name and was designed by our own Bill DeShivs, all similar knives with that opening system are leverlocks.
8)

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 11:47 am
by No youre wrong
Madmarco wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 4:12 am ::welcome:: to AAPK, AST! ::handshake::
All 4 pictures were the same, but it looks like an Armondo Beltrame "Bird's-Head" leverlock.
Leverletto is a brand name and was designed by our own Bill DeShivs, all similar knives with that opening system are leverlocks.
8)
Why are the called birds beak? I think something somewhere got lost in translation. These seem like a whimpy 1990s version of an Italian siciliano model, not a birds beak.

Here is one done in the 2000s that is much nicer:

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... onet-blade

From AKC, “Old style” like I said a traditional Italian design.

https://akc.it/old-style.html

Fox Cutlery:

http://www.leverlock.it/oldstyle.html

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 12:47 pm
by 1967redrider
The OP knife, for future reference.

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:20 pm
by Madmarco
I fully agree the knives in your links are far nicer than the OP, NYW, but how do you ever stop all the cloning that goes on nowadays.
The "Siciliano" in the first link is in a different class completely, and IMO doesn't really look like these others.
The models in the other 2 links are definitely the same knives as the OP, but much better quality.
It's called a "Bird's-Head/Beak/Eye" because the bottom bolster is in the shape of a bird's head with the rivet as an eye.
I want a 12" "Siciliano" so bad I can almost feel it in my hand! :shock:
8)

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:22 pm
by Killgar
No youre wrong wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 11:47 am
Madmarco wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 4:12 am ::welcome:: to AAPK, AST! ::handshake::
All 4 pictures were the same, but it looks like an Armondo Beltrame "Bird's-Head" leverlock.
Leverletto is a brand name and was designed by our own Bill DeShivs, all similar knives with that opening system are leverlocks.
8)
Why are the called birds beak? I think something somewhere got lost in translation. These seem like a whimpy 1990s version of an Italian siciliano model, not a birds beak.

Here is one done in the 2000s that is much nicer:

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... onet-blade

From AKC, “Old style” like I said a traditional Italian design.

https://akc.it/old-style.html

Fox Cutlery:

http://www.leverlock.it/oldstyle.html

"birds beak", or "birds head", refers to the design of the bottom bolsters. On some knives they sort of resemble the head of a bird, rounded, tiny point (beak), and the pin looks like an eye. The "bird" is more distinct on some knives than others. And then there are custom "birds head" knives where the maker intentionally made the bolsters look like birds.

EDIT: Looks like we were typing at the same time MadMarco :) .

A pic to show what I mean. An Armando Beltrame knife.

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:34 pm
by Madmarco
Thanks, KG, but I think NYW gets it, unless I'm mistaken his question was more of a statement, like, "I know it's called a "bird's beak", but why is it called that when these others look more like that"? I certainly might be wrong.
In the AAPK store "Eight Knives" many of his knives have very pronounced "Bird's-Head" bolsters and are worth looking at.
I'm watching your signature like a hawk, my friend! ::watching_you::
8)

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:38 pm
by No youre wrong
Aren’t there knives made with the top booster that has birds beak? That would make more sense. Not the bottom bolster.

I’ll look for photos

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:55 pm
by No youre wrong
Same design based on old Italian knives.

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:56 pm
by Pile Driver
wow that looks interesting like a medici knife but with the head of a bird

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 10:17 pm
by Madmarco
You're actually correct, NYW, I forgot how much that bottom bolster on the "Siciliano" looks like a bird's head.
Some of the knives in the "Eight Knives" store has them on the top like the model you posted.
8)

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 10:41 pm
by No youre wrong
Madmarco wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2023 10:17 pm You're actually correct, NYW, I forgot how much that bottom bolster on the "Siciliano" looks like a bird's head.
Some of the knives in the "Eight Knives" store has them on the top like the model you posted.
8)
Well that would be a first for me to be right. I’m usually told everything about me is wrong. Haha.

I was always under the impression the birds beak referred to the top bolster. Like on old German knives and pocket knives.

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 11:35 pm
by Madmarco
I thought the same thing PD when I saw those knives, but if I'm not mistaken those are C. Jul Herbertz designed.
8)

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:16 am
by AswiftTortoise
Update, sorry for the consecutive pics guys. Image hosting is rough sometimes 😕. But here's the actual maker's mark
https://yourimageshare.com/ib/g6PHrkoaDX

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:22 am
by AswiftTortoise

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 2:01 pm
by Mumbleypeg
AswiftTortoise wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:16 am Update, sorry for the consecutive pics guys. Image hosting is rough sometimes 😕. But here's the actual maker's mark
https://yourimageshare.com/ib/g6PHrkoaDX
Image hosting is only good as long as the hosting site is viable, or the image owner pays their fees. There are hundreds of images no longer available here because one or the other has failed. Instead, AAPK hosts our own pictures, the site owner encourages it and has provided ample storage space. Posting pictures here is easy (and free). For instructions see here viewforum.php?f=98. Scroll down to find instructions for your device software.

Ken

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 2:23 pm
by No youre wrong
Mumbleypeg wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 2:01 pm
AswiftTortoise wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:16 am Update, sorry for the consecutive pics guys. Image hosting is rough sometimes 😕. But here's the actual maker's mark
https://yourimageshare.com/ib/g6PHrkoaDX
Image hosting is only good as long as the hosting site is viable, or the image owner pays their fees. There are hundreds of images no longer available here because one or the other has failed. Instead, AAPK hosts our own pictures, the site owner encourages it and has provided ample storage space. Posting pictures here is easy (and free). For instructions see here viewforum.php?f=98. Scroll down to find instructions for your device software.

Ken
Thanks for the info sir. It’s awesome when people in the hobby are helpful and friendly rather than trying to cut people out of the hobby for the own needs

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:08 pm
by Killgar
I don't know if the stamp is authentic, but it looks like it says "KLAAS" in a crown, with "ROBT KLAAS" underneath.

That would be Robert Klaas, a German knife seller known for the Kissing Crane brand. Mr. Klaas also used a three pointed crown as a logo.

The term "Rostfrei" on the opposite side is basically German for stainless steel (rust free).

I don't know where the knife was made, but Klaas did have knives made in Italy. It looks like it says something under "ROBT KLAAS", but I can't read it. It might say where it was made.

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 5:31 pm
by Pile Driver
Killgar wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:08 pm I don't know if the stamp is authentic, but it looks like it says "KLAAS" in a crown, with "ROBT KLAAS" underneath.

That would be Robert Klaas, a German knife seller known for the Kissing Crane brand. Mr. Klaas also used a three pointed crown as a logo.

The term "Rostfrei" on the opposite side is basically German for stainless steel (rust free).

I don't know where the knife was made, but Klaas did have knives made in Italy. It looks like it says something under "ROBT KLAAS", but I can't read it. It might say where it was made.
I have several Italian produced knives for Klaas, marked with the kissing crane trademark

Re: Leverletto that I found thrifting. Need help identifying.

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 9:50 pm
by AswiftTortoise
After looking at it closely it's definitely a crown with klaas inside of it and. ROBTKLAAS underneath it. Are these more rare than the kissing crane? I keep digging but the internet is only giving me images of the crane mark.