All About Pocket Knives

Been having a discussion in the counterfeit section about some of the numerous knives appearing in the AKC Italy page of the store. Do these belong in there?

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... rl-handles

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... lade-knife

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... automatics

Does AKC make a 13 inch Mafia Godfather Knife? Have they ever? I did contact the seller but never heard back.

I’d say yes. I Stay away from AKC unless you’re looking at items other than stilettos. AKC web site has Italian knives to look at.

Probably a topic for admins, but i think this just boils down to the category being improperly labeled.
Its labeled AKC - (Italian Autos), but really its a listing for any kind of Italian styled automatic. I noticed this long ago when shopping for a few myself, I just learned to ignore the AKC label on the site page and look at each knife on it's own merit and description. Still easy fix is to remove the mis-leading AKC label on the category.

The description of the 13" stiletto says that it was made in China. It's been many years since AKC made any stilettos, so if any are being advertised as "new", or sold as "new" by vendors, it's a safe bet they are fake. Although the Campolins (AKC) have some knives made in China (AKC World), there are no 13" AKC stilettos being sold at their store (knifeshop.com). Checking knifeshop.com is a good way to tell if an AKC knife is a genuine AKC and authorized by the Campolins.

The "Corpo Di Vespa" knives are pure Chinese.

Just doing a simple search of the AAPK stores for keyword “AKC”, it didn’t find those keychain knives. https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... mit=Search
A similar search for “automatic” did find them.

I think it’s probably some peculiarity in the search algorithm, that’s returning those keychain automatics on certain searches. I doubt “somebody” put them in the OP search results , but the search algorithm software did. Possibly it is finding the word “automatic” or “auto” if either word is included in the search and the seller’s description, and returning those in the results.



Ken

I had read at one point that "AKC" stood for "Automatic Knife Company" and was so named by one of AGA Camp's sons when he took over a certain aspect of their empire.
You can't believe everything you read, but you can believe some of what you read, it's entirely up to you.
Regarding them ever making a 13" stiletto, well, I can vouch that they do/did, lol, cuz I own 3 of them and they look and operate just like the real-deal, right down to the hollow "AKC" tang etches, wide safety slots, and round-rod springs!

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 2:40 am Just doing a simple search of the AAPK stores for keyword “AKC”, it didn’t find those keychain knives. https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... mit=Search
A similar search for “automatic” did find them.

I think it’s probably some peculiarity in the search algorithm, that’s returning those keychain automatics on certain searches. I doubt “somebody” put them in the OP search results , but the search algorithm software did. Possibly it is finding the word “automatic” or “auto” if either word is included in the search and the seller’s description, and returning those in the results.



Ken

I followed that link and that is one way to find products. I was refering to the AKC Italy page within the store. It is under Browse By Manufacturer. There is a lot of the mafia godfathers and keychain knives on that page.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... automatics

The seller looks to have tagged them AKC Italy.

Madmarco wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 3:26 am I had read at one point that "AKC" stood for "Automatic Knife Company" and was so named by one of AGA Camp's sons when he took over a certain aspect of their empire.
You can't believe everything you read, but you can believe some of what you read, it's entirely up to you.
Regarding them ever making a 13" stiletto, well, I can vouch that they do/did, cuz I own 3 of them and they look and operate just like the real-deal, right down to the hollow "AKC" tang etches, wide safety slots, and round-rod springs!

Thank you for the advice MadMarco. I hope the knives are good letter openers at least Are your three like this?

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... rl-handles

I wonder how useful looking at an etch really is. Per you, KillGar and Swedge, looking carefully at the knife is likely the best bet.

Madmarco wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 3:26 am I had read at one point that "AKC" stood for "Automatic Knife Company" and was so named by one of AGA Camp's sons when he took over a certain aspect of their empire.
You can't believe everything you read, but you can believe some of what you read, it's entirely up to you.
Regarding them ever making a 13" stiletto, well, I can vouch that they do/did, cuz I own 3 of them and they look and operate just like the real-deal, right down to the hollow "AKC" tang etches, wide safety slots, and round-rod springs!

I bought my13 in AKC about 15 years ago ,maybe more. It has a beautiful FLAT spring.

jw517 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2024 11:40 pm I’d say yes. Stay away from AKC unless you’re looking at items other than stilettos. AKC web site has Italian knives to look at.

How are their lever locks?

They have fakes with Bill’s name on them and they have real nice knives on the AKCweb site. Ya got the best of both worlds there! Thus my comment,I’ll just keep my wallet in my pocket unless I’m looking for a China knife. If you find old AKC knives I think you have a good chance at an Italian example.

Yep, exactly like that one, TBear, except for having black covers and 2 with SS hardware and 1 with brass.
All 3 for under US$100./delivered nearly 4 years ago, and after extensive firing's for "click-therapy" all 3 still operate perfectly.
I think I've only opened 1 letter with any of them, though!
I fully agree reading the knife is still the best way to find out about it, but until that skill has been honed by scrutinizing 0,000's of knives, all the little giveaways are pretty useful.
IMHO, I think that unless one is trying to make a living as a serious collector of genuine knives that are to be bought and sold for big money, all this clone/legitimate/illegitimate stuff should be overlooked, and the knives simply enjoyed for what they are.
Jus' sayin'!

jw517 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 4:18 am

Madmarco wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 3:26 am I had read at one point that "AKC" stood for "Automatic Knife Company" and was so named by one of AGA Camp's sons when he took over a certain aspect of their empire.
You can't believe everything you read, but you can believe some of what you read, it's entirely up to you.
Regarding them ever making a 13" stiletto, well, I can vouch that they do/did, cuz I own 3 of them and they look and operate just like the real-deal, right down to the hollow "AKC" tang etches, wide safety slots, and round-rod springs!

I bought my13 in AKC about 15 years ago ,maybe more. It has a beautiful FLAT spring.

Going back 15 years or more, Smitty, it's likely all AKC's were legitimate, especially the models with flat springs, all this cloning/counterfeiting seems to have only begun in the last 7-10 years.
Don't ever sell yours!!!

I’m going to take it apart to fix the sear/liner/blade hole problem one of these days. I’m hesitant because I’m not sure I can fix it. Maybe I should leave it be. It looks nice but won’t stay closed.

You seem to really love that knife, Smitty, and if you don't feel you have the skills to repair it, send it to Bill for repair, it's likely worth it in the long run.

I think I paid 35-45 for it. I don’t even recall what company I got it from. I just picked one on the web. I was surprised I could buy one. They were illegal when I bought my first blades in Mexico. I may need to make a sear,or clean up the sides of the hole in the blade. It just stopped working.

AKC never made a stiletto with a round wire spring.

All good talking about AKCs, but back on topic, maybe this helps.
In the AAPK Store you have this category.
When you click into it, it is not a listing of AKC knives. Should possibly just be labeled Italian Autos.
That was the intent of OPs original post. Really not a big deal but there ya go.

I am not big on keychain knives (that's just me) and can't offer much regarding that. I'll say though some of the Chinese knives are pretty nice. When I first learned of AKC getting in bed with the Chinese, I was disturbed and still a bit peaved. I figured I would hate the knives. But I handled a Roma knife and have to admit they are nice! IMO the 9" ones are just plain good. There is no peek, blade is centered and sits deep. Always fires well.

SwedgeHead wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 3:20 pm All good talking about AKCs, but back on topic, maybe this helps.
In the AAPK Store you have this category.
When you click into it, it is not a listing of AKC knives. Should possibly just be labeled Italian Autos.
That was the intent of OPs original post. Really not a big deal but there ya go.
AKC.JPG

What about a category titled "Italinese" or "Chitalian?"

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 7:42 am AKC never made a stiletto with a round wire spring.

I'm unsure of who you're directing your comment at, Bill, but if it's me because of my post about owning 3 AKC's with all the tell-tale signs of being clones or counterfeits, please know I was being sarcastic and learned long ago about round/flat springs in AKC knives, and it actually was you who I learned that from.
Whether it was me or not, thanks for that information.

QGofLake wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:56 pm

SwedgeHead wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 3:20 pm All good talking about AKCs, but back on topic, maybe this helps.
In the AAPK Store you have this category.
When you click into it, it is not a listing of AKC knives. Should possibly just be labeled Italian Autos.
That was the intent of OPs original post. Really not a big deal but there ya go.
AKC.JPG

What about a category titled "Italinese" or "Chitalian?"

Good one, QGL!