All About Pocket Knives

Why are we seeing less n less picklocks? All Frank B's are swivel bolsters and we can forget Latama. What's going on here?

There are a few Frank Beltrame picklocks listed on direct knife sales dotcom and they're marked at just over $300. And over on Arizona custom for quite a bit more. Otherwise, yes getting hard to locate.

People hoard them.

Lot of collectors have to deal with opportunist speculators who just buy them all up and try to rape you with artificially inflated prices… there’s a reason some of the sellers on this site have inventory that sits forever. Dishonest about getting things fixed up just to flip for crazy profits… then they make crybaby comments about “people hoarding”. These wannabe dealers are the worst.

Pardon my novice Switchblade question, but how does one un-lock a blade without a swivel bolster, ring pull or lockback release, on a knife like this for example? Picture borrowed from an AAPK store for educational purposes. Thanks!

1967redrider wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2026 12:27 pm Pardon my novice Switchblade question, but how does one un-lock a blade without a swivel bolster, ring pull or lockback release, on a knife like this for example? Picture borrowed from an AAPK store for educational purposes. Thanks!

Lift this part (lock tab) with your finger nail and it will release the blade

Highspeedsteel wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2026 12:43 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2026 12:27 pm Pardon my novice Switchblade question, but how does one un-lock a blade without a swivel bolster, ring pull or lockback release, on a knife like this for example? Picture borrowed from an AAPK store for educational purposes. Thanks!

Lift this part (lock tab) with your finger nail and it will release the blade IMG_9009.jpeg

Gotcha, thank you!


Personally, I like the other releasing mechanisms better. Just my 2 cents.

All the different release mechanisms are fascinating… really interesting to see the progression of design and function throughout the years, from various countries

Good ole trash talkin’ highspeedsteal at it again. It’s simple, scarcity drives up prices. Does hoarding help, no. Is a knife only worth what someone is willing to pay, yes. Do collectors profit off knives, yes. Do dealers, yes. Let it go man, sound like some smug snob.

pachinko799 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 3:56 pm Good ole trash talkin’ highspeedsteal at it again. It’s simple, scarcity drives up prices. Does hoarding help, no. Is a knife only worth what someone is willing to pay, yes. Do collectors profit off knives, yes. Do dealers, yes. Let it go man, sound like some smug snob.

I wouldn't call it hoarding I'd call it collecting, picklocks are getting hard to find. I have quite a few I wouldn't sell, with Latama offering nothing, A Contini and Lille Flores offering wobbly junk, Frank B only offering swivel bolsters things are getting slim. I'm afraid the Italian knife market is imploding.

boots2112 wrote: ↑Mon May 18, 2026 2:45 am

pachinko799 wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2026 3:56 pm Good ole trash talkin’ highspeedsteal at it again. It’s simple, scarcity drives up prices. Does hoarding help, no. Is a knife only worth what someone is willing to pay, yes. Do collectors profit off knives, yes. Do dealers, yes. Let it go man, sound like some smug snob.

I wouldn't call it hoarding I'd call it collecting, picklocks are getting hard to find. I have quite a few I wouldn't sell, with Latama offering nothing, A Contini and Lille Flores offering wobbly junk, Frank B only offering swivel bolsters things are getting slim. I'm afraid the Italian knife market is imploding.

Agreed. I'm a real collector as well. Pachinko wants to continually dig at people calling them "hoarders" but he's only into the $$$ aspect and has burned a bunch of folks begging them to sell stuff "for his collection" only to flip it for 2-3x what he paid just a few weeks later. I wouldn't have even responded if that "people hoard them" comment didn't pop up LOL. Disingenuous and manipulative behavior all just to sell knives; pretty lame. Not sure how I'd be a smug snob, but stay blessed Pachinko.

It's interesting that you have been a member her since 2020, but waited five years to start posting.

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2026 12:34 am It's interesting that you have been a member her since 2020, but waited five years to start posting.

I was mostly on SharperDeals and TalkBlade forums; you commented on some of my posts over there a few years ago, but only came to AAPK for the sales page for the most part.

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2026 12:34 am It's interesting that you have been a member her since 2020, but waited five years to start posting.

An old saying goes,
Once upon a time, A wise man said nothing.

I've been on AAPK for 12 years.
Am I the only one who has noticed over the years that the switchblade guys just don't seem to get along??

Some of them to the point where they got the boot.

.
edge ~~ Fortunately, most of us are too old & decrepit
to get into actual knife fights!
.

button_man wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2026 12:28 pmFortunately, most of us are too old & decrepit to get into actual knife fights!

that may be however any abusive, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, hateful, threatening, or discriminatory conduct will be dealt with swiftly and permanently - the admin staff has far better contributions to make to AAPK than babysitting a bunch of old and decrepit automatic knife collectors.

edge213 wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2026 4:09 am I've been on AAPK for 12 years.
Am I the only one who has noticed over the years that the switchblade guys just don't seem to get along??

I have noticed that as well.

I think we've gotten off topic, this thread is about Picklocks. Let's get back to the decision at hand.

2026

RAMSHORN.

Very nice set of flatguard daggers.

CountryBoy77 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2026 7:25 am Very nice set of flatguard daggers.

I wish Latama would produce more!