Know anything about switchblades?

[ACfixer]

Know anything about switchblades? I don't really... I have a couple auto knives, but I am talking about the classic 1950's style Italian style.



Looks like the real Italian blades are pretty pricey, Like a Latama, roughly $500.

Anybody know about this stuff?

[jarhead714]

[71MUSTY]

I have a beaut, belonged to my father. Not a switch blade but an Italian gravity stiletto. He could have it out of his back pocket and at your neck in a blink.

[ACfixer]

That’s beauteous.

Agreed.

I have a beaut, belonged to my father. Not a switch blade but an Italian gravity stiletto. He could have it out of his back pocket and at your neck in a blink.

Very cool, got a pic K? I see copies of course for much less, but I'm not looking for Chinesium. I was kind of shocked as to the price of these but I guess it's not really that far out of line compared to other knife makers. Good knives aren't cheap.

[Charliegone]

Nice...check out Lathams Vintage Knives...some pretty decent rare stuff on there.

Know anything about switchblades? I don't really... I have a couple auto knives, but I am talking about the classic 1950's style Italian style.



Looks like the real Italian blades are pretty pricey, Like a Latama, roughly $500.

Anybody know about this stuff?

[ACfixer]

Nice...check out Lathams Vintage Knives...some pretty decent rare stuff on there.

Just did... wow the vintage Latamas get huge money.

[hermosabeach]

Are you a safe Queen knife owner or a functional knife owner?


I handled on blade and the release button was also the lock release button

Horrible design

Grab knife - press button to open
Now you must move your thumb or the blade will not stay locked


I would search out a blade forum as I could not tell you walhat makes one $60 vs $600

[Rumblemonkey]

I am new to the knife thing but purchased a Ken Onion sharpener also. The kitchen knives, (Japanese, German) get 20+ but I sharpen them very regularly, knowing the edge breaks down quicker when thinner beveled. Now, after looking at the Latamas I have always lusted after a real quality Italian stiletto. Switchblades flipping out the side seem cumbersome, compared to a stout springed stiletto coming straight out the handle. Again, I am not an expert in any of this, just my 2 cents-

[NoHeavyHitter]

I have a collection of various picklocks and stilettos from 30-40 years ago. They used to be pretty affordable and were available in a variety of designs and scale materials.

All of mine are "safe queens" because a long skinny blade isn't very functional outside of stabbing. They are still fun to play with and I had just recently been goofing around with mine a couple days ago.

Judging by the quality I've seen (or lack there of) in what's currently available, I doubt that I would bother with any of the original Italian brands. Most high-end stilettos at this point are going to come from high-end custom knife builders.

[BigPimping]

I have a few of them from the 1980s that I bought in Europe. I'm allowed to buy them here because I'm EMS. But I never have. They were really expensive from the other brands that sell them here. And what would I do with it?

[Sir Toast]

I have a few of them from the 1980s that I bought in Europe. I'm allowed to buy them here because I'm EMS. But I never have. They were really expensive from the other brands that sell them here. And what would I do with it?

Are you seriously asking what a pimp would do with a switchblade? Turn in your pimp card and platform shoes and cane!

[mej16489]

I have a few of them from the 1980s that I bought in Europe. I'm allowed to buy them here because I'm EMS. But I never have. They were really expensive from the other brands that sell them here. And what would I do with it?

Show us the EMS exemption... we'll wait...

[sealocan]

In my life travels I've seen and operated a few different types of switchblades from cheap front opening to expensive Italian traditional and elegant, handmade ones and although the expensive ones are very nice I didn't find Any of them actually practical... no pocket clip, or does lock open strong enough, or needs a locking lever manually activated, kind of a pain to unlock and close without two hands, thin fragile blades (usually not made from the modern-day supersteels ) that are meant for show or just a quick stab but not real knife work...etc.

And if you could find a handmade one that had actually was designed and built to use it would be very inexpensive indeed.
On top of all that most of them are not California legal unless you have some type of exemption (or maybe keep in your home, never to see the light of day.)

But there is one alternative with the only negative being it's so short of a knife blade it also has limitations but at least it solved most of those other issues above including the fact that they've been able to keep the price extremely low usually under $40, on most of their models.

They are made by Boker a well-respected knife maker and the model is called the sub Kalashnikov and I believe they are still a Bladeops exclusive.

Just watch video and keep in mind there are different blade style, blade steel types and handle material color options since the video was made.

https://youtu.be/3wZ6saKGOJ8

Here is there bladeops website with the search of sub Kalashnikov. You can see the ones with AUS-8 steel are $35 and the one with their better steel is $55.

https://bladeops.com/search.php?search_query=Sub%20Kalashnikov&section=product

Again the big negative being the blade size and so it becomes more of a novelty/ adult fidget spinner.
.

[otteray]

[Excitable Boy]

If you want to check out well made side openers that are lightening fast, but actually made to work well as a knife, look at ProTech:

http://protechknives.com/

ProTech is actually based in Cali. They make a Cali legal version and plenty that aren't, but they'll sell them to you anyway if you find them at a knife show. The guy that owns the company is a really nice guy.

If you want the fastest, most badazz OTFs, check out Microtech:

https://microtechknives.com/

They also make a Cali legal version, but to me, the Ultratech is the bees knees.

These are both companies that manufacture precision tools made with premium materials right here in the USA, so they are going to cost real money.